Filed to story: A Little Princess's Journey from Darkness to Light Novel
Lilly asked curiously, “Huh? Why did you sleep in the study instead of your husband?”
Rebecca explained, “I write novels at night, so the study is more suitable for me to sleep in.”
Upon hearing this, Pablo clicked his tongue. When Rebecca mentioned it, she began to complain, “Although my house isn’t small, it only has three rooms. My mother-in-law lives in one room, my husband and children share another room, and the remaining room is my study.”
Lilly asked, “So that’s why you sleep in the study?”
Pablo asked, “Why did you obey your husband and not refuse him?”
Lilly relayed Pablo’s question to Rebecca. “Why did you obey your husband and not refuse him?”
Rebecca looked helpless. “Forget it. I don’t want to argue with him. My children sleep with us too, and they’ll feel hot if I turn on the heater.” Because of this, she decided to buy a bigger house.
She had been writing books for several years and had earned some money. After deducting the family expenses, she had saved several hundred thousand dollars from selling copyrighted novels and having them adapted into TV dramas.
In Wagren, a small prefecture-level city, more than one million dollars was enough to buy a spacious house. She had long desired to purchase a villa, but her mother-in-law, Elliot, disagreed. Elliot believed their current house was sufficient, and Rebecca needed to save money for her grandchildren. Elliot even emphasized that the money was not Rebecca’s alone, and she should not reveal her wealth to prevent relatives from borrowing money.
“Later, she reluctantly agreed to buy the house after I insisted many times, but I felt very frustrated. When we were searching for a suitable place, my husband would bring this or that person to see the house. They were all my husband’s relatives and had many opinions. They forgot that it was me who wanted to buy it! We went to see another house just now, and my husband brought his relatives again. I felt so redundant.”
Rebecca had taken a liking to a particular house type. It was over 200 square meters with a total price of 2 million dollars. She believed it wasn’t expensive, and the bigger, the better. She could use one room as a study, and when her two children grew up, they would each have their own room. There could even be an extra guest bedroom, making it convenient when guests visited.
However, Lydia thought it was too expensive. She suggested that Rebecca should buy a 140-square-meter house with four bedrooms. The two children would each have their own room, Elliot would have a room, and Rebecca and Harry would share a room. Lydia even argued that Rebecca didn’t need a study and a desk would suffice for her work.
Furthermore, Lydia advised Rebecca not to prioritize school districts as they were often inflated by real estate agents. She mentioned that Nicole was studying in town without the need for a specific school district, and Nicole was still performing well academically.
Then, Lydia proposed the idea of buying a resettlement house in another community, which was much cheaper.
Rebecca was infuriated. “I want a space for my study! I write novels full-time and require a quiet environment, but Aunt Lydia claims I’m causing trouble! As for the resettlement housing, there are construction sites nearby, but my mother-in-law listened to Aunt Lydia and wanted to see it. I felt so angry that I came back.”
Lilly wrinkled her nose and asked, “They haven’t returned yet?”
Rebecca slumped onto the table, dejected and helpless. “They went to see the houses by themselves. They discussed amongst themselves and didn’t consider me at all. I wondered if it was me who was buying the house. Actually, only my husband and I went to see houses on the first day, but he insisted on bringing his mother the next day. Soon, they started bringing more relatives to see houses.”
Rebecca continued, “His cousin came over some time ago. She had many opinions as well. Moreover, she said that after we bought a house, I should save money and not spend it on skincare products. She claimed those things were useless and wouldn’t make me look prettier!”
Pablo was speechless. “Just speak up if you’re unhappy! If you don’t like it, just say so!”
Lilly conveyed Pablo’s words once again. “Just speak up if you’re unhappy! If you don’t like it, just say so!”
Rebecca responded, “Forget about it. I don’t want to argue with them.”
Lilly and Pablo were at a loss for words. They believed that Rebecca deserved it since she never shared her thoughts with her family.
Rebecca exclaimed, “The money is mine! Not only did they interfere with my house purchase, but they also won’t let me spend my own money!”
Lilly and Pablo remained silent, and even Anthony couldn’t bear it any longer.
“And…” Rebecca wanted to continue, but Lilly quickly covered her mouth. “Alright, Aunt Rebecca, you can stop talking now.”
Lilly found it strange. The more she listened, the angrier she became. Although she didn’t understand what the adults were doing, she still felt upset.
Pablo couldn’t understand either. Logically, Rebecca’s husband doesn’t earn money, and Rebecca takes care of the elders and children. So why is she still so resentful?
Lilly pondered and asked, “Aunt, why don’t you talk to your husband?”
Rebecca complained, “My husband is domineering. When he returned to his hometown, people thought he was wealthy, and he didn’t clarify the truth. My husband wanted to make all the decisions. If I didn’t obey him, he would become unhappy. Once, we went to his hometown during the New Year and argued over a trivial matter. I got angry and said I wanted to return to the city. Then, he left me right there! I walked from the village back to the urban area for two hours. It was around 11.00 pm, and there were no cars. I didn’t arrive in the urban area until 1.00 am…”
Lilly understood. The feeling of helplessness probably haunted Rebecca during that time.
Encountering ghosts was easier at midnight, especially when Rebecca had been walking alone for over two hours.
Lilly asked, “Didn’t your husband come to find you?”
Rebecca shook her head. “He didn’t even know I went home. I cried as I walked and felt hopeless. What’s the point of earning so much money?”
Lilly was confused. “Why didn’t you tell him?”
Rebecca sighed. “I don’t want to say it. It’s useless.”
Lilly and Pablo were left speechless once again.
Anthony frowned. Although he usually stayed out of other people’s business, he couldn’t bear it any longer.
He asked coldly, “Why didn’t you resist?”
What was the point of making money if Rebecca still had to suppress her anger? The purpose of working hard and earning money was to prevent oneself from being mistreated and to live a happy life. When someone tried to control her, she should fight back.
Pablo crossed his arms and shook his head. “If she doesn’t divorce, she’ll have to suffer.”
Lilly vaguely understood Pablo’s words and said to Rebecca, “You can get a divorce!”
Rebecca hesitated at the mention of divorce and replied, “Uh, my husband is still good. At least he didn’t go out to find another woman…”
Her response left everyone speechless. Pablo didn’t know what to say.
Lilly asked curiously, “Aunty Rebecca, isn’t this what he should do?”
When two adults get married, it’s only right to honor their agreement.
Lilly recalled watching a couple’s wedding ceremony on TV. The man solemnly vowed to love the woman and remain faithful to her, no matter if she was poor, sick, or disabled, until death.
How could something he should do become an advantage?
Lilly felt that she was still too young. Even if she tried her best, she couldn’t understand the complexities of adult relationships.
Lilly shook her head and said earnestly, “Aunty Rebecca, I’ll help you get rid of bad luck! I hope you’ll be brave in the future and say no to things you don’t like!”
Rebecca froze. Looking at Lilly, who was only a few years old, she suddenly felt inferior to a child.
Sometimes she also wanted to resist, but in the adult world, she couldn’t act recklessly. She was also afraid that quarrels would negatively affect her children and her own mood. Moreover, she didn’t want others to mock her.
Once, she had a big fight with Harry. As a result, she couldn’t write a single word for three days. Arguing was useless. It was better to keep it to herself.
Rebecca continued to complain, but her eyes gradually became dull. She became like a mindless robot, mechanically repeating her grievances.
Pablo withdrew his hand and said, “Alright, get rid of that spirit now!” He was irritated listening to Rebecca.
“Come on, Tulip! Read with me!”
He glanced at her with seriousness. “Evil spirit! Reveal your true form!”
Lilly imitated his spell loudly. “Evil spirit! Reveal your true form!”
Before Anthony could react, he suddenly saw a shadow on Rebecca’s shoulder.
Anthony was shocked. When he looked closely, there seemed to be nothing, as if it was just his imagination.
Lilly’s gaze shifted from Rebecca to the weak spirit on her shoulder. Following Pablo’s lead, she asked solemnly, “What’s your name? When and where were you born?”
The weak spirit hesitated and frowned, then said, “My name is Michael Owen, from Bashium…”
Lilly suddenly raised the jar of souls and asked loudly, “Michael, do you dare to answer me when I call you?”
Pablo, Anthony, and Michael were left speechless.
Pablo covered his face and asked helplessly, “Tulip, where did you learn this?”
Lilly blinked. “From TV!” The characters always said that in cartoons.
She asked in confusion, “Is there a problem?”
Pablo’s mouth twitched. “No problem.” But which ghost would obediently listen to her?
