Chapter 2

Jasmin finally broke the silence.

"Deagan, this little guilt trip of yours isn't going to work." She folded her arms across her chest, visibly irritated.

"Reagan's been pampered his whole life. Can't you just let him have his way once in a while?"

I nodded without hesitation. "Okay. I'll do whatever you tell me to do, Jasmin."

She turned sharply and stared at me. "If you're really that obedient, go apologize to Reagan."

I immediately pushed the covers aside and climbed out of bed.

The movement pulled at the stitches on my thigh. A sharp pain tore through the wound as it split open again, and fresh blood quickly seeped through the bandages.

I kept walking.

I crossed the hallway barefooted and headed straight for Reagan's ward.

…

My mom was sitting beside his bed, cutting an apple into slices for him. Reagan had just taken a bite when he noticed me standing in the doorway.

His whole body stiffened.

A second later, he scrambled backward and pulled the covers up to his chest.

My mom immediately rose and stepped in front of him. "Deagan, what are you doing here?"

I walked forward and dropped to my knees, the impact sending a dull thud through the quiet room. "I'm sorry."

Before anyone could react, I bent down and struck my forehead against the tile. I did it repeatedly, each blow echoing through the hospital room.

"I shouldn't have frightened Reagan, nor made Jasmin angry. It's all my fault."

I kept bowing, my forehead hitting the floor over and over as I apologized.

My mom grabbed my arm in horror. "Deagan! What are you doing?"

I pulled away from her and continued.

…

Back in the mountains, words alone never amounted to an apology.

You had to suffer before anyone believed you were sincere. And if you hadn't suffered enough, you'd go hungry instead.

Jasmin rushed into the room moments later. She grabbed me by the collar and yanked me upright. "Will you stop it already?"

Blood ran down my forehead and into my eyes, blurring my vision.

I looked at her and grinned. "Are you satisfied now, Jasmin?"

She loosened her grip immediately.

Jasmin recoiled as if touching me had burned her, and she stumbled back a few steps.

Reagan suddenly burst into louder sobs from the bed. "Daegan is trying to make everyone hate me! Fine, I'll leave! Is that what he wants?"

He ripped the IV drip from his hand and jumped out of bed.

Seeing this, my mom panicked and hurried after him.

…

Within seconds, Jasmin and I were alone again.

A nurse came in shortly afterward and cleaned the blood from my forehead before wrapping a fresh bandage around it.

When she finished, she looked at me for a long moment.

A quiet sigh escaped her before she left the room.

Seemingly worried that I'd cause more trouble if I stayed in the hospital, Jasmin arranged for me to be discharged.

When we returned home, my thigh was still wrapped in thick layers of gauze.

The Rhodes Residence was enormous.

Even after living there for a while, I still got lost inside it.

That evening, the long dining table was laden with all kinds of dishes, while I sat alone at the far end, with nothing but a bowl of plain mashed potatoes before me.

My mom had specifically arranged it that way.

She said, "You just got out of the hospital. Your stomach's probably still sensitive, so stick to something light tonight."

I picked up the bowl and began eating in silence.

Across the table, Reagan cut into his filet mignon with a polished silver knife and fork. After taking a bite, he chewed slowly and glanced at me with a faint smile.

"Deagan, why are you holding your bowl like that? Is that how you used to eat in the mountains?" A quiet laugh escaped him. "You look like a little dog."

My hands stiffened around the bowl.

'A dog?'

I lowered my gaze to the mashed potatoes in my hands. If that was how I was supposed to eat, then I had to do a proper job.

Without hesitation, I set the bowl on the floor, slipped out of my chair, and lowered myself onto my hands and knees.

Then, I bent down and began eating the mashed potatoes straight from the bowl.

My mom slammed her palm against the table so hard that the plates rattled and the silverware clattered. "This is outrageous! You're humiliating our family!"

My dad stared at me in shock, his face turning pale as he pointed at me with a trembling finger. "W-What are you doing? Quick, get up!"

Jasmin's expression was even worse. She shot to her feet so abruptly that the chair behind her toppled backward. "Get out! I don't want to see you!"

I immediately stopped eating, got to my feet, and quietly headed for the dining room's entrance.

Just as I approached the doorway, Jasmin's cold voice sounded from behind. "Don't go back to your room. Go outside and sit in the doghouse. Think about your actions."

I gave a small nod and left without a word.

It began raining later that night. I curled up inside the freezing doghouse with my knees drawn tightly to my chest as water leaked through the cracks in the roof, soaking my hair and clothes.

Cold wind slipped through the thin walls made out of plank wood, leaving me shivering.

Even when exhaustion began pulling at my eyelids, I forced myself to stay awake.

No one had given me permission to sleep.

As such, I didn't dare close my eyes.