Can an Evil Lady Change

[1]

I never thought I'd find myself with a boyfriend ten years younger, handsome and strong with a good background.

[2]

But I was naturally aloof, finding it hard to maintain long-term relationships.

[3]

I manipulated his family and let them go bankrupt, making him destitute.

[4]

Yet, he still loved me.

[5]

In his eyes, I was both malignant and beautiful.

[6]

Part 1

[7]

If there was a downside to dating someone ten years younger, it should be that I would often be exhausted and had to always stay up late.

[8]

Last night, Bryan White and I got a room and didn't sleep until the small hours. This morning, as the sun rose, he looked at me with his bright, charming eyes and said.

[9]

"I want it again."

[10]

I forced a smile.

[11]

"Aren't you tired?"

[12]

He shook his head.

[13]

"Seeing you energizes me."

[14]

I didn't want to disappoint him, but every bone in my body was crying in exhaustion.

[15]

Seeing Bryan got closer, I couldn't help but cheer up and thought old age beckoned and our strength was really different since there was an age difference of ten years between us.

[16]

Just as Bryan leaned in again, my phone rang, its shrill tone a welcome interruption.

[17]

Grateful to whoever was calling, I gently pushed Bryan away.

[18]

"I have something to do."

[19]

Bryan looked displeased, reluctantly letting go of me, which made me laugh. As I answered the phone, I flicked his nose playfully.

[20]

"I'll make it up to you next time, double."

[21]

His eyes lit up instantly. He was really an easy-to-please young man. Otherwise, someone with his looks and background wouldn't have been ensnared by a 32-year-old woman like me, who worked in the night club.

[22]

Bryan and I met at a karaoke bar. He was just starting his business, and a partner brought him to experience something new. I was the manager, serving drinks to regulars in the private room.

[23]

After a few drinks and some conversation, he couldn't take his eyes off me, and by the end of the night, we got drunk and slept with each other.

[24]

That night, I used every trick to make him reluctant to leave me.

[25]

As dawn approached, he held me close, looking at me with satisfaction.

[26]

"I'm twenty-two, single without any girlfriend."

[27]

I lit a cigarette, smiling coquettishly.

[28]

"I'm thirty-two, not a good person."

[29]

Everyone knew that managers in night club weren't usually good people.

[30]

I was even worse.

[31]

Competitors I had defeated said I was evil, malignant and mean behind my back, but I embraced the title.

[32]

I thought their description suited my character—vengeful and willing to pay any price to revenge.

[33]

Bryan was stunned after hearing me, looking me up and down.

[34]

"I can't even tell you're that much older than me."

[35]

I teasingly breathed out a stream of cigarette smoke in his direction.

[36]

"If you could tell, how would I charm older men into buying drinks?"

[37]

He probably had never encountered a woman like me before, unsure of what to do, so he just closed his eyes and fell asleep in a state of anxiety.

[38]

I gazed at his youthful beauty, smoking as the night turned to dawn.

[39]

That face was familiar to me.

[40]

When it got light, I leaned down to kiss his long, curled eyelashes, feeling his eyes move beneath his lids that he was already awake.

[41]

I smiled, not exposing him, got dressed, and left, slamming the door behind me.

[42]

Two days later, Bryan returned, booking a private room and specifically asking me to serve him. I didn't go, deliberately teasing him, greeting other guests with a coquettish smile, frequently passing by his room.

[43]

Watching my figure, he quickly got jealous as he drank.

[44]

When I thought the time was right, I took a bottle of whiskey and sat beside him.

[45]

He hesitated a few times but finally made up his mind.

[46]

"I can't forget you. I want to be with you."

[47]

I chuckled, took a sip of the drink, and turned his chin towards me, pouring the whiskey into his mouth, which made him stand up, pulling me straight to the hotel, eyes fixed on me with longing.

[48]

"Madeline Wells, be my girlfriend."

[49]

I gazed at him, wrapping my arms around his sweaty back, and nodded gently.

[50]

Since then, we had indulged in sex every night, my body growing increasingly weary, especially today. I was grateful for the morning call that saved me from falling apart.

[51]

The call was from Lilah Flynn, my best wine saleswoman, always popular, but now sobbing. "Miss Wells, he's ignoring me again. This time he's really left me.

[52]

What should I do?"

[53]

I sighed impatiently but couldn't truly ignore her.

[54]

I had told her countless times that I was not a good person and not to trust me, but this silly girl believed in me as if I was her biological sister. I couldn't refuse her.

[55]

Her makeup was ruined from crying.

[56]

I sighed again, "He's over fifty, with a wife and a kid.

[57]

He just wants to sleep with you, and you're in love with him like a fool."

[58]

Lilah sobbed, breathless.

[59]

"But I can't give it up!

[60]

I'm not willing to accept such a result!"

[61]

As if she was complaining, she said angrily, "I listened to you and didn't let him touch me, and now he's completely lost patience.

[62]

What do I do?"

[63]

It was really vexed.

[64]

I met Lilah at the university gate when she was about to graduate.

[65]

I never went to university, always yearning for it, lingering at the campus gate. Seeing her youthful and spirited, I wanted to get to know her.

[66]

She reminded me of my younger self.

[67]

After a few days of acquaintance, she experienced the extravagant and intoxicating nightlife with me and knew how fast it was to make money. She hid it from her family and insisted on regarding me as her sister, wanting to make a quick buck.

[68]

I disagreed but couldn't resist her pestering me, so I eventually nodded. Under my protection, she never encountered anyone with ill intentions without losing her virginity.

[69]

The man making her cry was brought here by one regular customer of me for drinks. I didn't have time to entertain them, so I let Lilah serve him.

[70]

The regular customer teased Lilah and the man along the way. Despite his age, the man was indeed handsome and seemed wealthy, and Lilah fell for him.

[71]

I investigated the man; his son was about Lilah's age.

[72]

I advised her not to fall in love with him, but Lilah didn't listen. I had no choice but to tell her to not lose her virginity and keep tantalizing him, not letting him sleep with her randomly.

[73]

Unfortunately, Lilah was still dumped, crying in front of me.

[74]

Her tears were irresistible to me because we were somewhat alike. I sighed.

[75]

"I'll give you one more chance. Forget that man and don't become the mistress."

[76]

Lilah, spoiled by me, shook her head firmly.

[77]

"No.

[78]

I want to be with him!"

[79]

I closed my eyes.

[80]

It was really hard to persuade someone determined to make a mistake.

[81]

"This is the path you've chosen. Bear the consequences yourself."

[82]

I warned her, word by word.

[83]

She nodded emphatically.

[84]

So, I gave her some advice that men often had a competitive streak. If he found out his former woman was with a better man and living well, he would be tempted to woo her back, even if he didn't love her.

[85]

It was the male instinct.

[86]

I took Lilah to rent a car, an Aston Martin, bought her designer clothes, and lent her my handbag and watch.

[87]

I told her to post on Facebook, visible only to that old man.

[88]

The first post was said, "Thank you, my dear, for treating me so well. When God closes a door, he really does leave a window open for me."

[89]

The pictures of the post included the car, bag, and watch.

[90]

Lilah posted it, looking bewildered, and asked what to do next. I smoked, glancing at her.

[91]

"Wait."

[92]

Lilah worriedly asked.

[93]

"What if he doesn't react?"

[94]

I stubbed out the cigarette, gazing at the cold night outside.

[95]

"He won't."

[96]

Lilah laughed.

[97]

"You talk like you know him."

[98]

I lowered my head, smiling silently.

[99]

Two hours later, Lilah's phone rang.

[100]

The old man sent Lilah a Whatsapp message.

[101]

"What are you doing?"

[102]

Lilah jumped up excitedly, eager to ask me.

[103]

"How should I reply to him?"

[104]

I snatched her phone.

[105]

"Don't reply."

[106]

Lilah fidgeted, watching the phone anxiously. The older man sent two question marks, but I still didn't let her respond until he called.

[107]

Lilah wanted to answer the phone, but I was quicker, hanging it up with a light tap.

[108]

Lilah was both anxious and angry, her lips trembling.

[109]

I looked at her.

[110]

"Have you heard of the art of playing hard to get?"

[111]

Lilah plopped onto the sofa, half sad, half aggrieved, rubbing her face against my arm.

[112]

"Miss Wells, won't he feel embarrassed and ignore me again?"

[113]

I said confidently.

[114]

"He won't."

[115]

Lilah asked.

[116]

"How do you know?"

[117]

I smiled, pinching her cheek.

[118]

"I just know it."

[119]

Lilah trusted me and stopped asking for the phone, leaning against me, pouting. "Miss Wells, you're so good to me.

[120]

What would happen to me without you?"

[121]

My hand brushed against her arm, feeling the warmth of her skin.

[122]

I pulled my hand back as if I got an electric shock.

[123]

My hands and feet were cold, unable to touch anything warm.

[124]

I rubbed my hands together, persuading again.

[125]

"Forget him and find someone unmarried, okay?"

[126]

Lilah still shook her head, and I said no more.

[127]

A few days later, Lilah posted on Facebook again. The picture was in a nightclub's private room, with wine worth tens of thousands in front of her, surrounded by several handsome men. The caption read, "With wealth, there's no man I can't have."

[128]

She wanted to take a photo of me too, but I just smiled and shook my head, hiding in a corner where the camera couldn't reach.

[129]

It wasn't long after she posted on Facebook that Lilah's phone rang again.

[130]

She glanced at me, reluctantly hanging up the call.

[131]

I raised my glass and downed it in one go.

[132]

Lilah quickly refilled it, playfully saying.

[133]

"Miss Wells, meeting you is my good fortune. I'll repay tonight's expenses someday..."

[134]

I drained the glass of wine again in one gulp and blurted out, "Just don't hate me in the future."

[135]

Lilah was taken aback, thinking I was drunk, and didn't take it to heart.

[136]

I took the opportunity to feign drunkenness and excused myself, leaving the nightclub. I called Bryan to meet up at a hotel, threw myself into his arms, tugging at his clothes, but did nothing more than hold him, feeling his warmth against my skin.

[137]

Bryan was stunned.

[138]

He held me tight and asked what was wrong.

[139]

I didn't answer, and after a while, murmured.

[140]

"I'm afraid of the cold."

[141]

Bryan chuckled, patting my back, and whispered in a gentle tone as if he was coaxing a child, "With me around, you'll never feel cold.

[142]

I'm like a walking heater."

[143]

His body was indeed warm, seemingly driving away the chill from my bones.

[144]

I lifted my head to kiss his chin, having sex with him, as if only this could banish the cold from me...

[145]

At dawn, Bryan fell into a deep sleep.

[146]

I lit a cigarette, watching his closed yet beautiful eyes, and after a while, blew out a stream of smoke to obscure them. I got out of bed and left him before the sun could light up the world, returning to my own place.

[147]

Part 2

[148]

In the following days, Lilah accompanied me shopping every day, posting the photos of what we bought on Facebook.

[149]

I went to all the expense of buying expensive things for Lilah, almost as if I were burning my bridge, waiting for that man to take the bait.

[150]

Finally, the man grew impatient. Unable to get through to the phone number of Lilah, he came looking for her.

[151]

I was drinking with some guests when I heard someone was looking for Lilah. I only glanced at his figure before returning to the private room, sending one of my female subordinates to deal with him.

[152]

The girl embellished the story, reporting Lilah's situation to him, "A wealthy man from Cheabia has taken a liking to her, giving her a large sum of money. He's quite the gentleman, very handsome, and supposedly runs a big company.

[153]

Lilah's really lucked out!"

[154]

They said the man's eyes darkened with envy.

[155]

I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching his back until he entered the elevator and disappeared from sight.

[156]

I took out my phone and called Lilah, "You can answer his calls now. Remember what I taught you. Whether it works out or not is up to you.

[157]

Just remember, don't let him sleep with you.

[158]

Protect yourself."

[159]

Lilah sounded worried, "But Miss Wells, what if he finds out the truth later..."

[160]

I took a drag on my cigarette, and exhaled the smoke before I replied calmly, "Push him to divorce and marry you as soon as possible. Once you get married with him, at his age, it's unlikely he'll find someone else.

[161]

What will you be afraid of by then?"

[162]

Lilah treated my words like gospel. If I said it would work, she just believed it would. She exclaimed joyfully.

[163]

"Miss Wells, you must have been my biological sister in a past life!"

[164]

I lowered my eyes, saying nothing, just as Bryan came to see me. I quietly hung up the phone.

[165]

When Bryan came, I thought he wanted to make love again, but instead of heading to a hotel, he took me to a restaurant, where musicians played at our table.

[166]

His eyes sparkled with excitement as he pulled out a ring, looking at me with deep affection, "I don't know if I'm a good boyfriend, but if you think I'm okay, put on this ring and formalize our relationship.

[167]

You don't have to work hard in the night club anymore."

[168]

My hand froze.

[169]

This was unexpected; I thought he was just going out with me for fun.

[170]

Bryan, thinking I didn't believe him, held my hand tightly, "Even if I fail in starting a new business, I can still support you.

[171]

My family is well-off, and my parents are good people."

[172]

Hearing this, my head inexplicably ached. I forced a smile and extended my hand for Bryan to put the ring on my finger.

[173]

Bryan was overjoyed, holding me and spinning around several times. The restaurant patrons applauded us, and I smiled, thanking them, though my face was stiff from smiling too long.

[174]

After dinner, Bryan wanted to go with me to see the place I lived, but I declined, claiming I wasn't feeling well.

[175]

I noticed his disappointment but pretended not to know it, returning home alone to sit on the sofa, staring at the ring on my hand.

[176]

In the dark room, only the ring's silver gleam shone.

[177]

My room was perpetually shrouded in blackout curtains that the sunlight couldn't filter in through them at all. The temperature of the air conditioning was set to the lowest, always dark and cold.

[178]

I had no choice; since childhood, I hated sunny weather, despised the sunlight, the white clouds, and blue sky.

[179]

All my mishaps happened in such pleasant weather.

[180]

My father told my mother on a sunny day that he had a mistress and wanted a divorce.

[181]

They got their divorce certificate on another sunny day, and soon after, he married the mistress.

[182]

My mother left him with me and a large sum of alimony, leaving me at home while she went out drinking every day.

[183]

She hated seeing me because I was too similar to my father.

[184]

The money my father gave was enough for us to live on, so she didn't work. She went out drinking in the morning, and by noon, she got drunk and stormed into my school, mistaking me for my father and beating me until I bled.

[185]

Teachers couldn't stop her, and classmates laughed at us.

[186]

All this always happened on sunny days.

[187]

So I hated the sun and loved the darkness.

[188]

I sat in the pitch-black room, staring at the ring's faint silver glow until I fell asleep, nightmares visiting me as they had for over a decade.

[189]

In the dream, a little girl, her face swollen so much her eyes couldn't open, was kicked hard by high heels but stubbornly refused to cry, just staring at the drunken woman who abused her, listening to her vicious curses.

[190]

"Why don't you just die!

[191]

You couldn't even make your father not divorce me. Why did I give birth to you!

[192]

Now, with you as an encumbrance to me, I can never remarry!!!"

[193]

One day, the little girl waited until the drunken woman fell asleep, then ran back to her father, covered in bruises.

[194]

Her father went and filed a suit and the divorce court awarded custody to him again.

[195]

The new mother was beautiful, smiling kindly, spreading her arms to embrace the girl.

[196]

"Poor baby, I'll treat you well from now on."

[197]

Her father watched them hug each other, smiling happily.

[198]

The little girl thought she had escaped from hell, believed happiness was within reach, and felt the sun would finally shine on her...

[199]

Then I woke up.

[200]

I checked my phone; it was four in the morning.

[201]

There was an unread message on Whatsapp from Lilah.

[202]

"Miss Wells, you're amazing!

[203]

He agreed to divorce and be with me!"

[204]

I stared at the message for a long time, wanting to reply, but eventually put the phone down and lay back in the darkness.

[205]

Those with dark intentions could only thrive in the shadows; sunlight was their enemy, and softness was their fatal weakness.

[206]

Part 3

[207]

Bryan had been unhappy lately, saying I was becoming more distant, refusing to take him home, and even meeting him less often.

[208]

I could only smile wryly and apologize, telling him I was busy.

[209]

Recently, Lilah's battle for her man had been intense, and I almost constantly had to give her advice, pulling the indecisive old man to her side.

[210]

I had spent a lot of money, dressing her in luxury designer clothes, which moved Lilah deeply.

[211]