Chapter 2

There Dad went again with his "remember your place" nonsense. It was like a curse that had haunted me since I was a child. I'd heard my adoptive father, Hamish Johnson, say it, then Dad.

Exhausted, I hung my head and gave up on this argument that led nowhere.

I stared at the network of lines running across my palm.

I remembered a fortune teller reading my palm when I was young. He had claimed that I'd have a poor relationship with my family, and that my blessings in this lifetime would be few and far between.

I had been too young to understand what the fortune teller meant, but Hamish had chuckled in agreement. "Yes, Damian doesn't have much luck in this life."

The first part of my life seemed to echo the fortune reading, but I never believed such things.

Later on, I'd married Yvonne, and we had Anna. I was even more convinced that I was blessed and the fortune reading was false.

It wasn't until that day that I understood that some things couldn't be forced.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I forced them back. I was a man, and I couldn't show weakness to these folks. With a deep breath, I grinned and said, "Since you're all so worried about my stealing the family fortune, I may as well cut ties with the Chapmans!"

Yvonne and Dad went still at this, and they gaped at me in disbelief.

Only Calvin seemed thrilled by my suggestion, if the gleam in his eyes was any indication.

"What did you say?" Dad was the first to snap out of his daze, rage coloring his tone. "You want to cut ties with us? I… I demand you say that again, Damian!"

Calvin immediately gripped Dad's arm and hurriedly said, "Calm down, Dad. He must have wanted to do this for some time now. He may be adopted, but our family's been generous to him. We gave him food and shelter, but he isn't thankful at all! He's an ingrate!"

Whatever sentiment Dad had for me disappeared at Calvin's persuasion. When he looked at me again, it was with disappointment. "Alright, then. Cut ties with us, for all I care! I hope you won't regret it!"

A bitter smile curved my lips. Why would I regret leaving this family behind?

Yvonne suddenly broke her silence, taking a honeyed tone as she placated me, "Come on, Damian, don't be so impulsive. Dad was only speaking out of anger. We're all family here. Why hold a grudge against us and resort to extremities?"

I barked a humorless laugh. "Don't act like a saint now, Yvonne. You're making it sound like you didn't lash out at me just moments ago."

Yvonne's expression hardened. She seethed, "You don't know what you're getting yourself into! I was trying to help you, and that's how you thank me?"

"Mom, Uncle Damian, stop fighting," Anna said meekly as she tugged on Yvonne's shirt. She craned her neck back and asked, "Does this mean Uncle Damian won't be staying with us anymore? And I get to stay with you and Dad forever?"

By "Dad", Anna was referring to Calvin.

Yvonne didn't answer and only shot me a long, hard look.

Calvin, on the other hand, crouched and pecked Anna's forehead. He said softly, "Of course, Anna. From now on, it'll just be the three of us. No more outsiders."

He even gave me a provocative look to make a point.

My heart wrenched when I saw Anna cheer. This was the daughter I'd risked my life to protect!

Yvonne scowled when she realized that I wasn't fighting to keep them. She bit out icily, "It looks like you do need to calm down and think about this, Damian! Don't bother coming home or seeing your daughter for the next few days. You can come home when you've thought this through!"

I snorted. "Sorry, Yvonne, what are you talking about? Anna isn't my daughter, right? Didn't you say I was her uncle?"

Yvonne's face turned red, her words forming a lump in her throat. In the end, she leveled a vicious look at me, then led everyone else out of the hospital room.

In the silence of the room, my gaze fell on the piece of candy next to my pillow. Yvonne must have left it there while I was still out cold.

Perhaps my sweet tooth was a result of my bitter past. I never quite outgrew sweets.

The soft rustling of the candy wrapper between my fingers brought back old memories. I'd grown up starved for love and believed it was hard to be loved. I didn't even know how to love someone.

As such, I was initially terrified when Yvonne pursued me romantically. However, she was patient with me. She ultimately brought down my walls and thawed my frozen heart with her warmth and thoughtful gestures.

She took many steps to get through to me and made me believe that someone in this world would love me. She gave me enough courage to finally take a step forward and meet her in the middle.

I thought I was taking my first step toward happiness, but that only lasted until my reunion with the Chapmans.