Chapter 1

The day I was released from prison happened to be New Year's Eve.

My fiancée, who had promised to pick me up, was busy celebrating with her first love instead.

When I finally made it home, relying on memory alone, I found her in an intimate embrace with her first love, surrounded by a cheering crowd.

"Krista, aren't you going to pick up Marvin from prison today?"

Krista's red lips curved into a slight smile. "Picking him up isn't nearly as important as ringing in the New Year. He's been in there for so long, one more day won't kill him."

"Aren't you worried Marvin will be angry?"

Colder than the snow and wind outside were Krista's callous words.

"He's the one who messed up. What right does he have to be angry? The fact that I still want him is a blessing."

As she finished speaking, her eyes met mine, and the smile froze on her face.

The cold light that shone through hit me, and my heart gradually turned to ice.

She might still want me, but I no longer wanted her.

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The air stood still for a moment. Krista was the first to snap out of it, taking delicate steps towards me.

With my crew cut and outdated clothes, I stood out awkwardly in the festive snowy night. She hesitated slightly but still gently fell into my arms."How come you didn't wait for me to pick you up?"

A voice as gentle as flowing water reached my ears, causing me a moment of confusion, but the scene I had just witnessed was undeniably real.

"No need, I remember the way."

I lied. I had waited for her in the snow outside the prison gates for a long time, until the guard at the entrance couldn't bear to watch anymore and called a car for me.

Through Krista, my gaze fell on the man behind her.

Palmer, dressed in a custom-tailored dark gray suit, was lounging lazily on the sofa, looking quite pleased with himself.

Meeting my gaze, he quickly suppressed the hatred in his eyes and smiled politely.

"Marvin, what a coincidence you're out now? Just in time for New Year's, a double celebration?"

As he spoke, he stood up and wrapped his arm around Krista's slender waist, his eyes gleaming with blatant provocation.

I forced a smile, and Krista, with one arm linked with Palmer's and the other pulling me along, sat us down in the center of the crowd.

After exchanging a glance with his good buddy, Palmer's friend immediately caught on, fixing me with a mocking expression.

"Is this Marvin? Man, you've aged so much in three years. When I saw you standing at the door, I thought you were some homeless guy."

Raucous laughter erupted. Palmer covered his mouth and coughed lightly, reaching out to pat his friend on the back."Hey man, what nonsense are you spouting?"

"We're all brothers here, just cracking a joke. Don't take it personally, Marvin."

Laughter drowned out the projector's background music. My emotions swirled as I clenched my fingertips until they turned white.

Seeing that I hadn't reacted for a while, Krista impatiently nudged me.

"We're all friends here, just joking around. Don't be a buzzkill."

Krista's words were like claws, constantly scratching at my heart, causing a dull, persistent pain.

Others could joke, but not Krista. She should be the one who understands me best, standing firmly by my side without wavering.

But now, my pain had become a casual joke for her to toss around.

Worried that I couldn't suppress my emotions, I changed the subject.

"Where's my mom?"

A flicker of guilt passed through Krista's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it. "Your mom prefers the quiet. She's not here. I'll take you to see her another day."

I nodded, and then she noticed how thinly I was dressed. She turned back to the bedroom to get me a jacket.

Not wanting to be alone with Palmer and the others, I made up an excuse to go to the bathroom.

Just as I was about to wash my face, a voice came from behind me. "147."

Purely out of instinct, I immediately turned around and stood at attention. "Here!"

"!" Palmer covered his mouth, laughing loudly. His laughter was disgusting and grating.Droplets slid down my cheeks as I stared at her coldly.

"Is this amusing to you?"

Palmer stopped laughing, his eyes filled with disdain and contempt. "Funny? It's hilarious. I thought this New Year's Eve was going to be dull as dishwater."

He pointed at my shoulder, raising an eyebrow. "Until you showed up, clown."

"What's the matter? Can't adjust to life outside the slammer? Is that why you're so desperate to hook up with Krista?"