Chapter 4

Instantly, the atmosphere grew awkward. Nathan gave me a long, disapproving look before coming to Zoey's rescue.

"Something came up at the company, and I needed Zoey's help, so I went out of my way to pick her up. After all, when you're asking someone for a favor, you have to show the proper respect."

All of the parents burst into laughter. Just like that, they were a happy family again—everyone except me, obviously.

During dinner, the conversation turned to Nathan's entrepreneurial journey.

Mabel raised her glass and said, "Mr. Jackson, I really must thank you for looking after Nathan all these years.

"I heard all about it from Nathan. When he was at his lowest, you were the one who looked out for him. He wouldn't have made it without your support."

My hands tightened around my cutlery.

Nathan had repackaged all my sacrifices and everything I'd done for him as the result of Fergus' guidance and support.

Fergus looked thoroughly pleased with himself as he declared, "It was nothing."

He patted Zoey's hand.

"We have Nathan to thank as well. When Zoey studied in Ashmeria for three years, Nathan flew over there to see her every single year.

"Whenever I couldn't make time for her, he was the one by her side. I'm the one who should be raising a glass to him."

Mabel couldn't stop smiling as she repeatedly insisted, "It's only right for him to do that."

Nathan and Zoey exchanged a look before smiling at each other. They shared a kind of natural affinity that I never saw between them before.

I cut a piece of my steak and slowly chewed it, but it tasted like cardboard and was almost impossible to swallow.

In the last three years, Nathan had gone on 78 business trips. 51 of them had been to Ashmeria.

Once, I'd been bedridden with a high fever. I'd asked him if, just this once, he could stay with me. All he did was say he was sorry before boarding his flight to Ashmeria.

At the time, I thought he was simply busy trying to build up his company. Now I knew it was because someone was waiting for him at the other end of those flights, and that person was Zoey.

I put down my cutlery, wiped the corners of my mouth, and got up to leave.

Zoey's voice suddenly rang out. "Serena, even after all these years, you still haven't developed a sense of shame, huh?"

I stopped in my tracks and asked, "What do you mean?"

"I can't stand it anymore. You're a college graduate, for goodness' sake. Why can't you find yourself a job? Nate is only human. He gets tired, too."

Her concern and heartache for Nathan looked extremely believable as she chewed me out. It looked like she no longer bothered to keep up the act.

"Did Nathan tell you that?" I asked.

"He didn't have to. I can see it for myself," Zoey declared.

I turned to Nathan. "Can you no longer afford to support me financially?"

He looked at me and finally said, "Zoey has a point. It's time you start a career of your own."

Did I not have one in the past?

Before I focused all my time and energy on helping Nathan with his company, I had been the head chef at one of the highest-rated restaurants in the country.

At the time, I'd been lauded as one of the most promising young chefs in the country. I'd reached the very top of my profession. But for Nathan's sake, I'd given it all up.

And now, in his eyes, I'd become nothing more than a parasite who contributed nothing and lived off him, someone anyone could criticize and look down on.

After a long silence, I finally said, "Fine."

I continued walking off, and not a single person tried to stop me, as if they'd wanted me to leave from the start.