Chapter 3

I returned to my old home.

The villa was supposed to have been seized, yet it was brightly lit.

It was Archie's birthday, and they were throwing a party. String lights decorated the yard, and a movie was playing by the fountain.

A few boys were sitting nearby. They were probably Archie's friends.

When they saw me at the gate, they looked disgusted.

"What is some beggar doing here? Scram! We don't have any money for you!"

I ignored them, entered the passcode, and walked straight inside.

The moment I opened the door, my eyes met Elise's. She was about to put a birthday hat on Archie.

The instant she saw me, her face went pale. The hat crumpled in her grip.

Archie froze too, tightening his grip on his fork and knife.

The room fell awkwardly silent as they exchanged a glance.

I simply sat down, pulled the four-tiered cake toward me, and started eating it with my hands.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd eaten something that good.

Five years ago, things like this had been within easy reach. But for the past five years, all I could do was smell cakes through bakery windows.

Sometimes, when the craving became unbearable, I'd even eat someone else's leftovers without caring how dirty they were.

"Leon…"

Elise frowned and stepped toward me.

"At least wash your hands first. They're dirty…"

Dirty?

I looked up at her.

Then, almost deliberately, I put each finger into my mouth and licked it clean.

Her expression immediately tightened.

Archie gritted his teeth.

"Leon, what the hell are you doing? Elise didn't mean to deceive you. She saved your life!"

My stomach had grown accustomed to bland food, and the sudden sweetness made me feel sick.

I pushed the cake aside.

Then I grabbed a baseball bat and slammed it into the dining table.

"You're celebrating a birthday? I almost died, and you're throwing a damn party? You punished me for five years over one punch? Fine! Then none of you get to have it easy!"

I screamed as I swung the bat again and again.

Elise stood there, her face turning pale as she watched.

Archie hid behind her, too stunned to say a word.

Soon, the dining table was completely wrecked.

But was that enough?

No.

I stormed into the living room.

The couch, TV, and coffee table were destroyed one after another.

The crashing grew louder with every swing.

Elise didn't stop me—not until I lunged at Archie.

She grabbed my wrist.

"Are you done yet?"

My chest heaved as I struggled to breathe.

After steadying myself, I slapped Archie across the face.

His scream followed the sharp crack.

Something in Elise seemed to snap. Without thinking, she slapped me back.

I hit the floor, my ears ringing.

She looked at me in disbelief.

"Leon, I can't believe you still don't know what you did wrong after everything! Yes, I punished you, but it wasn't real! Did you really have to take it this far?"

I could barely believe what I was hearing.

After a long moment, I finally managed to speak.

"I swallowed an entire bottle of sleeping pills…"

"And I saved you." Her voice was frustrated, almost regretful. "Now that you know the truth, just come home. I won't let you suffer anymore. Isn't that enough?"

I wanted to laugh, but tears came first.

"Elise, where were you for the past five years?"

She avoided my eyes.

"I was afraid you'd find out, so I took Archie abroad for a while."

I instantly felt like I'd been thrown into hell.

While I was struggling just to survive, she and Archie had been traveling the world.

Suddenly, I felt like I should never have come over.

I nodded and got to my feet.

As I reached the door, Archie suddenly shouted, "Leon, you have no right to be bitter. You owed me this!"

I turned around.

My eyes met my sister's.

She didn't deny it.

I gripped the doorknob, barely keeping myself upright.

"Fine. I owe all of you."