Chapter 4

Jared's POV

The ambulance arrived in no time.

Drenched to the bone, I sat all alone in the hospital hallway. Rain dripped down my pant legs onto the floor, but I couldn't feel the cold. My eyes were fixed blankly on Gracie.

I watched her carefully help Luca onto the hospital bed, speak to the doctor with an uneasy look on her face, and take the thermometer with slightly trembling fingers.

"Don't worry, Luca. I'll stay right by your side." Gracie kissed the corner of his lips with so much gentleness.

Just a few days ago, when I had a high fever, she said the exact same thing to me.

That night, I had held her in my arms, muttering how cold I was through my haze. She had sprung out of bed immediately, frantically digging through the first-aid kit.

Our home was always stocked with fever medicine, a thermometer, and the sugar-free ginger tea I loved.

Through the hot steam rising from the mug, I had seen her anxious face and truly believed I was the happiest man alive.

It turned out she could offer that same tenderness to me and to Luca just as easily.

I didn't know how long I sat there before Gracie finally stepped out of the room. Seeing my clothes plastered to my skin, she grabbed a blanket just like she used to and wrapped it around me with a look of heartache.

But the words that came out of her mouth were like cold iron spikes driven straight into my ears.

"Jared, apologize to Luca."

I pushed her away, forcing a raspy voice out of my throat in pure disbelief. "What did you just say?"

"You threw a tantrum and said those horrible things just because you found out he's the father. Apologize to him right now."

A wave of overwhelming absurdity swept over me.

I pointed through the glass at Luca, who was sitting there with a provocative smirk, and screamed at her, "Have you lost your damn mind? He's the homewrecker who seduced you! Why the hell should I apologize to him—"

A sudden slap cracked across my face, snapping my head to the side.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my parents standing there, fuming with rage.

"Why? Because he's your little brother! What's wrong with backing down for him for once?"

Theo hurried over right then and let out an impatient scoff. "Jared, that's enough drama for one day. You can't just let your family line end with you, right? Go apologize to Luca, and stop saying all that bullshit."

I raised my head and slowly looked at every single face in front of me. Their eyes were filled with disgust, as if I were some unforgivable villain.

I let out a bitter laugh and looked straight at Gracie. "And what if I refuse?"

Her gaze landed on me, cold to the point of absolute zero. "Then I'll report you to your company and tell everyone you tried to steal your brother's wife. Wherever you go, I'll report you there.

"Your parents will testify too, saying you were the homewrecker. Let's see how you explain yourself then. Without a job or any savings, you won't survive without me."

With that, she turned and walked away. The whole crowd scrambled to squeeze into the hospital room.

As I stared at their heartless backs, that single line echoed endlessly in my mind.

"You won't survive without me."

Fine.

Then I wouldn't.

Like a lifeless puppet, I climbed the stairs one step at a time until I reached the roof. While they were huddled around Luca, showering him with concern, I took a step off the ledge and plunged into the open air with a smile.

As my body plummeted past the window, Gracie's face froze instantly.

Before her brain could process it, her body lunged toward the window, both hands slamming helplessly against the cold glass.

"Jared, no!"

Everyone in the room whipped around at once and rushed to the window.