Chapter 2

Ethan was so stunned that he tripped over his words. "W-Why is there a sudden demolition? Who's behind it? What is it for?"

The property manager answered, "Hades Corporation has set its sights on this land. They're planning to turn it into a commercial street."

The words hit me like a thunderbolt. So this was Audrey's doing!

…

Ethan didn't sleep a wink that night, and neither did I.

Early the next morning, he stood at the door for a long time before finally gathering the courage to step out. I drifted along behind him as he made his way to the Hades Corporation building.

The receptionist told him he needed an appointment, so he pleaded until she finally agreed to at least check with Audrey.

When Sarah brought him into Audrey's office, the latter didn't even lift her head. Instead, she kept her eyes on her documents as she asked, "What's up?"

He begged in a low, desperate voice, "Audrey, for the sake of our past, please don't tear that house down. It's where Lucas and I grew up, and the only home I have left.

"I'm begging you… Please don't do it…"

As I listened to his words, I felt as if my heart was burning over an open flame.

Audrey looked at him with a cold gaze. "Stop trying to play the victim or overestimate yourself here.

"Our past? What are you talking about? Are you referring to the past when he left me?"

Ethan shook his head hard. He wanted to speak, but stopped himself.

She scoffed. "Save it. I know he sent you here to play the pitiful little brother. It's pathetic that he's still using his little brother this way. He really hasn't changed after all these years. As always, he's trying to latch onto anyone successful.

"Now that I've made it, he better not be dreaming of crawling back to my side."

Ethan rushed to defend me. "No! He never did that! He was just—"

My heart skipped a beat as I sensed his eagerness to reveal the truth.

"Enough!" Audrey cut him off. "I don't have time for your performance on brotherly love."

She waved at Sarah. "Don't let him in again, unless he brings Lucas with him. Also, Lucas has to kneel to apologize."

As I hovered high in the air, watching the farce unfold, I knew that Audrey—the woman I was looking at—was no longer the young lady I knew from my youth.

Life had been tough on Audrey back in our school days. She always wore old, ill-fitting clothes, which made her a target for the delinquent bullies.

The day we met was my first day as a transfer student at the school.

On my way home, I saw a tough-looking young lady yanking Audrey by her ponytail, dragging her toward a nearby hair salon. A cigarette was dangling from the lady's lips as she sneered. "If you've got no money, you can sell your hair to buy me a decent pack of cigarettes."

As someone coming from a comfortable, upper-middle-class family without having to worry about money or putting food on the table, it was my first time hearing of selling hair for money.

Just as they were about to drag her inside, I stepped in to block their way. "What do you think you're doing? Keep this up, and I'm calling the dean."

The young ladies immediately scattered, leaving Audrey trembling in place.

I picked up her bag and handed it to her. "Here. You're safe now."

When she took it and whispered a thank you, I nervously raked a hand through my hair and said, "Let's walk home together."

From then on, we went to and from school together every day, except when she went to the hospital to take care of her mom, Eleanor Vance.

She never let me come along. I understood she had her pride and knew she didn't have enough money for Eleanor's treatments, so she had to juggle multiple part-time jobs. But the money she made was never enough.

Through a friend, I found out where Eleanor was staying. One day, while Audrey was at work, I went to visit.

I brought fruit and daily necessities. The place was heartbreakingly bare.

Before leaving, I told Eleanor, "I paid off the medical bills and added some credit for future treatments, Mrs. Hades. Please focus on getting better.

"This is just my small help, and please don't tell Audrey about my visit today."

She was moved to tears as she repeatedly nodded and squeezed my hand. "You're such a good child. Audrey was lucky to have met you."

But now, that clearly wasn't true.