Chapter 6 You Choose

When Laura met William's intense gaze, a shiver ran down her spine. It felt like the coldness seeped right into her bones.

She couldn't help but step back, trying to steady her trembling voice. "William, why are you looking at me like that? You don't mean to tell me that you... used me to pay off your debt, do you?"

She forced the last few words out through gritted teeth, using all her strength.

She desperately hoped William would shake his head and deny it, assuring her that no matter what, he would handle everything.

But William let her down completely.

He dropped to his knees in front of Laura, grabbing her hand, and shouted hoarsely, "Yes! Laura, I know I've wronged you! But I'm doing this for our future! The creditor said if you stay with him for ten days, all the debt will be cleared! Laura, please save me! Only you can save our family now! If you don't agree, we're all doomed!"

At that moment, it felt like the sky was falling.

William's words were like a dagger, making Laura's face turn pale, her lips losing all color, a truly frightening sight.

Her head buzzed, feeling as if her entire world was collapsing.

So, people could be this selfish, this shameless?

Olivia, who had been crying her heart out, suddenly stopped, tears still on her face. She quietly watched the argument unfold. Even the usually strong John sat there, not knowing what to do, awkwardly silent.

Seeing Laura's lack of reaction, William grew anxious and angry, starting to speak without restraint.

"Laura, what do you mean by this? Our family raised you for twenty years, paid for your education, never asked for anything in return, and now we just need a small favor, and you're silent? You're really disappointing! Even a dog would wag its tail at its owner after twenty years..."

"William! Shut up!"

Sensing the tension, Olivia interrupted him, then looked anxiously at Laura, who seemed on the verge of collapse. "Laura, please don't be angry. William is just scared and talking nonsense. He didn't mean it. He's just afraid the creditor will come after us. You understand, right?"

Laura took a deep breath, pulling her drifting thoughts back, and gave Olivia a sorrowful smile.

"Auntie, I'm not angry. I just want to know, do you and Uncle also want me to follow William's arrangement, to stay with that creditor for ten days to save our family?"

It was truly a difficult choice.

Olivia and John were very satisfied with Laura as their daughter-in-law!

After twenty years, they knew she was not only beautiful but also gentle, kind, and well-educated—a good girl. So they were willing to ask nothing in return, just hoping she could become their daughter-in-law.

However, now... their disappointing son had racked up a two-million-dollar gambling debt and wanted to use Laura to pay it off!

They were unwilling to let such a good girl go to waste.

Such a beautiful girl, how could they let her be taken advantage of by a stranger?

Everyone knew that if Laura agreed to this, the Smith family would never marry her.

Who would want to marry a woman who had been with another man for ten days?

It would be as disgusting as eating a fly!

But if they wanted to protect Laura, William would be doomed.

If their son was gone, how could they marry Laura? Everything would be for nothing!

After much thought, they decided to save their son first.

They could find another daughter-in-law, even if she wasn't as good as Laura.

But if their son was gone... they would have nothing!

Although they had made their choice, Olivia still felt very guilty.

She knew that what William was doing would ruin Laura's life.

So she didn't dare look into Laura's clear eyes, speaking hesitantly, "I... I don't want you to do that either. But Laura, William is my only son. He's just trying to make things better for you..."

"I understand." Laura nodded, tears she had held back finally streaming down. "But Auntie, when you knelt before me, begging me to marry William, you didn't say that."

"Ah... I..." Olivia's face turned red, avoiding Laura's gaze even more. "I know, but if William is gone, we old folks won't survive either. Laura, then you'll have to... take care of yourself..."

Laura said nothing, just quietly looked at the family of three in front of her.

Just as William thought she wouldn't agree to pay off his debt and was about to say something, she suddenly spoke, her voice icy.

"No matter what, I owe your family for raising me for twenty years. If this is the way I must repay that debt, I... have nothing more to say. William Smith, I agree to pay off your debt!"

Hearing Laura agree to pay off his debt, William was overjoyed.

But then he realized her tone had become so cold and distant, his face changed, and he asked with a trembling voice, "Laura, why are you suddenly so distant? Why are you calling me... William Smith?"

"Aren't you William Smith?" Laura sneered, her gaze cold and frightening. "We all know that if I stay with your creditor for ten days, I'll never be able to enter the Smith family again. Honestly, I never wanted to marry you in the first place! So, let's make it clear now. I agree to pay off your debt. But from now on, I have nothing to do with the Smith family. I owe you nothing! How about that?"

When Laura said such resolute words, John, Olivia, and William's faces turned very ugly!

Forcing an innocent girl, especially someone so close, down that path weighed heavily on their hearts. They weren't truly bad people, just a bit selfish.

Realizing the situation was irreparable, William looked at Laura with resentment and jealousy, squeezing out his words, "You think you can just cut ties with the Smith family like that? Laura, after twenty years of raising you, we get nothing in return? All our efforts were in vain?"

"When you took me in, what were your intentions?" Laura sneered, her gaze suddenly sharp and cold. In that instant, she seemed like a different person, no longer the gentle, obedient girl.

"Wasn't it to find a free daughter-in-law? Fine, I won't stay with your creditor, and I'll marry into the Smith family. How about that?"

Seeing him speechless, Laura sneered again, her voice filled with vengeful satisfaction.

"You're afraid of your creditor, and you're more afraid of dying, right? Then don't hesitate, just give up on me! The Smith family raised me for twenty years, but now, I can earn over two million in just ten days. William, that money is more than enough to repay my living expenses for twenty years, isn't it?"