Reborn: Escaping the Shackles

Raising my daughter through hardship and sacrifice, all I received in return were her complaints.

She said I constantly pressured her and that her father treated her better.

She wanted freedom and refused to be my puppet.

During an argument, she accidentally pushed me down the stairs.

She looked at me coldly, saying, "It'd be better if you died!

Then I could go find Dad!"

Living again, if she thinks her father is better, so be it.

"All you care about is studying!

What else can you do besides forcing me to study all day?"

"You're stuck in a rut, hoping I can become something great?"

"You're nothing like Dad!

Only he truly loves me!

He never forces me to do anything I don't want to!"

The room was a mess, chaos everywhere.

Even her beloved piano was smashed.

My head throbbed as I watched my child scream at me.

"No wonder Dad divorced you. You want to control your own child!

You're nothing compared to family friend Karlee!

She's gentle and caring, unlike you, always nagging!"

My own daughter hurled harsh words at me, each one piercing.

In my past life, I didn't want to give up on her.

I didn't want her father to spoil her or her stepmother to indulge her.

But all I got was enmity with my own child.

This time, I chose silence.

I once thought I neglected her too much.

When she was five, I divorced her father, and the agreed child support never arrived on time.

I juggled two jobs while caring for her education, not wanting her to struggle like I did.

Now I realize she's an ungrateful child.

Unlike before, I didn't try to persuade her.

After she vented, she destroyed the cherished bracelet from my mother.

"I'm going to find Dad!

It's all your fault for keeping me tied to you!

You said a stepmother isn't as good as a real mother, but you're worse than family friend Karlee!"

I was fed up. "Fine, go find your dad."

"Fine, I will!"

She stomped her foot and stormed out.

I crouched down, picking up the shattered bracelet.

"Why should I make myself suffer trying to be a good mom?"

The broken pieces cut my palm, and tears fell.

My mother was so gentle when she was alive.

Like me, she divorced when I was young and raised me alone.

I thought I could raise a child well without a man.

Now I see I was wrong.

No matter how much I gave, an ungrateful child remains ungrateful.

I gave up.

I didn't want to exhaust myself trying to be a good mother.

When my daughter ran out, I didn't chase her.

I cleaned up the house, threw out the mess, and went to rest.

I had work the next day and didn't want to keep torturing myself because of her.

"Give me money!"

When I got home from work, she was sitting on the sofa.

She didn't realize her mistake and demanded money from me.

I ignored her and headed to the kitchen.

"Hey, can't you hear me?

I told you to give me money!"

She blocked my way, full of malice, treating me like an enemy rather than a mother.

"What are you doing?"

She looked at me with hostility. "Are you deaf?

Can't you hear me talking to you?

Working tirelessly at that thankless job all day, have you gone stupid?

How am I supposed to find Dad if you don't give me money?"

I smiled and gently moved the child blocking my way. "If you want to find him, then ask him for money. Why come to me?"

"You're my mom!

It's your duty as a parent to spend money on me!"

"But you're an adult now. After you turn eighteen, I'm not obligated to support you anymore.

Didn't you say your dad and stepmom were great?

Go ask them for money."

My daughter smashed the bowl and chopsticks in my hand. "No wonder Dad says you're a heartless woman, even my stepmom defends you!

What kind of mother are you?

Dad was right, you're nothing compared to Mom Yang!"

"Fine!

If you won't take care of me, Dad will!"

"Alright, let's see how he plans to take care of you."

My daughter left again.

This time, she didn't come back for half a month.

It wasn't until her teacher contacted me that I found out she had borrowed money from a classmate to go find her dad.

She disappeared without a trace.

Her classmate was worried sick because it was her living expenses.

But being timid, she didn't dare to speak up.

It was only when the teacher noticed something was wrong and "pressured" her that the classmate tearfully confessed.

I rushed to the school, paid off my daughter's debt, and apologized profusely to her classmate.

Even her teacher complained, "How are you raising your child?

Borrowing money and not repaying, not even attending school!

I know you're divorced and raising a child alone isn't easy, but you can't neglect her upbringing for the sake of earning money."

I managed a strained smile at the teacher.

He continued, "When is Samantha coming back to school?

She's been absent for several days."

I shook my head. "I don't know. She hasn't returned home since our big argument."

The teacher frowned, looking displeased. "You're her mother. How can you not care about your own child?"

I remained silent.

Was it that I didn't care?

She rejected my concern, despised it.

She felt I was pressuring her, interfering with her life.

To her, I was a constraint.

Seeing my silence, the teacher gave me an ultimatum.

"If Samantha doesn't return soon, the school will expel her!

You should really talk to her!"

I quickly agreed but then pushed the matter aside.

Just as the school was about to expel Samantha, her father, my ex-husband, contacted me.

"How have you been lately?"

I replied impatiently, "Just get to the point. I don't think we need to exchange pleasantries."

On the other end, my ex-husband laughed heartily. "What kind of mother are you?

Samantha came straight to me, saying I'm the only one who treats her well!

Look at you, can't keep a husband or a daughter. You're just as useless as ever."

I retorted, "How dare you justify your betrayal?"

He was unfazed. "Betrayal?

I found true love!"

"Alright, just say what you have to say."

"Samantha doesn't want to stay with you anymore. Give me custody and arrange her transfer.

From now on, she's none of your concern!"

The conversation fell silent until my ex-husband, growing impatient, assumed I disagreed.

I smiled slightly. "Fine."

I quickly completed everything my ex-husband requested.

I didn't want to handle Samantha, this burden, any longer.

Let her be someone else's problem, not mine.

On the day we finalized the custody transfer, Samantha showed up.

Her eyes were slightly red as she questioned me, "Dad was right, you really don't love me!

You just gave me away so easily. I really am just a burden to you!"

I remained silent.

Do I not love her?

I raised her through every hardship and sacrifice. Even when life was tough for me, I made sure she grew up safe and sound.

After marrying my ex-husband and discovering I was pregnant, I had to quit my job due to morning sickness.

I became a stay-at-home mom.

Those days were hard.

My ex-husband brought his mother over, supposedly to take care of me, but in reality, she bossed me around.

She made me do endless chores, claiming that exercise was necessary for a safe delivery.

It wasn't until I collapsed, showing signs of a miscarriage, that she finally eased up a bit.

But not for long. When she found out I was having a girl, her attitude changed completely.

"Domenic, she's carrying a girl who brings no value!

I don't want this. Make her get rid of it and give me a grandson!"

Domenic tried to appease his mother while telling me he wasn't biased against girls.

I was touched and endured his mother's cruelty for him.

It wasn't until after I gave birth to Samantha that I discovered he had been unfaithful during my pregnancy.

During my confinement period, I argued constantly, hoping Domenic would change his mind, but he used it as an excuse to divorce me.

I hadn't worked in a long time and felt out of place, but I refused to give up my newborn daughter.

I pushed through the pain of not recovering properly and went out to find a job.

After winning custody of Samantha, I didn't dare rest.

I worked as a cashier by day and washed dishes at night, sleeping only four hours a day, just to keep Samantha by my side.

I never let her suffer. No matter how hard or tired I was, I made sure she didn't fall behind others.

I never complained about her father, instead teaching her to be filial.

I didn't restrict her freedom; as long as she completed her schoolwork, she could do whatever she wanted with her free time.

But every time she spent a few days with her father, she came back a different person, thinking I was controlling and poor.

Over time, I grew really tired.

"You're right, you are a burden to me," I said, not hiding my disdain for Samantha.

She sneered back, "You think I care about you?

I'll live well with Dad, and you can stay poor!

Ugh!"

With Samantha gone with her father, I felt much lighter.

I didn't have to work two jobs every day and had time to take care of myself.

I started learning to apply makeup and attended night school.

I wanted to live my own life.

Before marriage, I was the apple of my family's eye.

How did I end up living for others after getting married?

It didn't make sense.

Samantha seemed to flaunt her new life, messaging me daily.

Her stepmother took her to the beach today, abroad tomorrow, and to parties the next day.

Samantha said, "See, I only realized how good life could be after leaving you!

Mom Yang is beautiful and kind-hearted, treating me as her own!

She gives me the best!"

"Where did you get the nerve to call Dad and my stepmom evil before?"

"Your own negativity makes everything seem bad!"