Sophia and I grew up together. Her family owned a large company, and she was set to inherit it one day. “Let’s get married after you graduate,” she once told me. “I can’t wait to be your wife.” I believed her without question. That is, until the day a man burst into our bedroom, and I realized Sophia already had a fiancé. I was thrown out of the house and left to fend for myself in a strange city. Five years later, they came begging for me to return. “Jack, there’s a letter for you in your mail,” my roommate called out. A letter? Who even sends those anymore? My roommate shrugged and went back to his video game. I picked up the unmarked envelope, feeling oddly apprehensive. As soon as I read the first line, I knew who it was from. “Jack, Grandpa is very ill. The doctors say he doesn’t have much time left. He wants to see you one last time.” Grandpa? I thought he had disowned me years ago. I took a deep breath and tossed the letter in the trash. I had worked so hard to move on from my past. Why did they have to show up now and drag me back? That night, I woke up from a nightmare, my throat parched and raw. How long had it been since I’d had dreams like this? In the dream, Sophia and I were together again. She was kissing me, whispering sweet nothings in my ear. “Let’s get married after you graduate,” she said. “I can’t wait to be your wife.” I believed her. Then the bedroom door burst open. A strange man stood there, his hand covering his mouth in shock. Behind him was Sophia’s grandfather – the man I had called Grandpa for so many years. It wasn’t until later that I learned the truth. The man was Sophia’s fiancé. They had gotten secretly engaged while I was away on a trip to England. I wiped the sweat from my brow and lay back down, but sleep eluded me. So Grandpa was sick? I remembered how energetic he used to be, always walking faster than me. On our daily walks, he would speed ahead on purpose, making me jog to keep up. When I was out of breath, he would stop and laugh heartily at me. He used to say I was the most handsome young man in the world. He said he would watch me grow up, see me get married, even help take care of my children someday. I pulled the covers over my head, trying to block out the memories. The next day at work, Sophia was waiting outside my office building.
Sophia had always been exceptional, both in looks and academics. Even now, she stood out in the bustling crowd. I spotted her immediately. She saw me too and waved with a smile. “Jack!” It wasn’t until she walked up to me that I realized this was real, not another dream. “Jack,” she said again. I nodded numbly. “I called your boss. He said you can take a few days off.” I checked my phone and saw a missed call from my manager. “Time off?” Sophia’s face fell. “Grandpa is sick. He hopes to… to see you.” She reached out to pat my head like she used to, but I dodged her touch. She awkwardly lowered her hand. “Grandpa has missed you so much these past few years.” Missed me? Was he missing me when I was struggling to survive abroad? “Will you come home with me? Please?” I nodded. My mother’s death anniversary was coming up anyway. Sophia visibly relaxed when we boarded the plane to Ashton. “Do you hate me?” she asked quietly. My heart clenched painfully, but I kept my face neutral as I shook my head. “I didn’t know how else to repay your family for taking me in. I guess this was my way of doing that.” Sophia took a sharp breath, about to speak, but I had already closed my eyes to rest. My head was pounding from lack of sleep the night before. I thought Sophia’s presence would keep me awake, but I slept through the entire flight. Adam, the family’s butler, was waiting to pick us up at the airport. He had aged quite a bit. I remembered how he used to dislike me, always interrupting when Sophia and I were alone together. Now he was surprisingly polite and respectful. I felt the credit card in my wallet – the one Adam had secretly given me years ago. He must have known the family intended to abandon me abroad. That card had saved my life. After returning to the country, I had added more money to the card. Now was my chance to return it to Adam. The family estate hadn’t changed much, though there were fewer staff around now. Grandpa was lying on a lounge chair in the courtyard – the same one where he used to hold me and read me stories. “Jack,” he called out eagerly before I even reached him.
Grandpa looked small and frail now. His hair had turned completely white, his face lined with wrinkles. But his sunken eyes still shone with affection. I stared at his bony fingers. Those same hands had once slapped me across the face, calling me shameless just like my mother. “You’re home, my boy,” he said softly. I gave a slight bow. “Mr. Parker.” Sophia shot me a reproachful look, then went to Grandpa’s side to rub his chest. “Are you still angry with me?” he asked. I shook my head. “Not anymore. I’m grateful you gave me a home after my parents passed away.” “I mainly came back to visit my mother’s grave. Her death anniversary is coming up.” He started coughing violently. “I know you resent me,” he wheezed. He gestured for me to sit beside him, but I didn’t move. Grandpa closed his eyes in pain. A tear slid down his cheek. “How could I have been so cruel?” I instinctively touched my ribcage, where two bones had been broken. He had done that with his own cane. “I should have at least let you heal before sending you away,” Grandpa choked out. He seemed to be talking to himself as much as to me. Adam stood nearby, looking at me with a hint of sympathy in his eyes. He was the one who had taken me from the hospital to the airport just three days after my surgery, against the doctor’s furious objections. I smiled at Adam, but he quickly lowered his gaze. “It’s all in the past,” I said. “Please don’t worry about it. I’m doing well now.” Grandpa looked at me. “I tore you and Sophia apart. I know you both hate me for it.” I turned to Sophia, meeting her eyes for the first time that day. I had always loved Sophia’s eyes. They were like the clearest lake. So many times, she had come to comfort me in the dark: “Don’t be afraid. It’s just thunder. I’m here.” It was on a rainy night that I saw my mother jump from the roof. Lightning illuminated the sky for an instant, searing the image of her broken body into my memory forever. Sophia knew about this. Everyone in the family did. But she was the only one who truly comforted me and cared. Even now, her eyes held that same tenderness. But I was no longer afraid of thunderstorms. Grandpa looked at me pleadingly. “Jack, could you call me Grandpa one more time? It’s been so long since I heard you say it.” I stood in silence for a long moment before slowly replying, “I’m sorry. I can’t do that.” His hand fell limply to his side. “I drove my own grandson away.” I smiled sadly. “I’m not your grandson. Sophia is your only grandchild, your flesh and blood.” “You only have one granddaughter. You never had a grandson.” As Sophia walked me out, Grandpa kept trying to make me stay. He brought up happy memories from the past, insisting on his love for me. He wanted me to call him Grandpa again, to sit by his side and keep him company in his final days. But I couldn’t do it. I agreed with what he had once said – family without blood ties is just a tool to ease loneliness. In his heart, that’s all I had been. Someone to chat with in his free time, to give him a taste of family life. But as soon as trouble came, I was the first one thrown to the wolves. Grandpa had done it. So had Sophia. “I’m sorry,” Sophia said quietly as she dropped me off at the hotel. I could handle her apology, but I didn’t want to accept it. She gripped my wrist tightly. “Can we start over?”
The day after I visited my mother’s grave, I received news of Grandpa’s death. Adam told me over lunch. I had invited him out as a thank you. “The family business isn’t what it used to be,” he sighed. I kept my head down, eating silently. Adam continued, “After you left, Miss Sophia married Mr. Nathan. But his family’s company went bankrupt soon after. The investment from the Parker Group was lost overnight.” “Miss Sophia… she divorced him the very next day.” “She wanted to find you, but got caught up trying to save the company. If she hadn’t worked herself to the bone these past years, I’m afraid Parker Group would have collapsed too.” My throat tightened, but no tears came. “How have you been all this time?” Adam asked gently. I looked up to see him watching me with concern. I took off my watch, revealing an ugly scar on my wrist. “This… this is…” Adam stammered. I put the watch back on and smiled. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.” Adam’s eyes grew moist. He had watched me grow up after all. There was some affection there. That evening, I saw Sophia’s car parked outside my hotel. I knew Adam would tell her everything. I suppose they deserved to know a little about my pain.
I packed my bags and went downstairs first thing in the morning. Sophia was still there. As soon as she saw me, she ran over. The first words out of her mouth were “I’m sorry.” “I… back then…” Her hands trembled, wanting to touch me but not daring to. She looked so pitiful like this. “Didn’t you already apologize?” I said. She hung her head in defeat. “No amount of apologies can make up for what I did.” At least she understood that much. “Jack, stay with me. Let me take care of you, let me make it up to you.” I gave a soft laugh. “Miss Parker, do you really think I would dare stay by your side again?” I sighed and looked into the distance. “You don’t need to make anything up to me. This was all my own fault. It’s punishment for being so stupid back then.” That was truly how I felt. If I hadn’t been so foolish, how could I have believed so easily when she said she would marry me? How could I have thought she was just putting on an act when she accused me of seducing her in front of everyone? “Sophia, if you had shown up earlier, I really would have forgiven you. If you had come to find me in America back then, I would have returned with you without hesitation.” “If it was then, maybe we could have started over.” Sophia bit her lip, holding back tears. “Do you still love me?” I thought for a moment, then nodded. “Yes.” Tears streamed down her face. She wiped them away and smiled brightly. “As long as you still love me. As long as you still love me.” Is that so? I wanted to laugh. I had never seen Sophia so humble before. She started to say something else, but my phone rang. I glanced at the number and stepped away to answer. “Why did you go back to the Parkers?” a sweet voice demanded.
Emma’s voice came through clearly. Suddenly I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. “You’re scolding me,” I pouted. She gave a low laugh. “Trying to change the subject, huh?” “No, you really did scold me just now.” She finally gave in and apologized, then asked again: “So why did you go back to the Parkers?” “Just had some business to take care of.” “Jack. Lin.” I cringed and quickly said I’d explain everything when I got back, then hung up. I turned to find Sophia watching me with a hurt expression. “Who was that?” I shrugged. “A friend.” “A woman?” Seeing my frown, she didn’t press further. Over the next few days, she took me to our old school and places we used to go on dates. She probably thought it would bring back happy memories. Unfortunately, she didn’t realize that all those good memories inevitably led back to that one terrible night. That was the true end of our happy times together – betrayal, insults, being thrown out like garbage. As Sophia cheerfully pointed out which buildings had been torn down and which restaurants had closed, I understood that she could never truly comprehend my pain from back then. “Are you not happy?” she asked cautiously. I shook my head. “I’m remembering that night.” She lowered her head guiltily, fidgeting with her fingers. “You still remember?” “You don’t?” I sneered. “I guess you’ve never had nightmares about it all these years. That’s the difference between us.” “Because I was the one who was betrayed. I was the one thrown out on the streets. I was the one who nearly died. So you’ll always think of it as just the past. You keep telling me to move on, but no matter how fast I run, those nightmares still catch up to me.” Tears fell onto the back of my hand. “I can’t help it. I think I’m sick, Sophia. I’m sick.” Sophia threw her arms around me, holding me tight as she let out a pained whimper. “I’ll make you better,” she vowed. She was still so confident. Of course I could get better. But she wasn’t the one who could heal me. I left for Brighton without saying goodbye to Sophia. As soon as I walked in the door of my apartment, I saw my roommate sitting ramrod straight on the couch like a statue. “What’s wrong?” I asked. He pointed to my bedroom. That’s when I noticed the suitcase in the living room. I quickly set down my things and rushed to the bedroom. Emma was curled up on my small bed.
I tiptoed over, not wanting to wake her. She looked so docile asleep, without her usual ferocity. I gently brushed a stray hair from her face. To my surprise, her eyes suddenly flew open. She yanked me onto the bed and kissed me fiercely. Her kisses grew more and more forceful, like a punishment. “So. You. Finally. Came. Back?” she said between kisses. I blinked in response. “Why did you hang up on me that day?” I caught my breath before answering. “What do you think? You were so fierce, who wouldn’t be scared?” She leaned down and kissed me hard. “Liar. Why were you in Ashton?” She glared at me accusingly. “Were you trying to get back with…” I quickly covered her mouth. “I went to visit my mom’s grave,” I said soothingly. “And to see Mr. Parker one last time.” Emma clearly didn’t believe me. “Of course, I also wanted to make them feel a little guilty. They’ve been living too comfortably all these years.” She looked at me suspiciously. “Really?” I held up my hand solemnly. “Really. I swear.” She smiled slightly and buried her face in my chest. “I can’t leave you alone for even a second. I have to keep an eye on you at all times.” Emma had always been very possessive. I had gotten used to it over the years. If it wasn’t for her, I might still be living miserably in America. She and Sophia had grown up together. When I first came to live with the Parkers, Emma bullied me constantly. Whenever I saw her, I would clutch Sophia’s clothes in fear and beg her to take me away. Later in high school, even though Emma had already graduated, her reputation as the school’s toughest girl still lived on. When I heard about it, I became even more terrified of her. But the Parker and Stern families were close, so I still saw her from time to time. Two months after I arrived in America, I was robbed of all my money and my phone. I had already lost all hope for my life and was contemplating suicide when an elderly Chinese couple found me and took me to the hospital. When I woke up again, Emma was sitting by my bedside, looking haggard. After learning I had been sent away by the Parkers, she had been searching for me. If I hadn’t been hospitalized, it might have taken her much longer to find me. She brought me back home and has kept me hidden from the Parkers all these years. Emma gave me a second chance at life. I hugged her arm a little tighter. She sensed it immediately. “What’s wrong? Another nightmare?” I looked at her helplessly. “I’m not even asleep yet.” She patted my waist awkwardly. “So what’s the matter?” Emma rarely showed her softer side, especially around me. I grinned at her. “I just really, really like you.” The tips of Emma’s ears turned red at lightning speed. She rolled her eyes at me. “As you should.” That night, the three of us went out for dinner. My roommate was still a bit afraid of Emma, mainly because of her fierce expression. But as soon as we stepped out of the building, we saw Sophia waiting there.
Sophia’s eyes were filled with anger when she saw Emma and me come out together. Her lips parted, but no words came out as she stared at our clasped hands. Emma pulled me slightly behind her, positioning herself in front. She gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. Seeing this, the fury in Sophia’s eyes intensified. She strode up to me and demanded loudly: “Jack, explain yourself.” I smiled faintly. “What explanation do I owe you?” Sophia was taken aback. “I don’t think you understand your position here. What right do you have to come questioning me?” Sophia’s throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. She glared viciously at Emma. “Some friend you are. So this is where you’ve been hiding all these years?” Emma’s face was taut as she stared coldly back at Sophia, not saying a word. Sophia grew even more enraged at her silence. She raised her hand to slap Emma. Emma didn’t flinch at all. She simply pushed me further away as Sophia’s blow sent her stumbling to the ground. “Emma!” I cried out in alarm. Sophia wasn’t done. She raised her hand to strike again. I rushed over and shoved her away, then slapped her hard across the face. “What gives you the right to hit people?” Sophia stared at me in shock, a flicker of pain in her eyes. “Jack, you hit me? For her?” My chest heaved as I took deep breaths. I should have slapped her years ago. Emma got to her feet and came to stand beside me, a smile playing on her lips. I looked at her worriedly. “Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?” Especially her head – what if she got a concussion? Emma had already done so much for me. I would feel terribly guilty if she was injured because of me. The thought made me even more anxious. I asked loudly, “Does anything hurt?” She gently took my hand. “I’m fine.” Emma’s smile deepened, her eyes softening as she gazed at me. But when she turned back to Sophia, her eyes were as cold as ice. “Consider that slap payment for how I’ve wronged you. We’re even now.” She linked her arm through mine. “From now on, you and Jack have nothing to do with each other. Don’t come looking for him again, or I won’t let you off so easily.” Sophia let out a short laugh. “You won’t let me off? How do you plan to do that? With your pathetic little company?” She turned to me. “Jack, do you really think she can protect you? Her company is on the verge of bankruptcy.” “If it wasn’t for the Stern family propping her up, she’d be nothing but a brainless thug. She can’t keep you safe.” She flashed me an arrogant smile. “You can come back to me anytime. As long as you’re willing to return, I’ll forgive everything.” Forgive everything? I almost thought I had misheard, or that Sophia had used the phrase incorrectly. The smug look on her face made me feel sick. But she didn’t linger. She turned and walked away confidently, as if she had already foreseen Emma’s defeat. I couldn’t help but worry. “You didn’t win the bid this time either?” Emma glanced at me, then quickly lowered her head. “No.” I was shocked. “It went to Parker Group again?” She shook her head. “The final decision hasn’t been made yet, but Parker Group is in the running.” A suspicion formed in my mind. “Did Sophia know about us for a long time?” No wonder she hadn’t seemed surprised at all to see Emma and me together. The last few bids had all gone to Parker Group. I had seen their proposal – it couldn’t compare to Emma’s. And yet, Emma’s company still lost.
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