Chapter 3

3

The doctor walked in for his morning rounds and looked relieved to see me awake.

"Mr. Miller, you're finally awake! I'll inform Ms. Vance right away."

I croaked out, my throat parched and raw, "Wait… don't tell her."

Before the doctor could reply, Assistant Harper entered the room.

Harper was one of the few people in Lorena's circle who treated me with basic decency.

Perhaps because we both came from small-town backgrounds without wealthy backing, we understood each other's struggles.

She handed me a clipboard. "David, this is the organ donation consent form. Ms. Vance asked you to sign it as soon as you woke up."

I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat, knowing I had no power against the Vance family. With trembling fingers, I signed my name.

Harper looked at me with pity and quietly handed me a slip of paper.

"I have a friend at the memorial park. I had them carefully gather your grandfather's ashes. Once you're discharged, you can give him a proper burial."

I looked at her with deep gratitude and mouthed a silent thank you.

During my two-week hospital stay, Lorena never set foot in my room.

The nurses mentioned that Bryce was staying in the VIP suite one floor above me, and Lorena stayed by his bedside day and night.

I made sure never to step out of my room, wanting to avoid seeing her face at all costs.

On the day I was discharged, I headed straight to the cemetery.

After burying Grandpa, I sat before his tombstone, staring blankly at his name.

Soon after, voices drifted from behind me.

"The psychic said this plot has incredible spiritual energy. If our dog is buried here, it will reincarnate and find its way back to me in the next life."

It was Bryce's voice, sounding energetic and healthy.

Lorena was walking beside him. Our gazes collided instantly.

After a second, I looked away.

Lorena walked over and scanned me from head to toe, letting out a subtle sigh of relief.

"David, why didn't you tell me you were being discharged today?"

I replied coldly, "Ms. Vance, we have nothing to do with each other. Why should I report to you?"

Despite my bluntness, she surprisingly didn't lose her temper.

She reached out to touch me, but I stepped back to avoid her.

"Don't be stubborn. Let me see your incision." She stepped forward aggressively, trying to lift my shirt.

I shoved her hand aside. "Save your fake sympathy. You're the one who put this scar on me!"

Standing in front of Grandpa's grave, I tried my best to suppress my rage so I wouldn't disturb his peace.

Lorena narrowed her eyes, her lips pressing into a thin line.

I knew that look. It was her tell right before exploding in anger. In the past, I would have cowered and begged for peace.

But the version of me that she could control had died the moment Grandpa took his last breath.

"Get out of my way!" I spat, wanting nothing more than to leave.

Seeing my cold resolve, the sharpness in Lorena's eyes softened into a desperate plea. She grabbed the edge of my sleeve.

"I'll come with you to visit your grandfather in a few days."

Her tone carried that familiar sense of condescending charity.

I slapped her hand away with all my strength. "You are not worthy of speaking his name!"

Lorena's patience snapped, and she raised her hand to strike me.

Bryce caught her wrist just in time. "Lorena, let's focus on what we came here for."

Lorena looked at the small urn in Bryce's hands, and the anger on her face faded.

Watching them walk toward Grandpa's burial site, an overwhelming sense of panic seized me. I rushed after them.

"What do you think you're doing to my grandfather's grave!"

Bryce scoffed lightly. "David, using your grandfather's life as a joke to deceive Lorena is pathetic. This plot wasn't registered under any name."

Lorena's face turned stern. "David, even now, you're still telling these ridiculous lies!"

"This plot belongs to Bryce's dog. Don't you dare try to take it from him!"

My body trembled with uncontainable fury. Still weak from surgery, a wave of intense dizziness washed over me.

I fumbled for my phone to show them the cemetery deed, but before I could unlock the screen, the world tilted and I collapsed.

Through my fading vision, I saw a figure running toward me in panic.

Before I could see who it was, everything went pitch black.

In my unconscious state, I dreamed of six years ago.

Back then, I was an ambitious college student with fire in my soul, completely unbroken by the world.