Chapter 5

I clenched my fists and turned to Lance. I asked him, "You agreed to this?"

Lance looked a little uneasy. "When I'm around, Wendy's hallucinations seem to ease up a bit. You'll understand, won't you?"

"Then why bother pretending to ask me?" With that, I turned to head back to the "room" I was staying in.

Brett, however, blocked my way.

"Esme!" He looked furious. "How can you be so selfish? Do you even remember who caused Wendy's mental issues?

"Besides, you never went to university, and you have a criminal record. What makes you think you're worthy of Lance?"

"Esme," Lance said, grabbing my hand. "Wendy gave me a kidney back then. I can't turn my back on her."

Lance's words made my chest tighten painfully. For a moment, I felt lightheaded from the rush of blood.

I was the one who donated the kidney. Since when did Wendy become the donor?

Although I didn't expect them to believe me, I still couldn't hold back. I had to speak up.

"Lance, would you believe me if I said I was the donor—"

My trembling voice was soft. Before I could finish, my father interrupted me.

"Esme!" he roared. "If you have any shame left, shut your mouth! Stop lying. If you're trying to compete with Wendy, let me tell you—you'll never compare to her!"

I ignored my father. But when I saw the doubt and disgust in Lance's eyes, I knew.

He would never believe me.

I didn't bother to explain any further. No matter how they lost it behind me, I walked away without looking back.

…

The next day, I had just arrived at the diner where I worked when I saw a familiar figure.

"Welcome to—" The polite greeting caught in my throat the moment I recognized the person.

It was Brett. He walked up to me, looked around, then covered his nose in disgust.

I was about to say something when he cut me off and handed me a credit card.

"The passcode is Wendy's birthday. You should remember it."

Of course, I did. Every year, her birthday was celebrated with more fanfare than Christmas, after all.

When I didn't take it, he stuffed the card into my hand.

"We've never shortchanged you all these years, so stop looking all poor and shabby. You're embarrassing us."

I suddenly laughed and said, "Never shortchanged me? Then what am I doing here? Am I a rich girl pretending to live a hard life?"

Brett froze for a moment, then exploded with rage. "How did our family end up with someone like you?"

After that, he stormed off.

…

Time passed quickly, and soon it was the day before I left for Romero. It was also the day before Lance and Wendy's wedding.

I had quit the diner the day before. Before I could even make myself scarce, I was woken up by the noise outside.

They were all my old classmates.

The group of rich kids crowded around the soon-to-be newlyweds. When they saw me, they said mockingly, "Esme, you're still here?"

"You clung to Lance like a leech for years. Now that he's your brother-in-law, I guess at least you're his relative!"

"Hey, Lance, it looks like you lost. Truth or dare! Would you kiss Esme or Wendy?"

Lance looked past the crowd, his gaze landing on me.

My expression remained blank.