Chapter 2

At 2 a.m., I was awakened by the sound of shattered glass.

When I rushed into the guest room, Liam stood in the middle of the floor, covered in broken shards. He held the mechanical pocket watch my father had given me.

The watch cover had fallen off, and the second hand was frozen in place.

"Ian, I am sorry." Liam’s face was pale as he reached out to grab me. "I only wanted to find a blanket. I never expected it to fall when the cabinet door opened."

I snatched the pocket watch from him.

Before my father passed away, he held onto it and waited for me all night. Because Heather had a sudden high fever, I did not see him for the last time. Since then, this pocket watch became something I never allowed anyone to touch.

"I told you not to come in here." As I finished speaking, I realized I was shaking violently.

Liam’s face turned even paler as his Adam’s apple bobbed. "I did not mean to."

"Get out."

"Ian..."

"I asked you to get out." I pointed toward the door, but Liam retreated and stepped on the broken glass with the soles of his feet. He fell to the ground in pain.

Heather rushed over at the sound.

The moment she saw the blood, her expression changed at once. She went past me and leaned over to help Liam up. "Where did you hurt yourself?"

Liam leaned on her arm as his face turned pale in pain, but he still gritted his teeth and answered, "It is my fault. It has nothing to do with Ian."

Heather lowered her head to check his feet, wearing a deep frown.

I cut my hand once when cutting vegetables, and she carried me to the hospital with the same grim expression.

I broke out in a cold sweat due to the pain. She coaxed me while wiping my tears. "Bear with it. No one will hurt you when I am around."

She used the same tone but was coaxing another man.

"Do not look at the wound. I will take you to the hospital."

When she passed by me, she finally saw the blood on my palm. The edge of the pocket watch had cut a wound.

Heather paused slightly. "The medical kit is on the bedside table. Take care of it first."

I looked at Liam in her arms. "My father’s pocket watch is broken. It cannot be repaired."

Heather’s arm stiffened as she held Liam.

Liam grunted in pain, and the hesitation in her eyes lasted only a moment. "It is only a watch. I will have someone find an identical one for you."

"It will not be the same."

"So what do you want?" Her voice turned cold. "Liam’s feet are still bleeding. Do you want me to put him down now and mourn a stupid watch together?"

‘A stupid watch?’ I thought as I lowered my head, and the blood dripped from my palm onto the stopped dial.

Liam leaned on her arm, suppressing the pain as he suggested, "Heather, stay with Ian. I will go to the hospital myself."

Heather hugged him and walked out. "Ian is not that fragile."

The door slammed shut heavily.

I stood amidst the broken glass on the floor and called the old watch repairer who had repaired the watch for my father.

The old man was silent for a long time after seeing the photo. "The spindle is broken, and the original parts have long been discontinued. It cannot be repaired. Mr. Jeffrey, my condolences."

I slowly squatted down and picked up the fragments into a box.

My phone lit up.

London School of Design had sent the final admission notice.

The cold light of the screen reflected the mess all over the floor.

This time, I did not hesitate as I tapped the confirm button.