Chapter 2

Vivian Harkins placed the gift box on the table and gently pushed it toward Landon Hutchinson.

Then she turned around and set both hands on my shoulders.

"Aaron, everything has an optimal solution.

"Landon's situation is special. This is a matter of survival. You, on the other hand, are only delaying your enrollment by one year. Between life and time, we can only choose to preserve life. This is the lowest-risk solution."

I opened my mouth, and tears fell without warning.

"But... do you know how many nights I stayed up for that?"

"I know you feel wronged."

Vivian's fingers brushed gently over the corner of my eye, wiping away my tears. The movement was as tender as a lover's, but her words were an executioner's blade. "But you love me so much. We are going to be family. Isn't it only right for you to share the family's risks? Aaron, don't make me think you're selfish."

Selfish?

I had burned my wrist making her porridge.

I had stayed up organizing her teaching materials until I had a stomach bleed.

And now, because I refused to let my life be used as a sacrifice, I was selfish?

Vivian opened the gift box. Inside lay a pair of diamond cuff links.

Landon gave a short gasp. "Oh my God, they're gorgeous..."

"Come on. Try them."

Vivian took out the cuff links, lifted Landon's wrist, and fastened them for him.

"Congratulations, future graduate student."

My pupils contracted sharply.

Those were the cuff links Vivian had taken me to see at an auction six months ago.

Back then, she had held my hand and looked at me with firm, shining eyes. "Aaron, I'll save up for them. The day you get your Northbridge admission letter, I'll give them to you as my proposal gift. They have your name on them. Aaron Hutchinson's A."

For those cuff links, she had scrimped and saved all year, and I had eaten instant noodles with her for a month.

Now she had taken them out, but not for me.

A shy blush spread across Landon's face. His fingers trembled as he touched the diamond. "This... this is too much. Weren't these meant for Aaron?"

Vivian finished fastening the cuff links and straightened.

"He still has to prepare for next year's exam. Wearing something this expensive at school isn't safe, and it doesn't suit his student status.

"Besides, you're going to study at Northbridge. You represent the dignity of both our families. You need something presentable so others won't look down on you."

I felt a metallic sweetness surge up my throat. I grabbed Vivian's sleeve.

"Vivian! Those are mine! My name is engraved on them!

"I ate instant noodles with you for two months so you could save for those! You said they were my proposal gift!"

Vivian frowned, impatience flashing through her eyes.

"Aaron, don't be so materialistic.

"Rewards exist to recognize achievement. The person who received the admission letter is Landon, not you. Naturally, the reward belongs to the winner. As for the name..."

She glanced at it lightly.

"Don't be too sensitive. It's only a symbol."

My father immediately echoed her, scolding me.

"Exactly. Vivian is being thoughtful. If your brother goes to Northbridge looking shabby and gets mocked by his classmates, our whole family loses face. Once you get in next year, have your brother lend them to you for a couple of days."

Lend them to me for a couple of days?

My admission letter had become my brother's.

My fiancee had become my brother's guardian angel.

And now even the token of our love had become my brother's "proper attire," while I could only borrow it?

"I won't borrow them!"

Smack!

A crisp slap rang out.

My mother drew back her hand, her face full of anger.

My face was knocked sideways. My ears buzzed, and half my cheek burned with pain.

"You ungrateful little bastard! Have we given you too much freedom?"

My mother pointed at me and cursed. "Snatch, snatch, snatch. All you know is how to snatch things! That's your own brother! Do you have any conscience at all?"

Landon clutched the cuff links and hid behind Vivian. A flicker of almost imperceptible delight flashed in his eyes.

Vivian stood there and made no move to help me.

"Aaron, calm down.

"Your emotions are very unstable right now, and that won't help your preparation for next year's exam. Go back to your room. Come out when you've reflected on yourself."

I held my burning cheek and looked at the three people closest to me in this world.

Suddenly, I felt like an outsider.

Like a sacrifice that could be offered up at any moment, stripped of everything, and then still be expected to kneel in gratitude.

The mechanical voice in my head rang out again.

[Host has suffered major emotional betrayal and violent treatment.]

[Unfairness count: 2/3.]

[Warning: life countdown protocol primed. Only one final threshold remains.]