I Rise After Casting Off the Snake

In the eyes of others, I am a successful career woman. I own my own design firm and have considerable wealth. Only I know that there is someone hidden in my heart. Someone I have sponsored for five years—Ben Jones. I will never forget that rainy day five years ago. He knelt before me, soaked to the bone. His school uniform pants were covered in mud, and his hair clung to his forehead. Yet his eyes were surprisingly bright, filled with the stubbornness of a young man. "Wendy, I like you." His voice trembled with tears, but it was unusually firm. "I know I have nothing now, but I will work hard." "I will get into the best university and give you a future." "Please, give me another chance to stand by your side." As I looked at him, my heart felt as if it were tightly squeezed by something. He was just a poor student back then, orphaned at a young age, working part-time jobs to fund his tuition. I had met him at a student aid event. At first, I only felt sorry for him and occasionally offered some financial support. But his confession that day touched my heart. I helped him up and wiped the rain from his face. "Stand up. I trust your promise." From that day on, I became his strongest support. I covered all his tuition fees and living expenses. I bought him designer suits so he wouldn't feel inferior among his classmates. He was extremely diligent, always ranking among the top students in his grade. Every day, he would send me messages to update me on his studies. "Wendy, I got a scholarship today." "Wendy, the teacher praised my business plan." "Wendy, once I graduate, I will never let you suffer." I kept all those words close to my heart. I truly believed that our future would only get better and better. When Ben Jones graduated from university, he proposed starting his own business. He wanted to establish a technology company, targeting the booming artificial intelligence sector. Without the slightest hesitation, I invested three million as start-up capital. Moreover, I leveraged all the connections I had built over the years. I accompanied him to meet clients and helped him smooth out all the obstacles. I gave him unreserved access to all the resources I had worked so hard to accumulate. Some friends warned me, saying I was being foolish. "Wendy Lincoln, you're giving him everything. What if he changes his mind?" I just smiled and shook my head, firmly believing Ben Jones would never betray me. I watched him transform from a poor student who couldn't even afford an office. To the CEO of a company with a team of a hundred people. His company grew bigger and bigger, and his reputation continued to soar. He started wearing custom-made suits and driving luxury cars. The youthfulness in him gradually faded, replaced by the sophistication of a businessman. We met less and less frequently. He always said he was busy, swamped with company matters.