After My Drowning Death for the Wedding Ring,My Wife's Madness

Perhaps because the last person I thought of before dying was Janet, I found myself stuck by her side, unable to leave.

Janet spent lavishly; she would casually dine at a high-end restaurant where the average meal cost over a thousand dollars, even ordering live violin music.

The two of them enjoyed a romantic dinner in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, feeding each other tenderly, their affection evident.

Watching them from the side, my heart filled with jealousy, a mix of bitterness and pain.

Three thousand dollars—this was almost half of my monthly salary, and Janet spent it so effortlessly.

Meanwhile, on the rare occasion when I spent a bit over twenty dollars on braised chicken rice, she would mock me sarcastically when I got home.

"Oh, where did Patrick go to indulge himself again?"

"Are you making a fortune now, or have you struck it rich? You're eating out—do you have that much money to throw around?"

"Are we even trying to live? Patrick, if you don't want to be with me, just say it!"

Remembering the past, all I could do was smile bitterly.

It turned out Janet wasn't stingy or mean; she just couldn't stand to see me living well.

Of course, for someone like me who committed such a grave mistake, I deserved to spend a lifetime atoning for it.

"Janet, do you think Patrick managed to retrieve that fake ring? With the way he looked so poor, there's no way he could afford a real diamond ring, right?"

After their meal, I could only trail behind them, watching numbly as Janet, without blinking an eye, booked a room at a five-star hotel.

All of this was money I earned through my blood, sweat, and tears!

A cold expression crossed Janet's face, her words dripping with disdain and contempt.

"Don't mention that loser. He's worked for seven years and still can't afford a house, forcing me to live in a rented place all this time."

"A person like him, what's the point of even being alive? He might as well be dead!"

Each word was like a knife, cutting deeply into my heart, the pain making my soul tremble.

I had slaved away for her for seven years, giving her the best life I could, only to be told I didn't even deserve to live.

If this was the result of my seven years of atonement, then why didn't I just die right after the incident all those years ago?

What is the meaning of my life as a monk for these seven years?

"Forget that loser. Janet, it's been years; did you miss me? You little minx, you're even more beautiful than you were seven years ago!"

"Oh, stop talking. Let me taste you, this pure little lady, and see if you're as sweet as you were back then…"

Samuel said lasciviously as he stripped off both his and Janet's clothes, eagerly pressing himself on top of her.

Seeing the live pornographic show about to unfold before me, I was filled with hatred but couldn't avoid it. I could only turn around and face the wall.

I felt desolate.

So, the trauma Janet spoke of was really just reserved for me. With others, there was only pleasure, no pain.

But then again, I was the perpetrator of that time, wasn't I?

I deserved this!

I raised my arm high and slapped myself hard.

Seven years ago, at the high school graduation party, I got drunk and lost my senses.

When I woke up, I was faced with Janet, half-lying next to me, crying and accusing me, with red and white filthy stains all over her lower body.

"Last night, you were drunk and insisted on dragging me into bed… I couldn't overpower you, and you pinned me down…"

"Patrick, I'm going to report you for rape!"

I had a splitting headache from Janet's accusation, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember anything.

But the bruises all over her body didn't look fake…

In a panic, I could only tell my brother, who I rely on for everything.

In a panic, I could only confide in my older brother, who had been my only support. I clearly remember his hands trembling uncontrollably as he smoked. After hearing the whole story, he looked as though he had aged ten years.

It was Janet's brother who came to negotiate on her behalf.

At first, they refused to settle privately.

"Damn it! Settle this, my ass! My beautiful sister has been ruined by you, and who knows if there's a bastard in her belly now! How could we settle this privately?"

"A rapist like Patrick wants to go to college? What a load of crap!"

"A scumbag like you should be rotting in jail; that would be too easy on you! I think you deserve the death penalty!"

It was my brother who, dragging me along, almost smashed his head in bowing to them, saying all sorts of humble words, before Janet's brother finally agreed.

Twenty thousand dollars to settle, as if it were the bride price for marrying Janet.

To keep me out of jail, my brother had to sell the house our parents left behind to scrape together the money for Janet's brother.

But with the house sold and the money paid, I still didn't get to go to college.

That was always my regret, but I considered it my punishment for the crime I committed…

"Oh, stop it, you naughty thing! I've kept myself pure all these years just for you; you're my only man…"

What?!

Ignoring the obscene scene in front of me, I whipped my head around, eyes wide open, rushing over to Janet, staring at her intently.

"Say that again! What do you mean Samuel is your only man?!"