Chapter 3

Seeing me, Ryan told Tiffany to get in the car first, and she just plopped herself into the passenger seat.

I didn't say anything, automatically reaching for the back door handle.

My fingertips had barely touched the car door when Ryan, reacting instinctively, grabbed my arm and violently shoved me away.

Caught off guard, I slammed into a utility pole, and a nail sticking out from it sliced a gash across my forehead, leaving a bloody trail.

I remembered the first time we met. I had accidentally brushed against his car.

He'd kicked me away, snapping, "Your hands are filthy! Never seen a car before? Don't touch what's not yours!"

Later, when he pursued me, he sent me a month's worth of flowers in a convoy of luxury cars to win me over.

He even promised to change his habit of reacting aggressively whenever anyone touched his car and to always put me first.

But a year had passed, and he hadn't changed.

I thought he treated everyone the same.

Turns out, Tiffany was the special one, the exception.

And I? I was nothing.

Still just an outsider who couldn't even get close to his car.

I pressed my hand against my bleeding forehead, bowing to him in apology.

Ryan froze for a second, then realized he'd gone too far and looked flustered.

"I'm sorry, I overreacted. You know I'm a car freak, I can't control myself. Please don't be mad at me."

"I'll take you to the hospital first. You've been scratched by a nail, you need a tetanus shot."

I nodded, assuming that out of guilt, he'd finally let me ride in his car.

But to my surprise, as I took a step forward, he stopped me.

He led me to the trunk, where a pink scooter was conspicuously parked.

"You know my car is for racing, not for passengers. So I bought you a scooter. Look, all the decorations are things you like, and I personally stuck on all the little ribbons."

"From now on, you can ride your scooter behind my car, and I'll clear the way for you on your commute to work."

A blissful smile, imagining our future, spread across Ryan's face.

My heart, however, was colder than ice.

So, he still thought we had a future.

But I didn't want one anymore.

I glanced at Tiffany in the passenger seat, who was watching the show, and a bitter taste filled my mouth.

Ryan noticed my expression and actually started to explain himself.

"Don't misunderstand. Tiffany is different from you; she's been clumsy since she was little, can't even navigate a straight line. I don't trust her to go home alone, so I can only inconvenience myself and take her."

Normally, I would have swallowed my hurt and just complied.

But today, a surge of uncontrollable fury suddenly ignited within me.

I struggled to suppress the impulse to smash his car, speaking mechanically.

"No, thanks. My wound hurts, I don't have the strength to ride. You take her home, I'll take the subway."

To my surprise, Ryan actually nodded, perfectly at ease.

"Alright, I'd actually feel better if you took the subway. It's too late for Tiffany to go home alone, so I'll drop her off first."

I watched him drive off with a roar, my heart still aching.

He was worried about Tiffany going home late, but perfectly fine with me taking the subway alone late at night?

I gave a self-deprecating laugh, collapsing weakly to the ground.

A luxury car pulled up beside me, and a cold, unfeeling voice came from inside.

"Get in."

I sat in the passenger seat, a little flustered.

"Julian, why are you here? I said three days."

My family, though outwardly cold, was fiercely loyal to its own.

As long as I was one of them, they would protect me unconditionally.

"Mom and Dad are very pleased you're coming home. You said your bloodline was awakening, yet you're crying by the roadside because of some nobody?"

I rubbed the distinctive red mole beneath my eye.

"Almost. I feel like my temper's starting to fray. Next time, I might just smash his car to pieces. Our family can afford to replace it anyway."

Julian rarely showed emotion, but a slight curve touched his lips.

"Good. And," he added after a moment, "I'll fund your car-smashing spree. Take as many as you want."