Reclaiming Her Heart

Ann waited until Brody left before she weakly closed the door and leaned against the wall. Her whole body ached, and Brody's outburst had only made her more exhausted. She blinked, feeling a stinging sensation in her eyes. Thankfully, it was Saturday, and she didn't have to go to work. She wanted to collapse back into bed, but her phone rang. It was a call from her family.

Ann's only remaining family was Connie. She hadn't been back home in years, and Connie had never called her before. But today, she did. Ann's heart trembled, and her fingertips began to shake slightly. She pressed the answer button several times before finally connecting the call.

"Mom."

"Ann, do you have time tonight? Let's meet. I have something to talk to you about."

This was the first time Connie had ever asked to meet, and Ann was a bit taken aback. When Frank and Connie were still married, Ann could feel some semblance of family from Frank. But after their divorce, she was left with Connie and hadn't felt any familial warmth since.

People could be haunted by what they lacked in their youth for a lifetime. Ann knew that Connie's tone only softened when she sent money, but she didn't care. Even that small bit of warmth was something she desperately craved. It was a pathological need, one she had long recognized and often despised herself for. But she couldn't help it. Sending money home had become a habit. Every time she heard a caring word from Connie, it made her happy.

"Okay, Mom. Send me the address."

Connie, knowing Ann would come, sent the location. After seeing the address, Ann slept in the hotel until the afternoon. It was already fall, so she wrapped a scarf around her neck before going to meet Connie.

The meeting place was an Italian restaurant. Connie wasn't willing to spend too much on Ann. A twenty-dollar bowl of pasta was already generous. Thanks to Ann's money, Connie had been living comfortably. Her clothes looked quite smooth and well-kept. Seeing the scarf around Ann's neck, Connie's face darkened.noveldrama

Once they sat down, Connie immediately yanked the scarf off. Seeing the bruises underneath, she slapped Ann hard across the face.

"How can you be so shameless? You were always like this at home, flirting with men everywhere. Now you've become a prostitute? If Brody hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known you were acting so disgracefully!"

Ann's head snapped to the side from the force of the slap, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Connie had put all her strength into that slap, and the ring on her finger made it even more painful. Ann didn't know what to say. She instinctively licked her lips, trying to clean the blood. But Connie's hands came at her again, trying to tear off her clothes in front of everyone.

"Mom!" Ann shouted, clutching her clothes tightly.

"You're such a disgrace! Have some self-respect!" Connie's nails dug into Ann's neck, causing sharp pain.

People around them were taking pictures. Ann worried someone might capture her face, so she quickly pulled out a mask and a hat from her bag and put them on.

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Connie rolled her eyes. "Now you feel embarrassed? Why didn't you feel that way when you were spreading your legs for men? I'm telling you, you need to get back with Brody! That guy seems reliable, much better than those other men you're with now!"

Ann felt a wave of helplessness and couldn't explain. Because she was indeed with a man now. Though he wasn't old, she was still essentially a prostitute. The only difference was whether it was for one man or many.

"Mom, Brody is married. And he was the one who cheated first, with a rich girl."

"You said it yourself, she's a rich girl and pretty. What do you have to compete with her? So it's only natural Brody would marry her. Now he realizes your worth and wants

to take care of you. Don't be ungrateful. Stop seeing those random men."

Ann blinked twice and took out several stacks of cash from her bag. The stacks amounted to about thirty thousand dollars, making Connie's eyes light up.

Her tone finally softened a bit. "If you don't want to be his mistress, just treat him like a client. It doesn't matter who you're with."

Ann felt deeply humiliated. Her face burned, especially with so many people watching. She pulled her hat down further.

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"Mom, let's talk about it later. I have to go." She stood up to leave, and Connie didn't stop her.

"Remember to take Brody off your blacklist. He's actually good to you. You've known each other for years. He was with you for seven years before he cheated. That's much better than other men."

Ann knew what Connie was thinking. She was just worried Ann would come home and take her man. Whenever Ann mentioned going home, she would get angry.

As Ann reached the door, she heard Connie shouting at the restaurant owner.

"Cancel one of the pasta orders. I don't need it."

"But the pasta is already cooking. You can't cancel now."

"I won't finish it. Cancel it. I'll only pay for one bowl. Do what you want."

The owner grumbled but had no choice.