Chapter 2

Never did I think that Daniella would extinguish Mom's perpetual candle just to make Jackson happy. In fact, we'd actually lit the candle together, and she'd even paid for half of it.

"Don't worry," she had told me. "Your mom will live a long life. She'll be there on the day we get married."

I felt my sanity snap. Disregarding the monastery's rule of solemn silence, I rushed forward.

"Daniella Dooley! That's my mother's perpetual candle! Who gave you the right to put it out?"

The two of them turned around, clearly surprised to see me there.

Jackson grinned from ear to ear at me. "Oh? I didn't think you'd have the time to stroll around the monastery, Allen. Didn't you say your mother was critically ill?"

His words instantly caused Daniella's expression to turn cold. "I didn't think you'd stoop to lying about something like that just to get me to come back, Allen!"

And I couldn't believe she would distrust me to this extent. She'd rather believe I was using Mom's illness to deceive her than believe Mom was actually at death's door.

A bitter laugh rose in my chest. Perhaps the tears prickling in my eyes were too obvious, because her tone softened slightly.

"Forget it, I'll let it slide. You probably only came up with such a terrible scheme because you missed me too much.

"I've already put out your mother's perpetual candle for you. It's just superstition anyway. With me around, she'll definitely live a long life, so there's no need to use up a slot. It's better to give it to someone who truly needs it."

Someone who truly needed it? Was that supposed to be Jackson?

Swallowing the dull ache in my chest, I bit out, "Don't you even think about switching out the candle!"

There was a smug, gloating smile on Jackson's face, but his tone sounded utterly aggrieved.

"Dani, if Allen isn't willing to switch it, then let's just forget it. He must be angry because you didn't make it back in time when his mother needed surgery a few days ago.

"I'm sorry, Allen. I apologize to you on Dani's behalf. It's all my fault for being so dumb. I messed up the surgery and had to beg her to clean up my mess," he added with a smirk.

Daniella immediately chimed in. "Jack is my mentor's son. Can you stop being so petty?"

Jackson's father was Daniella's mentor, a man she greatly respected and was very grateful to. I knew she was someone who valued loyalty and relationships. I had even magnanimously comforted her in the past, telling her that I wouldn't be jealous and would treat Jackson like a sibling, too.

But somehow, Daniella saw that as having permission to treat him better and better, without restraint, as if she were certain I'd never be jealous.

Everyone at the hospital knew how close and inseparable the two of them were.

One night, after she hadn't come home for dinner yet again because of him, I waited up until midnight, wanting to have a proper talk with her.

However, all I got was her flying into a rage, insisting she saw him only as a younger brother. It was my first time learning that a pair of siblings could share the same set of cutlery, or that the so-called younger brother could throw himself into the so-called older sister's arms whenever he felt wronged.

I couldn't help but sneer.

"I don't care if you're his sister or his 'sister'," I mocked. "That has nothing to do with me. But right now, neither of you is allowed to touch my mom's perpetual candle!"

Daniella's voice sharpened with anger. "Allen, this is a sacred monastery. Can you stop spewing nonsense like a madman? Things between Jack and me are completely innocent! I only see him as a younger brother. You're the one being narrow-minded and letting your imagination run wild!

"If you continue to make a fuss, I'll have no choice but to consider calling off the engagement!"

If this had been the past, I'd have backed down immediately. But now, all I felt bubbling inside me was anger and a sense of absurdity.

"No need," I scoffed. "I've already called off the engagement. If you two don't leave right now, I'll record everything and post it online. Everyone will know you stole someone else's perpetual candle!"

Daniella pinched the bridge of her nose, looking a little exhausted.

"Allen, can you please be reasonable?"

In front of the shocked monks and visitors, I grabbed an altar candle and brandished it at the pair.

"You want me to be more reasonable? Have I not been reasonable enough, Daniella? I've been with you for eight years! Jackson's been back in the country for less than two. Every time you abandoned me for him, was I unreasonable then?

"Whenever someone says the two of you are perfect together and that I'm not good enough for you, do you have any idea how sad that makes me?

"But you do know, don't you? The thing is, you agree with them. You think that I'm not good enough for you either and that I can never leave you, and that's why you dare to hurt me so recklessly!"