Chapter 2

The moment I got off the plane, the familiar scent made me feel incredibly at ease. The resentment I had built up seemed to vanish with the breeze of my hometown.

As I looked at the familiar streets, my eyes began to well up. It felt good to be back home.

I took a cab to the old house Mom had left behind. No one had lived there for a long time, but the interior was still exactly the same as when she was alive. With neither my parents nor I living there, the place felt quiet and empty.

I had once brought Josephine here because I wanted her to see where I grew up, but she complained it was too worn down and deserted, refusing to stay long. Even so, I still felt more of a sense of belonging here than in Dad's new house.

After Mom passed away, Dad brought my stepmom, Madeline Brooks, and my stepbrother, Daniel, back home. Not long after, Dad and Madeline had a daughter.

From then on, the small family I had with Dad turned into a family of five. He was no longer just my dad, and his home was no longer mine alone.

My thoughts slowly drifted back to the present. I tucked away the photo album filled with family pictures and stood up to go outside for some fresh air.

Just then, a familiar voice called out to me from behind. "Nicholas? Is that you, Nicholas?"

I turned around and saw Ms. Chase, Mom's closest neighbor.

"Ms. Chase! Long time no see," I said.

Ms. Chase set down her grocery basket and walked over to pat my shoulder. "It's been a while. You have grown sturdier over the years, like a proper man. How have you been? You and your girlfriend should be getting married soon, right?"

I froze, and my smile vanished instantly. When I brought Josephine back before, we had run into Ms. Chase. Back then, she said Josephine and I were a perfect match. Josephine happily agreed, while I stood there slightly embarrassed.

Time had passed, and everything had changed. The emotions I had tried so hard to suppress surged again. I took a deep breath and blinked back the tears.

Seeing my reaction, Ms. Chase hurried to comfort me. "It's my fault for saying too much. It's okay, Nicholas. You're still young. A capable man will never be short of a wife. If it doesn't work out, just find someone else."

Was I still young? Perhaps in the eyes of the elders, I was. But compared to Daniel, who was only in his early 20s, I was already considered old.

Looking back now, Josephine had given me hints. She had once said that at my age, I had already passed the stage of fighting for my career and should step back to take care of the family, while she would provide for me.

Back then, I thought she was only being considerate and completely ignored the underlying meaning.

Thinking back to her chats with Daniel, I realized she didn't just find me old. She wanted me to lose my competitiveness at work so I would become useless and dependent on her. After that, it would be easy for her to control me.

At that moment, the special ringtone I had set for Josephine sounded.

She asked, "Nicholas, where did you go? Are you still angry with me?"

Her voice carried a hint of probing. "Did you see something? Can you tell me why you suddenly got upset?"

"Did you really mean it when you said you would marry me?" I asked.

She replied quickly, "Of course! I meant it. Besides, you don't have to work so hard. You can just do whatever you like."

I looked at the shadows filtering through the leaves and let out a cold laugh. "Are you afraid that if I become more successful, Dad won't leave Daniel anything in his will?"

A dull thud came through from the other end of the line.

Josephine's voice turned stiff. "How did you… Did you see—"

I cut her off. "Don't worry. Your childhood sweetheart—the person you love most and have wanted to marry since you were kids—will get everything. I have no interest in competing with him, so you don't have to swallow your disgust and put on an act for me anymore."

I looked toward the house. "Josephine, don't bother me again."

I decided I needed to go to Dad's place and end things once and for all.