The next evening, Abner came over again, this time with a dinner he had prepared himself. He carefully unpacked the meal box and was about to hand it to her when he noticed a mark peeking out from under her ne. Shirley''splexion was still pale. She lowered hershes, gripping the sheet beneath her tightly with one hand, while her other hand identally knocked over the soup Abner had brought.


    "Shirley?"


    Abner crouched down to pick up the bowl but then heard her say, "I''ve transferred $70,000 to your ount, Abner. Let''s not see each other anymore. I''ve realized that they were right; ever since you came into my life, my luck has been terrible."


    Abner froze, thinking he''d misheard. He looked up at Shirley, but she was calm, even seemingly heartless.


    "Abner, I''m sorry. I thought I was responsible, but I can''t do this anymore. Your presence has made my parents distant, and it''s driven Mark and me to this point. I''ll drive you back to school and talk to Mr. James about applying for boarding. After your exams, try applying to universities in other cities."


    Abner didn''t respond, just sat there, staring into her eyes as if trying to capture every emotion on her face. Shirley rubbed her temples and managed a bitter smile.


    "Maybe I shouldn''t have brought you into this, recklessly meddling in someone else''s fate, ruining myself. I''m sorry, Abner."


    Abner couldn''t process everything she was saying. Her words made it hard for him to breathe. He slowly stood up, his face pale as a ghost.


    "You''re giving up on me?"


    Wasn''t it agreed that they would wait until he graduated from university? By then, he''d have enough money, and she wouldn''t have to suffer anymore.


    Shirley leaned back, unable to meet his gaze. She hadn''t sleptst night, wrestling with her thoughts all night long.


    "Yes, I am. It''s my fault. I''ve


    transferred the


    the money to you. Take it, do well on your exams. Mark and have known each other for years and I can''t let go of our rtionship. We''re probably going to get married. He doesn''t like you, so you won''t be invited to the wedding."


    Abner didn''t explode with anger. He just looked at Shirley pitifully, as if on the verge of tears. Shirley stared nkly out the window at the evening sky, her profile void of any mercy.


    "I''ve thought a lot thesest fewBelongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    days. Indeed, since you came into my life, everything has been a mess. I''ve realized there''s no need for to be this tired. You''re not my family. Why should I bear your burdens? Abner, I want to get married."


    "Shirley!"


    Abner''s voice was tight with emotion, and then he took a deep breath.


    "Eat something first. Is Mark forcing you again?"


    "What can he force me to do now? His legs are broken; he''s lying in bed, unable to do anything. If anything happened between us, it would have been my choice."


    That statement hit Abner like a


    needle to the heart. He was silent for


    a long time because Shirley was


    right. He wasn''t a naive child


    anymore; he understood what the


    marks on her neck meant.


    But he refused to believe it. Shirley, who despised all of this, how could shepromise?


    "I''ll confront Mark! He must be threatening you!"


    "Abner, I''ve known him for years, and how long have I known you? I know his character. Sure, he has his ws, but he wouldn''t threaten me over this. I''m marrying Mark because I want to." "Shirley!"