Chapter 2

Early the next morning, Mom brought a few gifts into my room. It was obvious they were the leftovers Joan didn't want.

Her voice sounded gentle, but it carried a hint of blame.

"Cynthia, you're being too immature. You came home and didn't even tell us ahead of time. And you were so cold to your dad. Yes, we're sorry we didn't look for you, but you can't hold a grudge over that…"

Before she finished speaking, I pulled the curtains open, and bright sunlight poured over me.

I was wearing a thin nightie. Only then did Mom notice that everywhere she looked, my body was covered in scars.

She finally realized what I had been through. Her hands trembled; she reached out to touch my injuries, but I stepped away coldly.

Ned walked in just in time to see it. He opened his mouth.

"Cynthia, you're so badly hurt… Why didn't you say anything?"

I looked at them coldly.

They only had eyes for Joan, and now, they're blaming me for not saying anything?

Joan had suffered a lot in the kidnapper's poor family, so she was malnourished and weak. My parents would rush her to the hospital even if she got a tiny cold.

When I had acute stomach pain so bad that I nearly passed out, they acted like they didn't see it. They only cared about bringing Joan to the hospital because she had a slight fever.

A kind neighbor had called an ambulance for me.

Even when my parents saw me at the hospital, they thought I was faking it on purpose just to compete with Joan for attention.

Maybe my gaze was too cold, because a hint of panic flashed through my mother's and Ned's eyes.

After all, ever since Joan was brought back, I had always lowered myself in front of my parents, trying desperately to please them, afraid they would abandon me.

Ned nervously grabbed my hand. It was then that he noticed the engagement ring on my middle finger was gone.

"Why aren't you wearing your ring?"

"It got washed away in the flood," I answered lightly.

A trace of disappointment crossed his face, but he quickly smiled again.

"It's fine if the ring's gone. I'll take you to buy an even better one."

"No need."

The truth was, I had thrown the ring into a storm drain in the foreign city myself.

Back then, Ned was the only support I had. I treasured every gift he gave me.

When my parents were disappointed in me, I met the gentle, warm Ned in college. He treated me well and believed that I didn't intentionally lose Joan back then.

But at some point, he had also ended up standing on her side.

He said that since Joan had suffered so much all those years, I should give in more and be more understanding toward our parents.

So now, I was done with him.

I didn't care about him anymore.