Chapter 2

"Sorry," I said, even though I didn't want to be tricked into borrowing from loan sharks.

Or being beaten to a pulp.

Or being forced to slap myself.

Or being tied to a wall like a dog, forced to stay on all fours if I wanted to eat.

However, it was either that, or they would dig Grandpa out of his grave and desecrate his body.

Stella paused in turn, studying before smiling in approval, "Uriah's right. You just need to suffer a little and you've changed."

Uriah Sullivan had been living with the Sullivans before they found me, while I had been living with his grandfather.

And I was slow on the uptake, as it didn't cross my mind why Stella would mention Uriah at that time.

Stella beckoned at me, being nice for once like she was giving treats to a dog just because I lived up to her expectations.

"Come," she told me, as I had been sitting as far away as I could and averted my eyes, staring at the car mat beneath my feet.

My eyes narrowed, repulsed by the way she ordered me around like I was a dog, and didn't move.

And when I didn't move, her tone became stern. "I said, come."

I didn't answer, but straightened my back as if to salvage that fragile dignity of mine—which I was supposed to have given up on, when I begged the loan sharks for mercy.

And since I wasn't answering, the car was silent.

Whether she was not used to the silence or because she got impatient, Stella reached out with her hand.

My back stiffened even before she could grab my arm, but I was sitting by the car door and couldn't dodge.

And the instant she touched me, my nostrils picked up the scent of her faint perfume.

It was the same perfume she always used—a gift from Uriah.

I remembered that I had a fight with Uriah because I thought he was out of line, and my parents froze my card in response.

That was why when I visited Grandpa, all I had was little cash.

His kidney failure was getting worse, but he couldn't afford the hospital so he never went.

When I took him to the hospital, I didn't have money for the bills.

Neither of my parents answered my calls, but somehow, the other rich brats who were always at odds with me showed up and laughed at me.

"The great Mr. Sullivan needs cash? Well, we're not that cold—you just have to lick our shoes and you will get your money, how about that?"

I didn't hesitate to do it, arching my back as I licked their shoes.

Grandpa was the one who raised me. If I had one shot at saving him, I would seize it.

The room was quiet aside from the sounds of my clothes brushing against the floor, and they had recorded me as I did.

They were all guffawing as they left, not before throwing a couple of hundred-dollar bills on the floor.

"Why don't you look in the mirror next time before you hover around Ms. Lewis?!"

"Yeah! Your love for her is only worth this much!"

Therefore, I was left with no other recourse than to borrow from loan sharks, but it was already too late for Grandpa.

After arranging his funeral, the loan sharks were already hounding me to pay them back.

I called Stella for help, only for her to snap at them impatiently, before snapping at me too and telling me to apologize.

And with that, she hung up.