Someone snapped a picture of me, filthy and rummaging through a dumpster for plastic bottles, and posted it online. It quickly went viral, sparking a storm of comments.
“The prettiest dumpster diver.”
“Hey, quiet little one, the netizens seem to be really interested in you.”
I took small bites of a bagel, listening quietly as Marcus Dale read the comments aloud.
He pushed his hair back and continued reading from his phone.
“Isn’t she Lindsey Thomson, the eldest daughter of the Thomson family?”
“I’ve got the photos as evidence—it’s definitely her. She’s the one who obsessed over Carter Hall and even caused his father’s death!”
At this, Marcus fell silent. My entire body went rigid, and I almost dropped the bagel. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the enlarged photo on his screen.
The woman was smiling brightly, while the man beside her looked indifferent. It was a picture from our wedding day.
It had been three years since I last heard that name. The flutter in my heart had long since been replaced by fear. My first instinct was to run.
“Don’t worry, quiet little one. I’ll protect you. Soon, I’ll take you far away from here.”
Marcus noticed my reaction. He didn’t ask me anything; he just comforted me gently.
For three years, I had been homeless, scorned by everyone. Only Marcus was willing to approach me, to help me. He often said these words to me. Though I’m not smart, I understood in my heart that this time, he truly couldn’t help me.
