Chapter 2

Evelyn looked soft and fragile, like a pure white jasmine flower drifting down from the sky.

The first time she walked into our classroom and introduced herself, Matthias could not take his eyes off her.

Her family situation was not great either. She only had a disabled father at home. Maybe it was that unspoken bond between people who struggled, but Matthias and Evelyn quickly grew close.

Evelyn could never keep up with the lessons. She would carry test papers covered in red X's, sit beside Matthias, and ask timidly, "Matthias, may I ask you something?"

Every time, he would take the paper and patiently explain everything step by step. There was none of the impatience he showed when he tutored me.

Once, after Evelyn ranked dead last in a physics exam, she lay her head on her desk and cried. Matthias pushed her deskmate aside and sat next to her, quietly keeping her company, handing her tissues again and again without a hint of annoyance.

By evening, a neatly organized summary of basic concepts appeared on Evelyn's desk, packed with notes.

Everyone said Matthias and Evelyn looked perfect together. My presence only made things awkward.

However, that was not why I refused them.

Three days before Matthias planned to bring Evelyn to my house, I accidentally overheard a conversation in the bathroom.

"Evelyn, Matthias treats you differently. Are you two together?"

Evelyn let out a mocking laugh, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Have you seen how poor he is? Do I look like I'm done enjoying a good life? He's just a free tutor to me."

"Wow, seriously? Wendy has to pay to get him to tutor her."

"Please. With Wendy's brain, what will she learn anyway? Just wait. Sooner or later, I will take Matthias away from her completely."

Back then, I stood inside the bathroom stall, shaking with anger as I listened.

At the time, Matthias treated Evelyn with almost devout care. It was senior year, and I was afraid telling him would affect his mood, so I kept it to myself.

I only hinted there and then that he should stay away from her.

So, when he asked to bring Evelyn to my house for tutoring, I refused without hesitation.

Evelyn ran out of my house crying. At the intersection, she failed to notice the traffic light and got hit by a car. One of her legs was left permanently disabled.

Matthias, his eyes red, pointed at me and blamed me.

Behind the scenes, he wove a net so tight I had no way out.

Everything I did turned into a joke of self-sacrifice, paid for with my entire youth and even my life.

Then, I finally understood something.

I should let go of my urge to save others and respect their fate.

…

When I refused, Matthias immediately got worked up.

"Tutoring you alone is tutoring. Why can't I bring Evelyn along, too?

"This is a critical stage in our studies. Can you stop being so selfish?"

He glared at me, aggressive and pressing, making me question my judgment back then.

In high school, Matthias had excellent grades and a proud personality, but he was so poor he could barely afford food. I did not even like studying, yet I paid him a high tutoring fee and asked him to help me. I did that just to protect his pride.

After graduation, I brought him into my dad's company as an intern and even pulled strings to make him a project manager.

After we got married, I handed the entire company over to him.

Even after all that, he still wanted me dead.

So, how could I possibly make the same mistake again?

Evelyn chimed in too, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

She gently tugged at the corner of my sleeve, her lips trembling as large tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Wendy, if I can't get into college, my dad will force me to marry early.

"Please, just think of it as saving my life, okay? I will repay you for the rest of my life."