Chapter 2

"No matter how much you look down on me, are you really just going to watch me die right in front of you?" I said threateningly.

Hearing that, Edward finally stopped in his tracks.

A moment later, his impatient voice came from outside the door. "I'll call Ms. Smith right now. But if she doesn't let you out, that's none of my business."

I nodded frantically and leaned against the door, waiting for Edward to make the call.

"Ms. Smith, Mr. Kastel says he keeps throwing up blood. Should I take him to the hospital?"

Rosalie had just finished ordering their meal when she received Edward's call. Annoyance colored her expression, and she snapped coldly, "Edward, are you sick of your job? I told you to watch over Xander, not plead on his behalf!"

Edward's expression darkened from the scolding, and he shot a glare at the basement door.

Suddenly, he saw blood seeping out through the crack beneath the door. In that instant, all color drained from his face.

His voice trembled as he shouted, "Blood… Blood! Ms. Smith, I think Mr. Kastel was telling the truth! He really is coughing up blood! There's so much blood coming out from under the door!"

Hearing this, Rosalie's hand holding the phone froze. She remained silent briefly, then hesitated before saying, "Wait for me—"

In my haze, I heard Logan's childish voice coming through the phone, cutting off the rest of Rosalie's words, along with the hope I was holding onto.

"Mommy, I want ice cream."

Rosalie turned to look behind her.

Caleb was holding Logan's hand and looking at her with a gaze full of affection. "Rosie, is it Xander?" he asked.

He added, "It's Lolo's birthday today. Is Xander upset that you're celebrating his birthday? Is he deliberately making excuses to get you to go back, just like last time, when he wouldn't let you attend Lolo's parent-teacher conference?

"It's all my fault. If only Lolo hadn't resembled how you looked when you were young, then I wouldn't have insisted on you adopting him just because I couldn't bear to leave him suffering in the orphanage.

"I just didn't want him to be mocked at school for having a birth mother who abandoned him."

Upon seeing Caleb's sorrowful and self-reproaching expression, Rosalie felt her heart twinge slightly.

Logan stepped forward and threw himself into Rosalie's arms. He looked up at her and said softly, "Mommy, stay and celebrate my birthday with me, okay? This is the first time I've ever celebrated a birthday with you.

"For the past few years, it was always just Daddy and me. Everyone always made fun of me for not having a mother."

At that, Rosalie bent down and hugged Logan tightly. She then looked at Caleb, her eyes full of heartache.

"I promised I would spend your birthday with you, and I will keep that promise. Today, no matter what happens, nothing is more important than celebrating your birthday," she said to Logan.

Caleb's frown eased, and a smile bloomed on his face. "Thank you, Rosie."

On the other hand, Edward had been standing outside the door, not daring to say another word.

As I listened to Rosalie's voice coming from the other end of the phone, my last bit of strength gave out. I slowly slumped down against the door and collapsed to the floor.

Before I closed my eyes, I heard Rosalie's final words to Edward.

"Edward, I don't have time to come back. I'll call Dr. Moyer later and have him come to the house to check on Xander.

"Xander has a habit of lying. When Dr. Moyer arrives, follow his orders to the letter. I forbid you from letting Xander out on your own. Keep a watchful eye on him. If this messes with Logan's birthday, I'm coming after you!"

I had a habit of lying, huh?

Just before I lost consciousness, tears slipped from my tightly shut eyes.

So this was how Rosalie saw me. She didn't have a shred of trust in me at all.

Back then, on the day of Logan's parent-teacher conference, I had indeed called her while she was on her way to the school.

But that was because the product trial I'd been working on at the company was a success, and I wanted to share the good news with her as soon as I could.