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The sky loomed dark, heavy clouds threatening rain as thunder growled faintly in the distance. In the rain-soaked courtyard of his home, a boy knelt, trembling as water mixed with mud beneath his knees. Han Chen's pale face betrayed a storm of emotions—grief, anger, and humiliation—as his fists pressed against the cold, unforgiving ground.
Nearby, sharp, cruel laughter cut through the rhythm of the falling rain.
"Han Chen, look at you. Pathetic as ever!" Zhao Lin sneered. Tall and muscular in his designer jacket, his presence exuded arrogance. His arm rested possessively around Xu Qing, her delicate features marred by cold indifference.
"Did you really think Xu Qing would apologize and come crawling back to you? Who do you think you are? A hero in a fairytale, huh? Newsflash: she made her choice long ago." Zhao Lin smirked, gesturing dramatically to himself.
Han Chen's lips parted, but his words caught in his throat, humiliation rooting him to the spot.
"You're just a stray from a dying side branch," Zhao Lin continued. "No power, no money, no prospects. A toad dreaming of a swan."
At his side, Xu Qing tilted her head mockingly. "Han Chen, childhood promises mean nothing. Forget I exist—it's better for both of us."
Her words cut deep, but her next move shattered him. Xu Qing turned and kissed Zhao Lin.
Han Chen froze, his breath hitching, the rain blurring his vision. Whether from water or tears, he wasn't sure.
Zhao Lin stepped back with a smug grin, looking at Han Chen's angry and lost face. "Someone teach this fool a lesson.He is still angry. Make him realise the situation"
His followers descended on Han Chen. Blows rained down, each hit sharp and unrelenting. When they left, Han Chen lay sprawled in the mud, blood and rain mixing on his battered body. Through the haze of pain, he heard their retreating laughter. Xu Qing's derisive chuckle stung more than the blows.
Han Chen finally forced himself to his feet, shivering and broken in every sense. The bare, unwelcoming room he called home offered no comfort.
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Months later, tragedy struck. Han Chen's parents and grandfather—his only sources of care—died in a suspicious car crash. Returning from picking up his grandfather, their car collided with a truck in an area devoid of surveillance. The vehicle veered off the road, killing all occupants, including a bodyguard.
Grief consumed Han Chen. Alone in the crumbling side-branch home, his sorrow mixed with simmering anger at his powerlessness. Unknown to him, his grandfather had left a will—a will intercepted by the main family through bribery of the notary handling it. While not the entire family fortune, the inheritance was significant enough to alarm them. Even a modest sum in Han Chen's hands could lead to independence—or worse, defiance.
The main family acted quickly, publicly offering to "welcome Han Chen back into the fold" under the guise of reconciliation. Their true intent was to control him and seize the inheritance.
Han Chen, lost and desperate, was easy prey. The family emissary came bearing words of sympathy and measured kindness, planting hope in his vulnerable heart.
"You've suffered long enough, Han Chen," the emissary said warmly. "Your grandfather always believed in you. The family wants to give you the chance he dreamed of for you."
The words ignited a spark in Han Chen. He latched onto the idea of proving himself, envisioning a future where he would rise above his humiliation and even make Xu Qing regret her betrayal.
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Shortly after his return, the family revealed their true intentions. Han Chen was to marry the vegetative daughter of a powerful ally—a union originally meant for the main family heir. After an accident left the girl bedridden, she was no longer a desirable bride, and Han Chen became the convenient replacement.
"This is your chance to repay the family's kindness," they declared. "Your grandfather would be proud of your sacrifice."
Han Chen hesitated but eventually agreed, seeing the marriage as a stepping stone. In his anger and desperation, he believed aligning with the family would grant him the resources to rebuild his life and achieve revenge.
Unbeknownst to him, the family had no intention of letting him prosper. Legal maneuvering ensured they controlled the inheritance, keeping him dependent. The marriage was yet another chain, binding him to a life where he could never rise beyond their control. And family received their commercial alliances.
Blind to the manipulation, Han Chen embraced what he thought was a second chance. The family placed him in a modest home with his new wife, Yue Lan, a woman he had barely heard before their marriage. Once a vibrant and accomplished individual, Yue Lan had been the pride of her family. She held a prestigious position in a renowned corporation, admired for her intelligence and independence. But an accident had stolen everything—her job, her joy, and her ability to live freely.
Now, Yue Lan was a shadow of her former self, trapped in a broken body. She could neither move nor speak beyond faint grunts and occasional moans, relying entirely on those around her to feed, clean, and care for her. Her sharp, expressive eyes were all that remained of the strong-willed woman she had been, and they followed Han Chen as he moved about the room. Whether they held gratitude, frustration, or despair, he could never tell.
In the beginning, Han Chen tried to make the best of the situation. Though their marriage was nothing more than a contract born of necessity, he treated Yue Lan with respect, tending to her needs as best he could. He relied on the family pension and sporadic assistance from Yue Lan's relatives, who only visited out of obligation. They viewed Han Chen as a mere caretaker, unworthy of their attention or gratitude.
Believing he could still rise above his circumstances, Han Chen explored ways to improve their lives. He dabbled in the stock market, hoping to grow his meager savings, but his lack of knowledge led to losses that only deepened his frustrations. He sought employment, taking on various jobs, but his earnings were barely enough to cover their expenses. His dreams of proving himself and reclaiming his dignity faded with each passing year.
As time went on, Yue Lan's care became more burdensome, and the family's support dwindled. Han Chen was left with the bare minimum, forced to shoulder the full weight of their situation. The isolation and monotony of caregiving consumed him, leaving little room for hope or ambition. Yue Lan remained silent, her condition unchanging, her presence a constant reminder of the life neither of them could have.
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Nineteen Years Later
After nearly two decades of quiet struggle, Yue Lan passed away. The cause was blood clots, a complication common for someone immobile for so long. Her death was peaceful but sudden, leaving Han Chen reeling. Though their marriage had been devoid of love, Yue Lan's presence had become a constant in his life, and her absence deepened created a hollowness.
His ex girlfriend from years before is now a nationwide known actress known for her gentleness and kind nature...She started her career as a bussiness woman to an actress later in life..She married three times and now living with his fourth husband and having 2 children together. Zhao Lin who beaten him down is also married to another girl, but being a highly profiting company owner he is in better life than Han Chen. These events in life numbed him.
With no ties left to the family and no one to rely on, Han Chen returned to his old life, taking up ordinary jobs to survive. The once-determined boy who had dreamed of greatness was now a man weighed down by years of disappointment and unfulfilled dreams.
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Five Years Later
Han Chen passed away quietly in a small, rented room. The official cause of death was natural, but those who knew him—or still remembered him—whispered that he had died of a broken heart, his spirit crushed long before his body gave out.
But his story only started from then...
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