Chapter 4 The Family I Came Home To

"All the parents are questioning Cameron's teaching credentials. They're saying he's a heartless teacher. They're demanding refunds and withdrawals because of it! Are you happy now?"

Cameron leaned against Alina, his shoulders trembling. She wasn't annoyed that his tears were soaking her designer dress.

Instead, her eyes were filled with concern.

"Go tell them your leg was injured in an accident. Tell them you crashed your car or fell or something. I don't care what you say. Just make it clear that Cameron had nothing to do with it!"

Serena shoved me toward the parents. Someone tripped me, and I crashed to my knees.

People crowded around me, their whispers growing louder.

My lips trembled as my failing heart pounded weakly against my chest.

What was I supposed to say?

That I had no right to learn how to dance? That the man who bought me had sent me to a widow in a village who wanted a child when I was 15? That they had beaten my leg until it broke when I tried to escape?

"Say something!" Serena screamed so loudly her voice nearly broke. "Are you mute? Help Cameron!"

She grabbed my yellowed, malnourished hair and yanked hard.

I covered my head. Every ounce of strength drained from my body as I knelt there numb.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I injured my leg because I was careless and got hurt while messing around. Cameron has nothing to do with it. Please don't misunderstand him. He… He's a kind and responsible teacher."

The parents started pointing and whispering mean things about me.

"He looks like trouble. Just look at his mouth. It's covered in scars."

"I heard some people like to get into that kind of extreme stuff. Who knows what this kid gets up to in private."

"Cameron looks like a respectable guy compared to him. He obviously wouldn't deliberately hurt a student."

Serena looked satisfied, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smoothing out. "Jasper, why are you still kneeling? Get up."

Only then did Cameron come over to help me up. However, I immediately felt a sharp sting in my arm, as if a needle had been driven deep into it.

The pain made me shove Cameron away.

"Ah! My leg!" Cameron suddenly fell to the floor, clutching his leg and screaming.

I froze. "He stabbed me first—"

Vincent slammed the cup in his hand against my head the very next second. My vision immediately blurred with agony and dizziness.

Alina shot to her feet and took a worried step toward me, but Cameron grabbed her.

Serena rushed over and wrapped her arms around Cameron, wailing.

"How can you be so vicious? You're a cripple yourself, and now you're jealous of Cameron and trying to hurt him? He's been so good to you. He even gave you his old clothes to wear. What more could you possibly want?"

Vincent's voice turned icy.

"You really are a jinx. Our family was perfectly fine until you came back, and now you're even hurting my son. If I'd known… you would've been better off dying out there."

I stood there, numb.

This was the home I had fought so hard to return to.

These were the parents I had missed so desperately for 12 years that I used to wake up crying every night.

Blood from my forehead ran into my eyes, blurring my vision. I didn't even have the strength to wipe it away.

I let out a quiet chortle. "Yes, I was the one who didn't know my place. I've already caused enough trouble for your family. I'll go back, pack my things, and leave."

Alina blocked the doorway, her brows drawn together.

"Jasper, can you stop being so stubborn? I've been waiting for you… No, your parents have been waiting for you all these years. How can you just leave like this? Come on. Apologize to your parents. Then, be a good boy and apologize to Cameron."

I tried to pull away from her, but she happened to grab the exact spot on my arm where Cameron had just stabbed me.