Chapter 2

By the time Ethan rushed home through the rain, he was already soaked through.

When he pushed the door open, he saw that the entire room was filled with Nina’s little toys and picture books scattered all over the floor.

His nose stung with bitterness, and he was unable to hold himself together anymore.

He slid down against the door and broke down in tears.

He had not been home for a couple of months, yet whenever he closed his eyes, he could still see Nina nestling in his arms and acting clingy.

He could still see his little bundle of joy sitting on the carpet doing puzzles and calling him “Daddy” in her sweet, childish voice.

Every fond memory felt like a dagger buried in his chest.

His head pounded so fiercely that he could not tell if it was the fever from running in the rain, or simply a heart that had been battered into numbness.

Just then, he heard a faint rustling sound from Nina’s room.

He panicked, staggered to his feet, and rushed over to push open the door.

His blood ran cold when he saw what was happening in there.

On Nina’s little bed, Rosalind and Samson were disheveled and tangled up together.

Rosalind was shocked. She instinctively sat up.

Samson, however, adjusted his clothes nonchalantly and looked at Ethan provocatively.

Before Ethan could lash out, Rosalind gave him a dark look and snapped with impatience, “Sam was nice enough to drive me over to pick up some of Nina’s favorite things.

“We were getting ready to go see her at the cemetery later. What’s your problem?”

Ethan trembled with rage. He was so furious that he could barely stand steady.

Samson said casually, “Ethan, what can I say? Rose and I just got carried away. But she still has feelings for you. Why else would she be thinking about Nina?”

He paused for a moment, smiled, then added, “Besides, it’s just a bed. Nina won’t be coming back. What’s the point of hanging on to all this?”

That was Ethan’s last straw.

“Shut up!”

Like a madman, he grabbed the picture books, the pen holder, and the toys within reach and hurled them at the two of them.

“This is Nina’s room! You have no right to even mention her! You’ve contaminated her space!”

He lunged forward, seized both of them by the arms, and dragged them toward the door with everything he had. “Get out! Get out of my house!”

Samson ducked behind Rosalind.

“Rose, you know I really didn’t receive any calls that day up on the mountain.”

She frowned, shielded Samson, and said to Ethan harshly, “Ethan, that’s enough! Stop being so unreasonable!”

Ignoring her, Ethan dragged Samson to the doorway and threw him out with brutal force.

He did not spare Rosalind another glance. He turned, crouched down, and picked up Nina’s little plush toy as he sobbed uncontrollably.

She became irritated and said sharply, “Ethan, it was an accident. No one wished for this to happen—”

Before she could finish speaking, Ethan slammed the bedroom door shut. It shut her off completely on the other side.

Her face darkened as she became furious.

Samson held her back as something glinted in his eyes.

“Rose, don’t be upset. If Nina were still around, I’d get tested for the bone marrow match without a second thought. I’d even give my life if that’s what it took.

“These past two months, I’ve been more than grateful just to spend one hour with you each day.”

He lowered his eyes. His obedience was so complete that it was moving.

He averted his eyes. His meekness was enough to break her heart.

Rosalind’s expression turned grim. She pulled him into a brief embrace and said softly, “Ethan’s just in shock. Give him time. He’ll come around eventually.”

Just as the two of them turned to leave, the door behind them was yanked open.

Ethan stood there with red-rimmed eyes, drenched from head to toe. His face was deathly pale. He was gripping a gleaming fruit knife in his trembling hand.

“Samson, stop right there.

“Hand it over.”