Chapter 4

I stayed with Dr. Butler until evening before I could even halfway pull myself together.

Standing at the hospital entrance.

I called my best friend.

I couldn't go home.

Whether it was the traces of the life I'd shared with Greta, or the ones tied to my father.

Either would drive me out of my mind.

When Wesley Porter came and saw me sitting alone on the bench below the hospital.

A grown man actually let a tear fall.

"Greta knows exactly what you went through. How dare she treat you like this!"

I never expected it.

In the end, I was the one comforting him instead.

Wesley kept a room in his home just for me.

The incense was the cold pine scent I liked.

The slippers he'd bought me were unwrapped and set on the floor.

Towels, toothbrush, dishes, all prepared for me long in advance.

"Stay as long as you want. If you never go back your whole life, then live here your whole life!

"Those people, there was never any reason to see them again anyway!"

I never expected the one who ended up standing on my side.

Would turn out to be someone with no blood tie to me at all.

I couldn't help the corner of my mouth lifting.

Just as I was about to eat my first meal of the day.

I heard Wesley's voice from the next room.

"Don't worry, I put sleeping pills in his food.

"He won't wake up before tomorrow night."

I stood at the door that hadn't been shut all the way.

Listening, dazed.

"Of course, Col. I'm Toby's godfather, I'll definitely be there for his third birthday party!

"And Uncle Cyril, all of you can relax, nothing will go wrong tomorrow.

"I've measured out the dose exactly. There's no way he'll find out we're celebrating Toby's birthday and lose it!

"Bye, Uncle Cyril! Bye, Ms. Sullivan, bye, Col!"

The call ended.

Wesley walked out, his face bright with delight.

And met my eyes at the door.

"Why?"

I looked at him.

"Uh... you, you heard all of it."

"Why!"

I raised my voice.

Both hands dug hard into his shoulders.

"When you came to Los Angeles without a cent to your name, I was the one who took you in!

"Why! Even you, treating me like this!

"Why!"

"Enough!"

Wesley suddenly shoved me hard.

The small of my back struck the corner of a cabinet.

I dropped onto the carpet.

"Why? Isn't that a question you should be asking yourself?"

I stared at him, dazed.

"Depression, depression, depression. Who has the energy to sit around every day playing along with your act!

"You're really exhausting, Allan. Everyone's busy. It's only you, going into your depression at the drop of a hat, and the whole world has to revolve around you?"

"Playing along with an act..."

My voice trembled.

Wesley let out a cold laugh.

"Stop going on and on about what happened to you in high school.

"How long ago was that?

"Col has already admitted he was wrong. What more do you want?"

I clenched my teeth.

"I never wronged you... your job, I was the one who begged Greta to take you into the company..."

"Right! You got her to bring me in as an intern! And even that took you a week of begging her."

Wesley spread his hands.

"But one word from Col got her to make me permanent, and then promote me to director!"

I froze.

"You stopped being anything a long time ago, Allan.

"Settle down.

"While we still have the patience, while we're still willing to play along with you.

"Have a little self-awareness.

"Don't be so mentally fragile you throw everything onto Col."

The bedroom door slammed shut in front of me.

In this laughable life of mine.

The only three people who ever protected me.

Dad, Greta, and Wesley.

None of them stood on my side anymore.

Wesley had put real care into the meal he made me.

I didn't eat a single bite.

When I woke the next day.

Wesley had already left.

I turned the door handle.

Locked.

After the falling-out.

He didn't even bother with the pretense anymore.

I gave a bitter laugh.

And went quietly back to my own room.

That afternoon.

The door was shoved open.

Greta had the child's allergy test results clenched in her hand.

"Allan! What did you do to my child!"

The door to my room was locked from the inside.

Wesley stepped up.

"Allan! Get out here! Don't do something and refuse to own it! We all know you tampered with the child's food!"

No answer.

"I'll go find the key."

Wesley turned his head.

Greta had already kicked at the door.

Bang! "Allan!"

The door burst open under the kick.

Greta's breath caught.

I lay quietly on the bed.

The blood at my wrists.

Already dried.