Chapter 4

Harrison's POV

"I'm home," I replied.

The moment Charlotte heard my words, she sobered up on the other end of the line. Her voice grew hurried. "Which home are you at?"

She knew this was my only home. Now, even this place no longer belonged to me.

Not long after, Charlotte rushed back in a panic with Jonathan.

"Harrison, when did you come back? Why didn't you tell me?" she asked. "The wedding ended late, and the courthouse was already closed. I'll go get the marriage certificate with you next time."

Seeing the uneasiness on her face, I chose not to expose her lie and simply stubbed out the cigarette in my hand.

I had already received a message from Jonathan. He told me that their wedding banquet ended early and that they went to the city hall at 3:00 pm to get their marriage certificate. They had also found time to have a small party with friends.

After eating, drinking, and enjoying themselves, they headed to a karaoke bar and only remembered me after everything was over.

Making up for my sins was probably just an excuse. Charlotte had truly fallen in love with Jonathan.

When I stayed silent, she awkwardly began explaining the changes around the house. "Jonathan is only staying here temporarily."

But I wasn't stupid. The traces of Jonathan living there were everywhere. This was clearly more than a stay for a night or two.

While we stood there in silence, Jonathan yawned and spoke up. "Harrison, there's no room left for you here, and the storage room is packed with stuff as well. I've booked you a luxury hotel."

He clearly thought I was getting in the way.

I nodded. "I'll pack my things."

I pushed open the master bedroom door, but the moment it opened a crack, Charlotte hurriedly slammed it shut. "Harrison, I've already packed all your belongings and put them in the storage room," she said.

Without saying a word, I turned and walked into the storage room, closing the door behind me. Yet I couldn't forget the glimpse of their matching pajamas piled on the bed the moment I opened the bedroom door.

Was this what Charlotte called acting?

Either way, I was leaving soon, so I couldn't be bothered to call her out.

Inside the storage room, my belongings were piled in the corner, covered by a thin layer of dust. I brushed the dust away and began flipping through my journal.

I had only meant to look back on old memories, but a forged medical record slipped out from between the pages. That was when I realized Jonathan's cancer diagnosis had been a lie all along.

It made sense. If he had truly been terminally ill, my parents would have let the psychic's words drive them to chase me to the ends of the earth and tear me apart, all to bless their precious son.

Everything they had done was nothing more than a ploy, using Jonathan's illness as an excuse to take Charlotte away from me.

I took the journal with me as I left the room.

Charlotte asked me in an uneasy voice, "How many days are you staying this time?"

She seemed eager to push me away, probably because she found me to be a nuisance.

"Seven days," I answered.

Charlotte suddenly slipped her arm through mine. "Good. Then I'll stay with you this whole week."

Looking at her smile, I couldn't help but think that I would make these seven days my final goodbye.

After hearing her words, Jonathan suddenly started coughing. His face was pale as he pleaded, "Charlotte, I don't have much time left. Can you stay with me? Once these last seven days are over, I'll beg Mom and Dad to transfer Harrison back."

Charlotte only hesitated briefly before letting go of my arm. "Harrison, we still have a long life ahead of us. Once you come back, I'll spend more time with you. I'll be there to see you off in seven days."

I lowered my gaze. "Alright. I've prepared a gift for you. I'll give it to you the day I leave."

Charlotte said excitedly that she was looking forward to it.

I turned and walked out of the house. Jonathan used seeing me off as an excuse to squeeze into the elevator with me. It was only when the cramped space was down to just the two of us that he showed his true colors.

"Harrison, you saw that medical record, didn't you?" he asked. "Everything was fake. Charlotte is with me because Mom and Dad promised her all the wealth she could ever want as long as she agreed to marry me. You didn't actually think she'd be foolish enough to live a hard life with you, did you?"