Chapter 2

The strong liquor was forced down Shawn's throat before he could react. His esophagus felt like it was burning.

He started coughing uncontrollably as red hives broke out across his body.

The liquor soaked his clothes, leaving him looking miserable.

Shawn clawed weakly at his throat. His airway felt blocked, and he suddenly couldn't breathe.

"Jenna, Shawn's allergic to alcohol. How could you force him to drink?" Leonard asked with feigned concern.

"Leo, she's only doing it for you," one of Jenna's friends stepped over and explained. "If Shawn ends up in the hospital, he won't have a chance to tell Velmont University he changed his mind.

"Then his spot there will be yours."

Shawn heard every word they said, but he couldn't focus on any of it. The allergic reaction was already causing him excruciating pain.

He reached out and grabbed the hem of Jenna's pants, pleading helplessly, "Jenna… I can't breathe… Help me!"

"Jenna, take Shawn to the hospital. I'm fine. We can celebrate another time." Leonard tried to sound gracious about it.

But Jenna simply pulled her foot away and said calmly, "Nothing matters more to me than you."

She then signaled to one of her friends to call an ambulance.

Her friend understood and helped Shawn out of the room.

Just as she reached for her phone, Leonard suddenly appeared. "Let me handle him. I'm stronger."

Jenna's friend gladly handed Shawn over.

Leonard glanced coldly at the unconscious Shawn, smirking lightly. He never made the call and simply turned to walk away.

…

When Shawn finally came to, he was already in the hospital.

Scott was sitting beside his bed. He told Shawn that he had collapsed in the hallways from an allergic reaction. A staff member found Shawn and rushed him to the hospital.

If they had been a few minutes later, Shawn might not have survived.

Scott still looked shaken. "Shawn, I'm responsible for this. If I had known you were allergic to alcohol, I never would've let you work as a server.

"No wonder you chose to haul beer in the first place. You should've told me."

Shawn lowered his eyes and gripped the bedsheet tightly.

He hadn't thought much about it. He had chosen to carry crates of beer because it paid well, and he got paid daily.

It would cover a few days of living expenses for him and Jenna, who had pretended she was broke."

"Oh, right. I'll pay you every cent you earned." Scott transferred the money and left.

Shawn opened his banking app's notification and stared at the 500 dollars he had earned from his part-time job. He couldn't bring himself to open it.

Then another notification popped up. Someone had added him on WhatsApp and sent him a message.

When he read the text message, he realized it was an admissions counselor from the less prestigious college he had applied to.

The counselor was incredibly enthusiastic. "Shawn, we're thrilled that you've chosen our college. We've already arranged our best program and assigned you our best academic advisor for you.

"You'll also receive a 20,000-dollar scholarship, which will be presented to you in the form of a check."

Shawn suddenly remembered his college application.

When he opened Velmont University's application portal, the words "Application Closed" stared back at him.

Shawn's heart sank.

He had lost his last bit of hope.

His eyes were empty as he typed, "Hi, I'm sorry, but I've decided not to attend your college. Please cancel the scholarship as well."

With that, he shut off his phone and closed his eyes, exhausted.

He didn't know how much time had passed when his hospital room door slammed open.

Shawn opened his eyes to find Jenna storming into the room.

She marched over, grabbed his chin, and glared at him. "Shawn, how long are you going to make a scene?"

His eyes were lifeless. "You call this making a scene? Jenna, what did I do?"

She frowned and demanded, "You only applied to one college. Why are you giving it up? Are you planning to retake the SAT and try for Velmont University again?

"Don't you have any self-respect? Are you really that desperate to study at the same place as me?"

Shawn's eyes were hollow, and his voice was barely a whisper. "Jenna, who said I wanted to go to the same college as you?

"I don't want you anymore, so I'll stay as far away from you as I can."

The finality in his calm voice made Jenna's heart clench, and she felt a sudden surge of irritation.

She scoffed. "Shawn, if you really want to stay away from me, then go to this college. It's on the opposite side of the country from my school."

Shawn looked straight at her, his eyes filled with sorrow. "Jenna, do you have any idea how important the SAT is?

"I was the top student in the country. I should be at the best university, not some second-rate college.

"There are plenty of ways to stay away from you. Why would I throw away my future to do it?"

Jenna faltered, suddenly unable to meet his eyes. "Because you're hospitalized, Leonard signed the agreement with the college for you.

"If you don't go, you could owe hundreds of thousands of dollars in penalties."

Shawn's eyes widened in disbelief. "Who gave him the right to sign it for me?"

Jenna looked somewhat apologetic. "Leonard didn't mean any harm. He has already secured a spot at Velmont University. He can't risk losing it at a time like this. So…"

She pulled out the contract and an ink pad. "Just put your thumbprint here, and go to this college for now. You can always apply to a top university for graduate school later."

Shawn couldn't understand how she could say something so cruel so casually. It was as if his future and his entire life meant nothing to her.

He struggled desperately, but he could only watch helplessly as she forced his thumb onto the agreement.

As he watched Jenna walk away, Shawn felt utterly devastated.

He dialed a number. "Mom, I'll come home and take my place in the family."