Chapter 4

My room was redecorated to Jason’s taste.

My favorite food slowly disappeared from the dining table.

The squeaky wheel got the grease, I suppose.

With a single suicide note, Jason stole away all the love that I had longed for over twenty years.

When no one was around, Jason appeared by my bedside.

“Little rascal, how did you end up so miserable?

“I’m afraid you’re not going anywhere with your face like this! But don’t worry. I’ll tell you every detail of the New Year’s Eve party tonight, including my proposal to Wendy…”

The sole of his shoe hovered just above my bandaged cheek.

I gripped the bedsheet so hard that my knuckles went white.

“Yannick, why do you act so proud?

“Your dumb chimney-climbing antics are all over the internet. You’ve disgraced our family. Thanks to you, my New Year’s Eve party with Wendy is getting quite the spotlight.

“Everyone’s calling you a disgrace! Look at you, you disgusting little animal. You can’t even control yourself and will throw yourself at anything that moves!”

I gripped the bedsheet even tighter, and my throat constricted. “Do you want me dead? Unfortunately for you, I’m going to live and see you all fall!”

Jason suddenly burst out laughing as if he had heard the silliest thing.

“No one even loves you. What’s the point of your pathetic little life?

“Do you think Mom and Rachel didn’t know about all this?

“They handed you over to those kidnappers themselves! Those drugs that made you wish you were dead… Do you think the kidnappers could’ve gotten those without their approval?

“Wendy also knew about it! Everyone has abandoned you!”

Every word cut straight through me.

Even though I sensed it coming, it still hit me like a blow to my chest when he stripped away all pretense.

I heard footsteps outside the door.

Slap!

Jason slapped himself hard.

Before I registered what was happening, he tousled his hair and ripped open his collar.

He dropped to his knees with a thud, and tears streamed down his face. “Yannick, I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad… It’s all my fault.”

The door burst open.

Rachel stormed in. The moment she saw Jason crumpled on the floor in tears and me lying motionless in bed, her expression changed, and she was instantly enraged.

“Yannick, what did you do to Jason?!”

Jason frantically shook his head with tears in his eyes. “It’s not Yannick’s fault. It’s mine! Rachel, don’t be mad at him…”

Rachel was furious. She pointed at me and yelled, “You’ve only been back for a few days, and you’re already bringing that vulgar, disgraceful attitude into this home! We don’t want someone ungrateful like you here!

Jason cowered behind her. He flashed me a smug smile and silently mouthed, “See? She’ll always pick me.”

“Get out!” I immediately grabbed the pill bottle, which was the only thing that I could reach, and hurled it at them. “All of you, get out!”

The disgust in Rachel’s eyes was no longer hidden. “You’re insane! You’re completely insane!”

She grabbed Jason by the arm and turned around. She stopped at the door and yelled, “From now on, no one’s allowed to come in to check on him! Cut off the painkillers! Turn off the heating! Since he’s so tough, let him tough it out on his own!”

“Please don’t…” Before he was dragged away, Jason turned back and pretended to be concerned for me. “We’ll come see you tomorrow—”

Before he could finish, Rachel slammed the door shut.

Footsteps faded into the distance, and the world fell completely silent.

The cold slowly filled the room as the heating was cut off.

I stared out the window at the dark night, and the corner of my lips twitched.

This was the “home” I had spent twenty years fighting my way back to. It had never really wanted me at all.

I decided that from this point, we would go our separate ways.