Chapter 2

I looked at the room, which was even smaller than Moon’s bathroom, and nodded. “Okay.”

After my parents left, someone knocked on the door.

Cameron stood outside. He lowered his voice and said, “Mindy, watch what you say. Those five years meant nothing. I only took pity on you. It was a deal.

“Moon is the one I’m going to marry. You’d better understand your place.”

I brushed my hand over my stomach. The pregnancy report I had received yesterday was still in my pocket.

I thought returning to a wealthy family would close the gap between us.

I thought I could finally stand beside him openly.

All of that turned out to be wishful thinking.

I forced down the bitterness rising in my chest and looked up at him.

“Cameron, this ends here.”

He froze.

I turned around and closed the door. I did not look back.

However, my words made Cameron angry.

He raised his hand and blocked the door before it could swing shut. He was about to speak when footsteps came from the hallway.

Moon walked over, holding a fruit plate. The moment she saw the two of us alone, her eyes turned teary.

“Mindy… are you still blaming me for being the one who’s engaged?”

Tears slipped down her face as she said, “I really didn’t mean it… Mindy, if you like Cameron, I can step aside…”

My mother rushed over after hearing the commotion. Her brows were so tightly furrowed they looked like they could crush a walnut.

“Mindy! You just came back, and you already want to turn this house upside down? Moon is not in good health. She can’t handle this kind of stress! How can you be so inconsiderate by going after your sister’s fiance at night?”

[Oh wow. She’s been caught. I guarantee that Mindy is about to expose her pregnancy and force her way into the engagement next.]

[Classic innocent act. She’s going to lose it and throw a tantrum any second now.]

“I didn’t.” My voice came out calm and emotionless. “If there’s nothing else, I want to rest.”

With that, I did not look at any of them. I turned around and closed the door.

My mother’s voice came through the door as she comforted Moon.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry. I’ll handle this…”

[Shouldn’t she be making a scene right now?]

[Mindy is really good at acting. Her tactics are getting better.]

The comments kept scrolling by, but I no longer cared to look.

My phone buzzed.

It was a transfer from Cameron. The amount was large.

Then, another message came in.

[Keep everything from before to yourself. Take it as my repayment for what I did for you.]

I stared at the message and let out a bitter laugh.

Yes, he had done me a favor.

Five years ago, my adoptive grandmother became seriously ill right after I finished my college entrance exams.

The day my admission letter arrived, I was working at a nightclub.

My grandmother’s medical bills were still far from paid. I decided to give up university.

That night, several men cornered me in a private room. They poured alcohol over me and tore my shirt collar.

I struggled hard. I could not even call for help.

Cameron kicked the door open. He knocked them down in a few quick moves. Then, he wrapped his coat around my nearly exposed upper body.

He asked nothing. He only said, “Do you need money?”

I nodded. Tears mixed with humiliation ran down my face.

He handed me a card.

“Take it. Use the rest to go back to school. Don’t come to a place like this ever again.”

He saved me. He gave my grandmother a chance to live. He gave me a completely different path.

Later, he funded my university studies and visited me from time to time.

Later still, on a rainy night, he stayed in my rented apartment.

Everything after that happened naturally.

Before my grandmother passed away, she held his hand and said, “Mindy is in your care.”