Chapter 2

The next day, I went to the hospital alone.

I signed my own surgical consent form. When the doctor asked me about it, I kept a calm demeanor. "I'm an orphan," I simply said.

The surgery went smoothly enough. I stayed for three days before they told me that I could recuperate at home. During that time, neither Mom nor Jeanette called me. They didn't even send me a single text.

Strangely, I felt a sense of peace I hadn't known in a long time.

On the bus ride home, I passed the university district. Memories of Jeanette flooded back to me.

It was hard to believe now, but she was the one who chased me first. Back then, she was bold and full of life. She had confessed to me in front of the whole school. Even when I rejected her again and again, she refused to back down.

She showed me a kind of affection I had never known before. It wasn't surprising that I fell for her.

During our senior year, her dad's business partner ran off with their money, and her dad fell ill. Their family had crumbled into debt overnight.

I spent my days interning and my nights working odd jobs. I carried her weight as well as my own, paying for everything while trying to support her.

That was when my stomach problems began.

Later on, a benefactor helped her dad, and they recovered some of the money. Slowly, things improved, and we set a date for our wedding.

But then Noah returned from abroad, and everything changed.

I got off the bus at my apartment building and froze right after pushing the door open.

The apartment I had decorated for the wedding was a wreck. Takeout boxes piled on the floor. There were even a few cockroaches crawling on them. The succulents I had tended to on the balcony had been ripped from their pots.

Through the open bedroom door, I could see Noah sitting on my bed as Jeanette coaxed him into taking his medicine.

Mom lounged comfortably on the brand-new couch. White stuffing spilled out of the throw pillows I had ordered, and our couple of photos were strewn about, as they were torn to shreds by Noah's dog.

"What are you guys doing?"

My mom glanced at me, then gave a cold snort. "Jenny's pregnant with our family's child. This place was supposed to be your marital home anyway, so I let her and Noah move in."

"My marital home? And he gets to live here?" I looked at Noah, who looked smug behind Jeanette's shield. I drew a breath. "Besides, I already decided that I'm not marrying—"

Before I could finish speaking, Mom lunged at me and clawed my arm. "I'll beat the ungratefulness out of you, you bastard! Noah lost his leg because of you. What's wrong with giving him your house? Better yet, just sign it over completely!

"And now that Jenny's pregnant with his child, they should live together. You, on the other hand, do nothing all day. How will you ever provide for them?"

I was pissed.

Mom had despised me since birth because Dad had cheated on her while she was pregnant with me. She blamed me for everything since the day I was born.

As a child, I begged for her love. I aced exams, did every chore, and even saved pennies to buy her gifts.

However, none of it compared to Noah, who did nothing but was still adored.

When I finally told her that I was getting married, she didn't offer me a single cent. Not for a marriage gift or a house. Instead, she tossed me a notebook filled with a list of every expense from my childhood. Even an eraser was included.

Ironically, she didn't spend even 50 thousand dollars to raise me for all those years.

From then on, I stopped seeking her love.

Warmth spread across my forehead. I touched it and realized that it was blood.

I took a deep breath and looked at the three of them—my mother, my brother, and the woman I had planned to marry.

For the first time in forever, my head was crystal clear.

"Noah, you know exactly how your leg got broken."

His eyes flickered, and I smiled faintly at him.

"This apartment is mine. If you want it, sure. Just pay me. And one more thing…" My gaze locked onto Jeanette. "If you didn't hear me clearly on the phone, I'll say it again. I'll step aside for you and Noah. This wedding is off!"