Chapter 4

I didn't look at their furious expressions again.

I went straight to my room and locked the door.

Outside, I could hear them pounding on the door and shouting accusations. I put on my headphones and shut them out completely.

I spent the entire night in a room that felt like an oven.

The aftereffects of my heatstroke came crashing back. I was so dizzy that I could barely stand.

My throat was so dry it felt like it was about to crack. I pushed open my bedroom door, wanting to go to the kitchen for a glass of water.

The moment I stepped into the living room, I saw Melanie curled up in Mom's arms, her eyes swollen and puffy.

"Mom, forget it. Please don't force Yas anymore.

"I'll take responsibility for everything myself. Even if it means ruining my reputation and going to prison. From now on, you can just pretend you never had me as a daughter."

"What are you talking about?"

Mom pulled her into a tighter, protective embrace before turning toward me with a sharp glare.

"As long as I'm still breathing, I won't let anyone destroy you!"

Dad slammed his hand down on the coffee table.

"Yasmine, if you refuse to sign that statement today, get out of this house!"

Henry stormed over and knocked the glass of water out of my hand just as I picked it up.

It hit the floor with a sharp crash, sending shards of glass flying everywhere.

"If you refuse to take the blame for Mel, you're not allowed to go to work!

"Why should Mel's career be ruined while you get to walk away like nothing happened?

"If she can't draw anymore, then you have to lose your job too. That's only fair!"

I steadied myself against the doorframe and looked at my brother.

The whole thing was so absurd that it was almost laughable.

For twenty-two years, no one had ever talked about fairness when it came to my sister and me.

I had cried and questioned them about it before.

Mom said it as though she had every right to. She had always planned to have one son and one daughter, making a perfect family of four.

Then she unexpectedly became pregnant with me.

According to her, my arrival was what shattered the happiness of our family of four.

That was why I had no right to demand fairness.

And yet now, they were the ones lecturing me about fairness.

I laughed, but tears slipped down my face anyway.

Blood seeped from the cracks in my lips.

The tears mixed with the metallic taste of blood as I swallowed them down.

Quentin gently pressed the eggs he had brought that morning against Melanie's swollen eyes.

He didn't even spare a glance at my pale face.

"Yasmine, think carefully.

"If you refuse to sign, you won't be leaving this house today. And I can make sure you disappear from this industry for good.

"If you sign it, we can go back to the way things were. I can even arrange a position for you."

I lowered my eyes and hid my trembling hands behind my back.

I swallowed the metallic taste of blood in my throat and pretended to finally accept my fate and give in.

"Okay. I'll sign it."

My voice was hoarse as I forced the words out.

"But I need to stop by the office first and ask my supervisor for leave. Then I'll go to Starline Media and meet you."

The moment they heard me finally agree, the tension in everyone's faces eased.

Mom let out a cold snort.

"At least you have some conscience."

Henry stepped aside, visibly relieved.

"You should have been this sensible from the beginning."

I turned and walked back to my room.

Before leaving, I glanced at the winter melon still lying in the corner.

I grabbed my backpack and headed downstairs.

A rideshare was waiting downstairs.

On the way, Quentin sent me a message.

"Starline Media's legal director, Ms. Coleman, will be there too. When you get to the conference room, When you get to the conference room, be careful about what you say. Once you've signed the statement, I'll take you out for the Buffalo Wings you wanted and have the latest quiet air conditioner installed in your room."

But now, the spicy sliced beef didn't matter.

Neither did the air conditioner.

My family, my lover, none of them mattered anymore.

When I arrived at Starline Media, I didn't go upstairs.

Instead, I took a brown envelope from my bag and paid a cleaner five dollars to deliver it to Ms. Coleman, Starline Media's legal director.

Then I got back into the rideshare.

"Could you change the destination to the train station, please?"

The car merged into traffic.

I opened my chat with Quentin.

"I've already delivered what you wanted."

I hit Send, then blocked him without hesitation.

After that, I left the family group chat, "Happy Family."

From that moment on, I was heading toward a spring without them.