Chapter 2

The agitation and lingering effects of my illness sent a stabbing pain through my heart. My vision went black in waves.

In that hellish training camp, there was hunger, humiliation, and endless exhausting workouts. Every single day had been pure torment.

I never wanted to go back, not even for a second.

To avoid returning to that place, I was willing to give up everything, even the last speck of my dignity.

Tanya smiled with satisfaction at the sight of my breakdown. "Looks like you've finally learned your lesson."

She studied me briefly, then shifted her eyes. "That brat is probably still being stubborn in there, refusing to lose enough weight to meet the target, isn't she?

"Since you've lost the weight and admitted your mistakes, why don't you apologize to Harry on her behalf? You can apologize for your own failures as a father while you're at it."

She lifted her chin and gestured toward Harry beside her. "After all, the way you two looked back then was completely unacceptable. You were both such eyesores that you were giving Harry unnecessary trouble."

Of course, I knew she was trying to humiliate me. But if I refused, she would find another excuse to throw me back into that living hell as soon as Grandma's situation was settled.

I was truly terrified.

The bony frame beneath my clothes reminded me of everything I had suffered. Every pang in my heart only deepened my fear.

I had already lost Melanie. I couldn't afford to lose the last bit of freedom I had left.

So, under Tanya's astonished gaze and Harry's mocking smirk, I dropped to my knees and apologized.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Lieberman. I was wrong. I should've disciplined my daughter. I was too fat before, and I offended your eyes. I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble. Please forgive me!"

Somehow, Tanya's expression only darkened. The satisfaction she had felt just moments ago at my successful weight loss and my humiliating apology vanished without a trace.

I had no idea what pissed her off again. All I could do was bow even lower and apologize more desperately, hoping to appease her.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Tanya. I messed up. I know that now. Please, let me go. I'm begging you…"

Pathetic, miserable, and stripped of every last shred of dignity—that was all I was now.

Yet, for some reason, the more submissive I became, the angrier she looked. It was as though my very act of humbling myself was an even greater offense.

"Enough!" Tanya snapped. "Stop apologizing! I'm sick of hearing it!"

Harry gently draped an arm around her shoulders and coaxed her. "Come on, Tanya. Look at you, getting worked up over someone who doesn't know any better. Why bother?"

He glanced at me like I was garbage. "To be fair, the way they looked before was really an eyesore. I only made a couple of offhand remarks about what was obvious.

"But you? You sent them away to straighten them out because you wanted what was best for them. I've long since forgotten that little fight, so don't let it upset you."

Harry turned to me, his tone dripping with condescending magnanimity. "Mr. Curry is a changed man now, isn't he? He's admitted his mistakes and promised to mend his ways. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Tanya seemed appeased. She returned to her usual arrogant self and hummed dismissively. Impatiently, she nudged my calf with the tip of her shoe.

"You are a lot more pleasant to look at now. Fine. Get in the car."

Just as I was about to climb into the car, hunched over, she suddenly remembered something. She whipped around and glared at me, her voice sharp with warning.

"Don't let me find out that all the results you've achieved over the past year and this obedient act of yours are just a performance!

"If Harry hadn't kindly pointed it out back then, I'd still be unaware, letting you two embarrass me everywhere with the way you two looked!"