At the homecoming party, I saw Bella, my childhood friend. She lifted the hem of her dress and ran toward me.

Before my smile could even form, I heard her call out instinctively, "Jess!"

I froze. My outstretched hand remained suspended in midair.

Bella didn't notice her slip until Jessica showed up in full glam. She glanced at me, then at Jessica, and finally let go of my arm as if it were scalding.

An awkward expression crossed her face. "Kayla, congratulations! I'm glad you've woken up," she said half-heartedly.

I forced myself to swallow the pain in my chest and looked up at Jessica. When she saw me, she raised an eyebrow and shot me a provocative look.

My former friends quickly gathered around her. And just like that, I was left alone.

The next moment, Samuel appeared. My parents quickly grabbed my arms and said irritably, "Why did you let her in? Samuel, escort her out."

Jessica stared at my parents in disbelief. Before she could react, Samuel pulled her away with a stern look on his face.

I sensed the subtle, watchful looks my parents cast in my direction, but I was no longer in the mood to play along.

They pretended to despise Jessica in front of me. If I hadn't seen that warm scene earlier, I might have believed them. I found an excuse and followed after them.

"Rory's birthday just ended, and now you're already throwing her a homecoming party? The sign from that celebration is still right over there. How do you think this makes me look?" Jessica asked pitifully.

I stood outside the door, feeling the blood drain from my body. As I glanced around the room, I spotted a sign tucked in the corner that read: "Happy Birthday, Rory."

I was stunned after realizing that my homecoming party had been scheduled almost back-to-back with their child's birthday celebration.

What did they take me for?

Only then did I understand why Samuel hadn't come home these past few days. It was because of their child's birthday celebration. I clenched my fists tightly.

Jessica sobbed and cried, but Samuel showed no sign of comforting her. "I told you, don't let Kayla find out you're here! She just woke up, and if anything happens to her, I'll never forgive you," he firmly said.

Jessica looked even more aggrieved. "I know I'm not supposed to be seen. I'll behave from now on."

Hearing her soften her tone, Samuel let out a sigh and said, "You need to remember your place."

The next moment, the sound of the two of them kissing echoed from inside. I suddenly felt unbearably sick.

A sharp pain of betrayal cut through my heart like a knife. Tears streamed down my face without me knowing it.

I wiped my cheeks messily, but just as I turned to leave, I caught Jessica's triumphant gaze. Panic swept through me. I did not watch my step and suddenly tripped over a plastic ball. I crashed heavily to the ground with a heavy thud.

The noise in the room stopped abruptly.

Lying facedown, I could feel my ankle twisted at an unnatural angle. The pain was so intense that I nearly blacked out.

"Kayla!" Samuel shouted, rushing out in disheveled clothes.

He then turned toward the shadows and snapped, "Don't come out!"

Panic and helplessness filled his face as he picked me up. I didn't know why, but I genuinely wanted to hear what excuse he would come up with.

"I was just heading to the bathroom. I didn't mean to..." I said.

Relief visibly washed over Samuel's face.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

He gave a vague reply, as if it were nothing. "I came to find something. Don't move—I'll take you to the hospital."

As I listened to his lie, I unconsciously loosened my grip on his wrist.

…

My ankle was badly sprained.

Tears welled up in Samuel's eyes as he held me tightly, murmuring apology after apology.

His body trembled, and even his voice was shaking.

"I'm sorry, Kayla. I failed to protect you. This is all my fault…"

I gently pushed him away and said calmly, "Why was a plastic ball just lying around like that?"

Samuel fell silent. Of course, he knew why—the toys were all prepared for his son's birthday celebration.

Before he could think of an excuse, his phone rang. The caller ID showed Jessica's photo again.

Jessica's anxious voice came through the line. "Rory has a fever. I'm really scared. Sam, can you come with me to the hospital?"

Samuel instinctively glanced at me. His expression was conflicted, but in the end, he chose to leave me behind.

"There's an urgent matter at the office. I'll be back soon. Darling, wait for me," he said.

Without waiting for my response, he dashed off. At the same time, I received a message from Jessica.

"Sam still chose me, didn't he? If you know what's good for you, just stay out of our way."

I didn't reply. Instead, I opened her social feed. The latest post was a video of my mother kneeling in front of a wall filled with candles, praying earnestly for Jessica's safety.

Jessica's playful voice came from behind the camera. "Mom, you said you'd give up everything to keep me safe. Would you trade Kayla's safety for mine too?"

Mom laughed and playfully scolded, "What are you saying, my silly girl? Of course I would."

At that moment, my grip faltered, and my phone slipped from my hand, crashing to the floor.

Trembling, I picked it up and noticed something—Jessica was still wearing the bracelet my mom had once given me for protection when I was little.

I saved everything, and with it came a deep, suffocating sense of despair.

I suddenly couldn't figure out what purpose I had left in this world.

My parents pushed the door open and took in the disheveled, broken state I was in.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked up at my mother.

"Mom, do you even see me as your daughter? Or are you just waiting for me to disappear from your life?" I asked, breaking down emotionally.

Mom stared at me in shock.

A moment later, a sharp slap landed on my cheek.

Dad's eyes burned with anger. "Your mother's worried sick about you. How can you speak to her like that? You're not even half the daughter Jessica is."

He stopped short, as if suddenly aware of what he'd just said.

A bitter laugh escaped me, and tears spilled out before I could stop them.

The hospital room was silent. That suffocating silence lasted until I was discharged and returned home.

Dad's friend was waiting at the door with a gift. When he saw us, he smiled and said, "Congratulations, Mr. Brown. I couldn't make it to Rory's birthday celebration a few days ago…"

Before he could finish, Dad glanced at me in a panic. Soon after, Mom pulled me into my room. "You just got out of the hospital. You need to rest more," she said before leaving.

They were still trying to lie to me, but I had already seen through everything.

I took out my phone and opened Jessica's latest message. It was a video of Samuel kissing their son.

My heart sank completely.

I stared out the window, then picked up the phone and called him. "Sam, you used to say you wanted to move to Merrington with me. Do you still mean it? Do you still want to start over with me?"

There was noise in the background. Samuel's voice was faint but I caught his meaning. "Things are good the way they are now. Let's not go there."

Hearing that, I clenched my phone tightly. From that moment, I was completely done with him.

"Samuel, how about I give you a gift you'll never forget?"