All Chapters of I Chose to Walk Away: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

It was the fourth day of our mandatory freshman training program. I agonized over my message, typing and deleting it again and again before finally sending it."Mom, there are only a few days of training left. If I skip breakfast, I won't have the energy to get through the training. Just send me $2."To my surprise, she replied almost immediately, but the moment I saw her response, my spirits plummeted."$2? Isn't one egg only $1.5? What do you need that much money for? Are you trying to trick me?"Beads of sweat rolled down my forehead.My stomach was already aching from hunger. Still, I carefully explained, "One egg won't fill me up. I want to get a breakfast biscuit, too."…This time, she took a long time to respond.By then, my roommates had already finished breakfast and were getting ready to head to the field for training.I held my growling stomach and could not help glancing toward my roommate's desk.A box of fresh, delicious-looking pastries sat there untouched.H

After saying that, she took my phone. Before I could react, she opened my payment QR code. "$20 isn't nearly enough. If you're ever in trouble again, come to me first."The words had barely left her mouth when a notification sounded. "$200 has been deposited into your bank account."I stared at her in shock and quickly waved my hands. "No, I can't take your money."But she shook her head, her expression serious. "What are you thinking? Consider it a loan."I had gone hungry for three days without crying. I had been insulted by Clara without crying.But when I felt the kindness of someone I had known for only three days, the tears came pouring down.With my advisor's help, I managed to eat properly for the next few days and successfully completed the training program.Finding a part-time job went smoothly, too. I handed out flyers outside a shopping mall for $30 an hour.At that rate, I would be able to pay back the money my advisor had lent me soon.But on the day I received m

I had no reason to turn down the contract.I had only one goal—to stay alive, and beyond that, to live well.Nora said she would pay me $5,000 a month. All I had to do was spend time with the elderly woman at her house every weekend.Her name was Cecelia Vance."You can just call her Cece from now on. That's what Jasper called her when he was alive."Nora looked relieved after I signed the contract. Cecelia was as happy as a child too.That was why I voiced my concern to Nora. "Cece doesn't seem to be in the best state of mind. What if she realizes I'm not Jasper? Wouldn't that…"Nora saw right through my concern. "You're worried she might hurt you, right? Don't worry. She won't. She would never hurt her own grandson."Nora's words suddenly made me a little jealous of that boy named Jasper. He had been so much luckier than me, but after what I had been through, it was hard for me to see anyone as family again, including Cecelia.I treated spending time with Cecelia as a job. I

In fact, my mother showed up at school the very next day.She went straight to my advisor and demanded that I drop out. "This kid thinks he can do whatever he wants now. I can't control him anymore! He's only been away from home for a while, and already he's done something so disgraceful. What am I supposed to tell his dead father if this gets blown out of proportion? So, please, you have to expel Hank and let me take him home. I'll teach him a lesson."I stared at the mother standing beside me, hardly able to believe what I was hearing.Thankfully, my advisor did not take her word for it. "Mrs. Miller, please calm down. First of all, his private life is none of the school's business. "And second, what makes you so sure he did any of those things? I know Hank. He's a good kid. He works part-time every weekend, and it has never affected his studies. He's hoping to get a scholarship this semester, and his roommates can vouch for him."But getting my mother to back down would have

I tilted my head, pretending to give it some thought. "Guess that makes you the hat-eater now, Clara."I nodded. "You know what? It kind of suits you."And then she absolutely lost it. Even through the glass window, I could tell how viciously she was tearing into me.But I was incredibly relieved. Not a single cent of my money was gone. Every dollar was a lifeline that would keep me going.Just when I thought they would not come looking for me again, I got another call from Jude.His voice was frantic, and I could faintly hear someone crying on the other end. "Hank, come home. Mom's sick!"My heart skipped a beat. In my mind, I saw my mother as she had been when I was little, opening her arms to embrace me.I asked Cecelia, "Should I go back and see her?"Cecelia blinked her cloudy eyes. "Go, Jasper. I'll wait for you to come back."In the end, I went home.Hudson kept track of my location the entire time. He repeatedly reminded me to call him immediately if anything happened