Chapter 257
After entering university, I juggled both studying and part-time jobs on the side. By then, A City was
thriving and my living conditions gradually improved. The school set up schrships for students
with financial difficulties. I didn''t need much money for myself, so I sent all of it back home, which
helped improve my family''s situation.
However, that year, my mother passed away, as her health deteriorated due to years of
overworking. From then on, I had no family left back home. In my junior year, I started an internship
at the Fantasy Group; your grandparents''pany, where I met your mother. She was my age, and
in her third year of college. Funnily enough, we were at the same school, in the same college, just
different majors.
I knew she had a soft spot for me, but as you know, I had nothing to my name back then, so I
pretended to be clueless about her feelings. On the other hand, I had a childhood sweetheart,
Shirley, back home.
When your mother realized I wasn''t interested, she dropped the subject. She even saw through my
avoidance and had an honest chat with me, telling me to focus on my work at thepany. If I
performed well, I could stay after graduation.
Before she left, she told me, "Being poor is not a disgrace, but it''s no honor either."
That really hit me. Took me a while to snap out of it. I didn''t expect her to see right through me. I
was indeed feeling inferior.
How inferior? So inferior that I always associated myself with the poor. Whenever someone
mentioned the poor, I felt like they were talking about me. I resented it, but I also knew it was a
reality I had to face. I was indeed poor.
Back then, I was desperate to seed, to stand out, to shake off thebel of being poor.
My dear Izzy, you''ve never been through it. You will never understand the feeling of helplessness
and powerlessness.
Ines felt a sting in her eyes. She rubbed them hard until she could see clearly before continuing to
read.
After graduation, I stayed with the Fantasy Group. But in a bigpany like this, fresh graduates
like me were a dime a dozen. Many of them were more worldly than I was. I struggled on my own in
thepany for two years, but I was always just a small fry.
Shirley''s life was going from bad to worse, so I brought her to live with me. We started cohabiting.
But because she didn''t have a degree, it was hard for her to find a job in this city. I didn''t allow her to
work in hotels or bars, so she stayed at home. Initially, we were happy, but over time, conflicts arose
more frequently over small things. Our home, which should''ve been a ce for me to rx and rest,
gradually became a ce I didn''t want to return to. I felt this couldn''t continue, so I had a serious
talk with her. She decided to return home first and woulde back when my living situation
improved.
I epted this arrangement. I remember that day was the day of my promotion and raise. I wanted
to share this good news with her, only to find out she had secretly married a man in town without
giving me any exnation.
I was devastated then, but my pride made me not go back to her for an exnation. Instead, I just
worked harder.
Your mother re-entered my life at this time. She was beautiful and smart, with remarkable business
acumen. After graduation, she started learning from your grandfather. She began to notice me.
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Sometimes we would go out to eat together. I identally mentioned my breakup with Shirley once,
and she didn''t say anything, just ordered a bottle of wine for me and drank with me.
Because of her, I caught your grandfather''s attention. He thought I was down-to-earth, so he gave
me a different job. The work was hard, but I got to see your mother more. After a while, we became
good friends. But rumors began to spread in thepany that I was cozying up to the boss''s
daughter for a promotion. Your grandfather soon found out about this and made me choose: either
cut ties with your mother and stay in thepany or leave.
I was torn. I had achieved some sess in thepany. If I left now, I would have to start over.
Plus, I had feelings for your mother. I admired her talent and character.
Seeing my struggle, your mother frankly told your grandfather that she was sure we would get
married. If I had to leave thepany, she would leave too.
By then, your aunt had fallen out with your grandparents and gone to B City with your uncle. Your
mother was their chosen sessor. They had already lost one daughter and couldn''t afford to lose
another.
So they decided to give me a chance. As long as I was sessful, they would agree to my
marriage with your mother. They gave me a million dors to start my own business. I was already
studying architectural design. With the capital, I quickly started an architecturalpany, the
predecessor of the Galeana Group. Our business was mainly providing design drawings for
constructionpanies. I was talented in this field. Coupled with your mother''s knack for
networking, our business status gradually rose.
I was responsible for creating the design drawings, and your mother was responsible for contacting
the developers. In just a month, we earned three million, far exceeding our expectations.
Despite this, your grandparents never really liked me. I could sense their unwillingness in their eyes,
but I''m not sure why even to this day.
However, your mother, like you, was very stubborn. No matter what, she was determined to be with
me. In the end, your grandparents agreed to our marriage, and that''s how your mother and I got
married.
After the wedding, your mother didn''t choose to return to the Fantasy Group. Instead, she chose to
stick with me at the Galeana Group.
Ines felt her eyes bing sour again. She knew why her grandparents were against them being
together. Her grandparents had told her in person. It was because they knew that apart from liking
her mom, he had other intentions. No parents wouldfortably hand over their daughter to a man
like that.