Chapter 1

The guests at the birthday party pointed at me and started whispering.

"So that's the crazy uncle in the Murdock family? I heard he's been missing for years."

"Tsk, he looks decent enough. It's a shame he's crazy."

"The Murdocks have some nerve letting someone like that out. Aren't they afraid of scaring the kids?"

Ellia Murdock's son, Nial Murdock, saw that I didn't move.

He grabbed a toy water gun from the table and sprayed my face without hesitation.

The cold water soaked my hair and face.

He then tossed the toy water gun aside, dropped onto the floor, and started wailing. He even kicked me with his chubby legs.

"I want to ride a horse! I want to ride the crazy horse!"

The polite smile on Ellia's face vanished instantly. It was replaced with a cold glare.

She looked at me and gave a command.

"Jason. I won't say it again. Get down."

My heart pounded violently as I stared at her.

This was the face I had missed for five years. I couldn't stop thinking about it. Right now, it felt like a stranger's.

My voice trembled. "Ellia, when I left five years ago, you told me that when I came back, we'd get married.

"Now you've married someone else, had a child, and want me to act like a horse for your son?

"Tell me, why?"

A flicker of mixed emotions crossed her eyes. It was gone in an instant and replaced by biting coldness.

"Why?

"Jason Liddel, how do you still have the nerve to ask me that?

"Three years ago, you pushed my brother off a cliff!

"You're a murderer. What right do you have to talk about promises?"

I felt like I'd been struck by lightning.

'What? Ethan died? I pushed him? I was trying to save him! I almost died trying to save him!'

I opened my mouth to explain, but before I could say a word, I felt a sharp pain in my legs.

Ellia's husband, Timothy Lawson, had kicked me hard.

I had just returned. There were still many untreated wounds on my body. I was too weak to dodge the attack.

The intense pain forced me down onto one knee.

"You're a murderer and a lunatic. Why are you even talking so much?"

Timothy sneered before giving a look to his bodyguards.

Two burly bodyguards stepped forward immediately. One pinned my shoulders down while the other stomped on my calves.

They forced me to the ground and into a humiliating position on all fours.

"Yay! I get to ride!"

Nial squealed with excitement as he climbed onto my back.

Fragments of memory entered my mind without warning.

Years ago, in the Murdock family's garden, Ellia had once done the same thing.

Her hands were wrapped around my neck while she laughed heartily.

She whispered softly in my ear, "Jason, you're the best person in the world."

Back then, I thought I was carrying my whole world on my back.

A sharp blow snapped me out of the memory. I could feel the pain deep in my bones.

Nial was holding the jade hairpin I had once given Ellia as a token of love. He smashed it against my head again and again.

"Giddy up! Go faster, crazy horse!"

Timothy crouched down beside me and leaned close to my ear.

He spoke in a soft voice that only I could hear.

"Jason, don't look so down. I'm just giving you some friendly advice. Don't take it too hard.

"In her heart, you're unforgettable. Last night, we went at it until late. She was so exhausted she passed out. Even in her sleep, she was mumbling about wanting to kill you.

"See? Even now, she can't forget you. I'm almost jealous."

I forced my head up and glared at him, but the foot pressing on my back suddenly pushed down harder.

I heard the unmistakable sound of my spine straining under the pressure. The pain made my vision go black.