Chapter 2

Aunt Carol despised home-wreckers more than anyone.

Realizing Aunt Carol had called her a dog, Jessica’s eyes immediately welled up.

“I know you resent me, but my feelings for Ryan are genuine. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gone through hell and risked my life to have Leo.”

She yanked the boy from the corner, forcing him to his knees.

“Leo, come here!”

Seeing Aunt Carol remain silent, Jessica crawled on her knees towards me, tears streaming down her face.

“Five years ago, Ryan and I truly wronged you. But we're a family now; that's an unchangeable fact.”

“I’m begging you, please, talk to Aunt Carol for me. As long as Leo can return to the Carter family, I'll gladly leave with nothing and give Ryan back to you. I promise I’ll never bother you again!”

Jessica reached for my clothes, but I recoiled, dodging her. She seized the opportunity, collapsing dramatically to the floor.

Before I could react, Ryan violently shoved me.

My back slammed into the corner of the dining table, the pain making my fingertips tremble.

Ryan acted as if he hadn’t seen it, tenderly pulling Jessica into his arms, as if she were the one truly hurt.

“Jessica, I forbid you from talking nonsense! Leo’s mother and my wife can only be you.”

“Samantha Kingston! I can’t believe after five years, you’re still so merciless! I wouldn’t marry you five years ago, and I certainly won’t now! The only woman I’ve ever loved, and the only woman I’ll ever have children with, is Jessica! Get out of here and go back to wherever you came from! You’re not welcome in our home.”

I didn't utter a single word through the entire ordeal, only felt my tailbone throbbing.

My father had said those very same words when he’d kicked my mother and me out.

Even Ryan’s eyes held the exact same look my father had given us five years ago.

As if I were the villain, the one who’d driven Jessica to desperation.

But five years ago, it was Jessica’s mother who’d forced my mother and me out, leaving us with nothing.

In the end, it was the victim who was blamed; it was my fault.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself, then leaned on my tailbone and offered a faint smile.

“Five years, Ryan. No one stays the same.”

Just like that stormy night, when I was stabbed through the tailbone by thugs trying to save him.

Five years had passed, and it had healed.

Though it still ached sometimes, it never hurt like it did back then.

Ryan looked at me, surprised, but Aunt Carol slapped him across the face.

“You good-for-nothing! Who gave you permission to hurt her?!”