Broken Family Ties

Chapter 1

My husband cheated, and we got divorced.

As a stay-at-home mom, I walked away with nothing but fought for custody of my son, Jason.

I poured my heart and soul into getting him into college, only for him to run back to his dad and brag about it.

He never looked back, even as I lay dying.

Then, I woke up back on the day we divorced.

Jason slammed a bowl on the floor, yelling, “Get a divorce, but don’t drag me into your poverty!”

I studied his face for a long time, then smiled faintly.

“Okay, I won’t.”

1

After high school graduation, Jason got accepted into a top university.

He immediately ran to his father’s house to celebrate.

Meanwhile, I was bedridden and alone.

Before I died, I called him to tell him I was dying.

“Good riddance! You made me suffer for three years. You deserve it!”

The community association only contacted Jason the day of my funeral.

“Jason! Do you still want to go to college? If you don’t show up, I’ll report you to your school!”

Reluctantly, Jason came to collect my ashes.

An angry neighbor lady scolded him.

“Your mother worked day and night to support you through high school, you ungrateful brat!”

Jason argued back, defiant.

“My dad is a successful businessman, my stepmother is a high-level executive, and my grandma adores me. Why would I need her? She killed herself working!”

My spirit twisted in rage, screaming at him. “You blind fool! If they truly loved you, they wouldn’t have schemed to take away your custody!”

Jason ignored me, impatiently walked away with my ashes.

Even when I was alive, he never took my words seriously.

I watched him leave the apartment complex, look around, and toss the urn into a trash can.

He clapped his hands, like he’d gotten rid of something dirty and unlucky.

“Ha! Now I’m free! Guys, let’s game!”

He excitedly pulled out his phone and opened his game.

In that moment, my heart broke. I couldn’t even cry.

I didn’t know what I was still hoping for.

I watched him play game after game until dark.

Until he frowned, his face pale.

I thought he’d finally realized he had no mother.

But he patted his stomach, grumbling, “Why isn’t Grandma calling me? I’m starving.”

My hope died.

My maternal love faded, and I slowly calmed down.

I’d known for a long time that my son resented me.

2

In his sophomore year, he demanded a $400 in-game skin, and I refused.

He went berserk, pushing and hitting me.

“It’s all your fault! If I lived with Dad, he’d buy me whatever skin I want! You’re broke!”

He pushed me into a table corner; I bled, but he ran off.

I searched for him all night.

The next day, he showed off his new clothes and shoes, boasting that his father had bought him ten skins.

Even earlier, after his middle school exams.

He didn’t get into a good high school, so I suggested he retake the exam.

“I won’t retake it! I’m too embarrassed!”

He went to his father.

His father readily agreed, then sent him to a low-ranked high school.

Jason proudly showed off to me, saying only his dad could solve his problems.

He never considered that without my tireless effort during those three years of high school, with his terrible school and weak foundation, he wouldn’t have even gotten into a junior college.

How could he get into a top university?

My sacrifices always paled in comparison to his father’s small favors.

Jason always felt I was preventing him from having a rich and happy life.

I felt so wronged, so resentful!

Resentful of my sacrifices, discarded like trash!

Resentful that my short life ended because of an ungrateful son!

3

I thought I’d carry my resentment into the next life.

Suddenly, I heard Jason’s angry roar, “Get a divorce, but don’t drag me into your poverty!”

I moved my stiff limbs. Sharp ceramic shards on the floor pierced my feet.

Pain!

I stared at Jason’s acne-ridden teenage face.

I sluggishly realized I was back to the day after his middle school exams, the day I discovered Jason’s dad’s affair and decided to divorce.

Was this a second chance?

My hands felt warm, burning, my heart pounding.

I suppressed my excitement, saying calmly, “I have no job, no income. The court won’t give you to me.”

Jason’s father was shocked, “Nina, what do you mean? Didn’t you get a job paying $10,000 a month?”

I sneered inwardly.

I remembered office gossip from my previous life.

“That manager, Donna, is ruthless. She helped the ex-wife get a job and custody, killing two birds with one stone. Then she married her daughter’s father and started a clean, fresh life. Amazing.”

Then I understood Donna was the HR manager!

She had manipulated me!

For the sake of livelihood, I endured the humiliation without confronting her.

But Donna burned bridges, firing me a few days later, claiming my skills didn’t match the position.

People thought I was a nepotism hire, and they applauded.

At that moment, I was speechless and heartbroken.

Now Jason was in front of me, ready to attack.

“Even if you try tricks, I won’t go with you! No way a nanny gets paid $10,000!”

I smiled, a chilling smile.

Due to his mother and father’s constant influence, I, his mother, was the most useless and worthless person in the family.

Just a $3,000-a-month live-in nanny.

I grabbed his hand, flicked it away, smiling faintly.

“Your dad’s joking. He and Donna are financially secure. You’ll be fine with them.”

Jason was stunned.

“Donna is a great person, she’ll treat you like her own!”

She understands your gaming, loves giving you skins, praises your skills, and sees potential, huh?

I didn’t bother arguing.

But Jason’s father panicked, pacing anxiously.

“Nina, you said waiting for Donna to have another child would make the sibling dynamic complicated. What’s the meaning of this?”

He still dreamed of escaping me and Jason, even making me leave with nothing.

I sincerely apologized, “I was narrow-minded, I’m sorry. I trust you’ll love Jason, and Donna will treat him fairly.”

Jason’s father choked, while Jason looked like I’d finally seen the light.

I smiled faintly, adding a few clauses to the divorce agreement.

“Jason, I have proof of your affair with Donna. I don’t want the house or car, I just want $80,000.”

I didn’t have time to haggle; I just wanted what I could get. Besides, the house wouldn’t be worth much in a few years.

My decisiveness caught Jason’s father off guard; he tried to use Jason to manipulate me.

I calmly said, “You claim to love Jason the most, yet you haggle over property?”

That was what he had used to taunt me in my past life.

I wanted to see how he’d maintain his refined facade in front of Jason.

Jason nonchalantly chimed in, “Dad, give it to her. You and Donna can earn more, but add a clause – no visitation rights! Let’s just buy some peace of mind!”

Jason’s father thought of something, and smiled darkly. “Nina, I know you hate me, and you want to spite me, I can give you the money, but don’t back out.”

I rolled my eyes and signed the document.

“You!” Jason’s father instinctively reached for my pen.

I sighed to Jason, “Jun, it seems your father doesn’t value you that much.”

Jason’s face changed, he demanded, “Dad, what do you mean? Get rid of her!”

Jason’s father frowned, hesitating, because he didn’t want to give up the money.

After all, that was all the savings in our family’s account.

Well, don’t blame me for targeting his beloved.

“Oh, about that job, I think a Donna also referred me for it…”

I spoke slowly, emphasizing each word.

“A stay-at-home mom with no work experience, getting an offer as Head of Design at He’s Group…I should ask the boss about it…”

Jason’s father’s face changed immediately. “Okay! Let me think about it for a few days!”

I sneered, “What? Before marriage you need to ask for her opinion? In a few days, my conditions might change.”

Because of this, Jason’s father wouldn’t dare call Donna for help. Plus, Jason was a terrible teammate.

He agreed to my terms.

I was about to drag him to the courthouse, but Donna called, saying she was bleeding.

Both father and son forgot about me and left in a hurry.

Their backs looked rather flustered.

Hah, desperate?

I’m not.

This time, I don’t have Jason as a weakness.

Donna thought she could repeat history, making me take Jason in exchange for their happy family?

No way!

4

After they left, I packed my things and moved out.

I immediately started my new life!

The moment I was reborn, I had a career plan.

In my previous life, because of Donna, I entered the workforce.

At 30, with no experience, I couldn’t compete with younger people.

I was ridiculed and fired.

Go back to street vending?

Years later, many college students were competing for the same jobs. They were willing to do the work, sold fashionable and delicious food, and were sweet-talking. I was able to earn money only through hard work, getting there earlier and staying later than them, running between stalls to sell my goods. Coming home to help Jason study and check his homework meant my health deteriorated quickly.

Now I’m realistic and know how to use my strengths.

If I worked in the housekeeping industry,

I’m relatively young and a college graduate.

I can handle childcare and housework, I’m hardworking.

My weaknesses become advantages!

I believe I can make a name for myself.

I heard from my previous job that the CEO, Mr. He, was a single father with a high school-aged daughter.

He put an advertisement seeking a reliable senior housekeeper to look after him and his daughter, and tutor her.

The salary was excellent: $5,000 a month if I passed the interview.

After getting fired, I wanted to try.

Unfortunately, Jason threatened suicide when he heard I wanted to be a nanny.

He said it was shameful, and I hadn’t touched a textbook in years, so I had no qualifications to tutor a high school student.

But now those were not problems!

I confidently called Mr. He, claiming a colleague from the company recommended me.

He asked me to introduce myself.

“I scored 652 on the college entrance exam. I can guarantee I’ll score no less than that on today’s test!”

I spoke eloquently, but felt a pang of sadness.

I wasn’t just academically brilliant; in college, I was a beauty.

I was with Jason from school uniforms to wedding dresses, but I spent over a decade as a housewife, and I had aged and gained weight, no longer in my prime.

After Jason’s college entrance exam, I took a practice test, and scored 680.

Each point reflected my deep love for my son, but he discarded it.

“As for my tutoring style, you can assess me in person.”

I wasn’t nervous, I’d handled a difficult son. I wasn’t afraid to tutor any students.

Mr. He asked about my housekeeping experience.

I chuckled, “Sixteen years as a live-in nanny, does that count?

I can cook while holding a baby with one hand, feed a baby with one hand, and mop the floor with one hand.

I can also make bottles, change diapers, in my sleep.

And I have the stamina to stay up all night if a child is sick or fussy.”

Mr. He laughed, “Ms. Jiang is humorous. It’s obvious you are hardworking.”

I laughed, with tears in my eyes, “Indeed, Mr. He, don’t underestimate women who have fought in the home battleground.”

Mr. He was impressed and scheduled a meeting.

Even though we hit it off, he said he needed to think it over.

I knew I didn’t meet all his requirements.

He politely refused, “My daughter is starting high school soon, If you had certifications in nutrition, health management, and housekeeping, you’d be more competitive.”

Hope surged, “Okay, I hope you’ll give me another chance!”

I immediately enrolled in massage, childcare, and medicinal cooking courses.

Plus, fitness and yoga classes.

I even signed up for a $500/hour personal trainer!

I learned to invest in myself!

I know now, it’s better to rely on oneself than others.

Besides, I’m still a housewife, spending Jason’s father’s money.

Why not spend it?

Jason’s father couldn’t take it anymore and called me to finalize the divorce.