Chapter 5

The next day, my stepmother, Brenda Miller, secretly showed up.

While they were out at work, she forcibly took me away.

Brenda's eyes were sharp, and when she looked at me, she sighed again.

"I should have taken you away years ago."

"Those two kids, they deserved a happier life. You ruined them!"

A few years ago, Brenda had tried to secretly take me away.

When I was found, I only remembered being severely injured and developing speech problems.

Jake, for my sake, unilaterally cut ties with her.

Then, to give me a safer life, he and Chloe moved out of that city.

Perhaps, like me, Brenda was also thinking of the past.

Because her eyes hardened with a fierce intensity, and she pulled my arm even harder.

I didn't cry or fuss, just followed her.

Until she threw me into the back of her car.

My face hit the leather, immediately getting a long scratch.

She drove me all the way to an abandoned forest, then got out and dragged me out.

She pulled my hair and cursed:

"Don't you dare go back and ruin my son's life!"

"He's already paid you back for what he owes you! Stop clinging to him like a ghost!"

After saying that, she seemed to remember the wounds on Jake's body.

She slapped me across the face again.

Her sharp fingernails dug into my neck, causing a violent sting.

Blood trickled down my neck, and I slumped weakly to the ground.

Only then did she drive away, seemingly satisfied.

The surroundings were desolate, and I could even hear the low growls of animals.

I was a little scared, but I didn't regret it.

I still had a piece of candy in my pocket.

I tore open the wrapper and popped it into my mouth.

Stumbling along, before my strength gave out, I finally found a place with rushing water.

I squatted down and tested the water temperature with my hand.

Icy, bone-chilling.

To keep me warm, Chloe had put a brand new down jacket on me before she left.

If I died here, no one would know.

And no one would hold Brenda responsible.

The next moment, I jumped into the water.

The frigid lake water immediately engulfed me.

My cotton-padded clothes soaked through, hanging heavy on my body.

In a daze, it felt like I was back at eighteen years old—

Just then, I heard Chloe's frantic scream:

"Leo! No!"

I was swept away by the current, and before my eyes closed, I took one last, deep look at her.