Chapter 2

Seeing me remain silent, Vanessa sighed.

"Julian, I know you've suffered.

"But you're going to be my brother-in-law soon. You need to grow up."

My parents immediately watched me with suspicion.

"Behave yourself now that you're back. You won't go hungry under this roof.

"If you're still angry, take it out on us. Don't try to destroy the young couple's relationship."

Mason heard that and pretended to comfort me.

"Don't be too upset, Julian. It's not my fault Mom, Dad, and Vanessa love me most.

"It's my birthday. Why don't you stay for a family dinner?"

The moment he finished, everyone looked at me.

As though refusing would make me unforgivably cruel.

They had forgotten it was my birthday too.

Or perhaps anything connected to me had never mattered to them.

I drew a slow breath. "No. I came back to sever ties with this family."

Mason burst out laughing.

"You never even attended college, and now you have a record. Without this family, the only work you'll find is manual labor.

"Don't pretend you're above us. In a few days, you'll probably come crying and begging me for food."

His smug contempt finally ignited the anger I had buried.

"Mason, don't forget that if I hadn't taken the blame, you would have gone to prison!"

There was not a trace of guilt in his eyes.

"Did I force you to go?"

Mason spread his hands as though the answer were obvious.

"You chose to be softhearted. You chose to be stupid.

"That's how the world works, Julian. Winners take everything. Losers live with it."

I trembled with rage, and a sharp pain tore through my chest.

Vanessa, apparently afraid I would hit him, rushed to shield Mason.

"Julian, the wreck you've become is your own fault. You were simply never capable enough."

The contempt in her eyes made the room sway around me.

I had known Vanessa for nine years.

I remembered her giving me her breakfast when she learned I had only a few dollars left for the week.

I remembered her blushing as we made a pinky promise to fight our way into the best university together.

I remembered gentle Vanessa becoming furious when she learned how my parents favored Mason and swearing she would stand up for me.

I had believed that even if the entire world betrayed me, Vanessa would still choose my side without hesitation.

But now the woman who had sworn to love me forever was in love with the brother I hated most.

I should have understood long ago.

Her prison visits had grown shorter, her conversations more perfunctory, and there had been marks on her neck that she calmly blamed on mosquito bites.

I should have ended things then.

But I could not let go.

I could not let go of the woman who cried and promised we would marry when I came home.

Now I finally saw where her heart was.

And at last, I could give her up.

I took a deep breath and forced every emotion back down.

"I was blind. I loved the wrong person.

"I hope you and my brother stay chained to each other for life."

As I turned to leave, Mason grabbed my wrist as though trying to stop me.

I pulled away in disgust.

A calculating light flashed in his eyes, and he used my movement to throw himself onto the floor.

"Julian, do you hate me that much?

"If you need to, beat me to death. Just don't take your anger out on Mom, Dad, or Vanessa!"

Vanessa rushed forward and shoved me hard.

"What's wrong with you? I was the one who suggested you take the blame and go to prison!

"Everything I said during those visits was only to keep you calm and obedient!

"I planned all of it. Mason had nothing to do with it!"