They Used Me for Seven Years, Then I Cut the Lifeline

The laughter and chatter filling the room were like countless needles pricking my ears. I gripped my phone so tightly my nails dug into my flesh. Saoirse walked up to me, holding the report. "Zenon, look, how adorable he is. He'll be our son from now on." Jack quickly added. “But Zenon, even though he is registered under your name, he still has to call Oliver ‘Dad.’” They still assumed, as always, that I would grant them any request. Just like the seventh day after my mother's passing, my father brought home a stepbrother who was only half a year younger than me. He claimed he was the son of an old friend, yet his face bore a striking resemblance to my father, almost 90% identical. Just like after Saoirse said she wanted a child, I tried countless remedies. Even before we got married, I told her that I had health problems and it would be difficult for me to have children and that I couldn't continue taking injections and medication. Just because seven years ago, I made a solemn vow at my mother's bedside. I had to help my weak father support the Lorenger Family and pave a bright future for the penniless Saoirse. For my mother, Irene Lorenger, the Lorenger Family represented love and the Steiner Family represented gratitude. It was her last lingering obsession, but for me, it was just a promise. Now, seven years had passed and I found nothing left here to hold me back. I turned around, locking the joy of the entire family behind the door and walking to the empty balcony. I dialed the lawyer my mother had appointed before her passing, Gary Coleman. "Mr. Coleman, its' already seven years." For a moment, no response sounded on the other end of the phone and then a sigh followed. "Mr. Lorenger, everything is ready. With just one word from you, all the funds injected into the Lorenger Group and the Steiner Group will start to withdraw within 24 hours. It is estimated that it will be withdrawn in six days." "Let's get started." As soon as I hung up the phone, I felt as if the rope that had tied me down for seven years had finally loosened. Saoirse came over at some point and looked at me with a frown, asking, "Who are you secretly talking to on the phone?" "Zenon, I warn you, don't use the family money for reckless investments outside." "Raising a child will cost a lot in the future, so save your money for me." She lectured me as a matter of course, completely forgetting she earned her money with my help. I ignored her and walked straight to the dining room. The long dining table was laden with dishes, all of which were my brother's favorite. She carefully removed the fish bones for Oliver, not even noticing I hadn't touched my spoon and fork. Jack's face was red from drinking and he said, "Zenon, transfer the shares of Lorenger Group under your name to the child in your wife's womb. Consider it a welcome gift from you, the uncle, to the nephew." I raised my head and looked at his calculating face. I nodded in response. "Alright." My decisiveness left them all stunned for a moment. Saoirse was the first to react, with a satisfied smile on her face. "See, Zenon was the most understanding." She immediately made the decision. "Transfer the shares in my company under your name as well. For our child, you shouldn't mind, right?" Oliver leaned in her arm and pulled her sleeves pretending to be worried. "Saoirse, don't do this, Zenon will be unhappy." Jack smiled disdainfully. "How come? You're very happy, aren't you, Zenon? Come on, raise a glass for Oliver and say a few words of blessings." Saoirse picked up a glass of red wine and handed it to me. "I can't drink," I said. Her face instantly darkened. "Can't drink? Why didn't you say you couldn't drink at the drinking table to handle a project in the south until you had stomach bleeding?"

Jack chimed in. "That's right. How many drinking parties have you attended over the years? I saw you having a great time back then —so much even when we told you not to go, you insisted on going." Over the years, one of them had to maintain the image of a refined female CEO, while the other had to maintain the airs of a chairman. This kind of lowering one's pride to curry favor was naturally something I would handle. Six days left, I silently counted in my heart. Then I took the wine glass Saoirse almost thrust into my mouth and turned to Oliver. His face couldn't hide the smugness. I raised my glass and spoke word by word. "I wish you the best of luck." That night, a sharp pain in my stomach dragged me out of a nightmare. The cold sweat soaked through my pajamas as I curled up in bed, every breath laced with pain. I fumbled around the bedside table, searching for painkillers, but found nothing. Only then did I remember that Helena Martinez had taken away all the medicines we usually kept at home, saying Oliver couldn't stand the smell of medicine. The huge villa was completely empty. They were probably all staying in Oliver's room, offering their concern and care. I struggled to get up and went to the hospital by myself. In the emergency room, the doctor looked at my medical record, his brows furrowed deeply. "How did it get like this again? Didn't I tell you to take good care of yourself?" She stared at me and said with a tone full of reproach, "Didn't Ms. Lorenger take care of you? She came last time and made me promise to make sure you recover properly." I felt a bit dazed. My first stomach upset also happened here? That time, Saoirse helped me rush into the emergency room, her eyes red with anxiety. She gripped the doctor's hand, repeatedly asking what to do. Soon after I was discharged, she put away all my work documents and personally cooked porridge for me. She would come to the hospital every few days to discuss my diet with the doctor. She did love me and care about me back then. However, over time, her love and care already gone. Perhaps I was too busy, too busy to attend to everyone's feelings. I still remembered the last time Saoirse and I argued. I stayed up for three days and three nights working on a project. And I missed the trip I promised her. She flew into a rage at me for the first time. She accused me of being a cold-blooded monster who only knew how to work and failed to fulfill my responsibilities as a husband at all. I was somewhat bewildered at the time. I was just learning from my mother, trying to make their lives better — what was wrong with that? Running two companies was incredibly busy and exhausting. I had no time to think about anything. By the time I came to my senses, everything had become what it was today. My phone vibrated, pulling me back from my memories. A message from Saoirse. [Dad and I took Oliver out for a vacation to relax. Transfer eight hundred fifty thousand dollars from the company account.] I replied with [Okay.] as I always did. Then I sent a message to the finance department and granted them unlimited spending permission. It wouldn't be my company anymore, so I didn't have to worry about the cash flow anymore. The doctor, Renata Bailey, was still nagging beside me. “You have to follow the doctor's advice and stop being so careless about your health." I nodded firmly. "Okay, doctor. It won't happen again." From now on, I would only live for myself. I stayed in the hospital for a few days and Saoirse didn't even make a single call to me. Only the Chief Financial Officer, Killian West, cautiously made a call. "Mr. Lorenger, Ms. Lorenger ... her expenses at the overseas resort have already exceeded one million four hundred thousand dollars. If this continues, the company's cash flow will run dry." I leaned against the bedhead, gazing at the gray sky outside the window. "Let them be." Killian was anxious on the other end. "But, Sir, the first payment for the project in south area is about to be settled. If we use that money now, we'll breach the contract!"

"Do Ms. Saoirse Lorenger and Mr. Jack Lorenger know about this?" Killian responded hesitantly, "They said it's fine, that with you here, you'll handle it." I chuckled and said, "Then let's breach the contract." I hung up the phone and completed the discharge procedures. Today was the seventh years of my mother's passing, also the last day I promised. I bought a bouquet of white roses, Irene's favorite and went to the cemetery in the western suburbs. However, standing in front of the familiar grave, I froze in place. The photo on the gravestone was unfamiliar. The name engraved was Lindsay Howard -- Oliver's biological mother. The blood in my body froze instantly. Then, laughter and voices of Saoirse and Oliver drifted from behind. “Zenon, you’re here so early.” Saoirse carefully pushed Oliver, afraid that the wheelchair would jolt him. I pointed to the cold stone tablet, my voice trembling. “Where’s my mom?” She frowned, seemingly displeased with my attitude. "Zenon, keep your voice down, you scare Oliver." She shielded him behind her before explaining slowly. "Oliver had a dream a few days ago, his mom said she felt alone over here and so cold." "I asked someone to calculate it and your mom's grave is in a very nice and sunny area, so I moved Aunt Lindsay's grave here." Jack leaned on his cane and followed behind, seemingly unfazed. "Your mom didn't like to bask in the sun the most, but you insisted on choosing this place." "Now’s perfect. Just give it to Lindsay and your mom will get what she wanted." I looked at the three of them, as if watching an utterly absurd drama. “What about my mom?” I asked, emphasizing each word clearly. “Her ashes have already been moved to the public cemetery behind here,” Saoirse replied casually. "Don't worry, I've arranged everything and I won't leave your mom nowhere to go." Oliver poked his head out from behind her and timidly said, "Zenon, don't be angry. My mom is also your elder. She's now the baby's grandmother. She's both a member of the Lorengers and the Steiners. Taking care of her is also fulfilling her last wish." “Yes, Zenon.” My father tapped the ground with his cane. “You promised your mom you would take care of both the Lorengers and the Steiners. Now Lindsay is also part of our family. You can’t favor one over the other.” They were using a promise I had kept for seven years to force me to accept this absurd situation. I stared at the unfamiliar gravestone for a long time, then suddenly smirked. I didn't argue with them anymore. I turned and walked towards the public cemetery behind it. With the caretaker's guidance, I found my mother's small grave, where even her name hadn't been engraved yet. I carried the cold urn and walked out. I didn't stop as I passed them. Saoirse probably sensed that I had finally given in and her tone softened. "Zenon, stop acting like a child. Come home tonight and we'll have a nice family meal together." "Oliver specially brought you a gift." What a great favor. I walked faster, leaving the nauseating voices behind. Before leaving, I changed my name to Zenon Schneider, taking my mother's name. I placed the completed divorce certificate on the bedside table in the master bedroom. To confirm I had no further relation with the Lorenger Family or even the Steiner Family. I carried my mother's ashes and boarded the plane to go overseas. Saoirse, who had returned home, suddenly felt uneasy. She frowned and asked her father-in-law, "Dad, it seems like today is the seventh years of mom's passing." Jack said nonchalantly, "It's just missing one sacrificial ceremony, we'll have the servants make up for it tomorrow." But just then, the company's secretary rushed in. "Ms. Lorenger, Mr. Lorenger, something terrible has happened!" "The company's cash flow has been cut off and all of our dozen or so projects have defaulted!" "People demanding their money are all blocking the door!" Jack frowned and shouted, "Where's Zenon! Tell him to get over here right now and handle this!" The secretary cried anxiously, "Mr. Zenon Lorenger left a message and then we couldn't reach him." Saoirse was getting even more uneasy. "What did he say?" "He said, your business is none of his business," replied the secretary.