Chapter 2

I stood frozen for a few seconds before slowly lifting my head, my eyes locking onto Arthur’s.

My voice was dead, dripping with pure ice and trembling with disbelief.

"You've been holding that in for a long time, haven't you?"

A curse? I got my parents and Lucas killed?

My parents died in a catastrophic apartment fire, giving their lives to pull strangers out of the flames.

They were heroes!

I clenched my fists until my nails bit into my palms, an agonizing ache swelling inside my chest.

Seeing that things were getting out of hand, Martha quickly stepped in front of Arthur, her tone suddenly softening to smooth things over.

"Elena... your father-in-law just lost his temper. He didn't mean it! Don't take it to heart."

"Your parents saved so many lives back then. Everyone respects them."

She reached out, intending to pat my shoulder.

I jerked away from her touch, shaking with pure rage, unable to utter a single syllable.

Brenda, our neighbor from down the hall, poked her head around the corner and asked carefully, "Oh my goodness, what on earth is going on here? Why are you screaming like that?"

Martha grabbed onto Brenda like a lifeline, quickly plastering a strained, pitiful smile onto her face.

"Oh, it's nothing big... It's just... we brought home a sweet little orphan, thinking he could keep Elena company so she wouldn't be all alone when she gets old. But she refused, and Arthur got a little upset..."

"Brenda, please, help me talk some sense into her!"

"This poor child is from a distant branch of our family. His parents passed away, and none of his relatives wanted him. He has nobody in the world..."

Hearing this, Brenda’s face melted into sympathetic understanding, and she immediately turned her judgment on me.

"Elena, sweetie, I'm not trying to lecture you, but your in-laws are doing this for your own good."

"You're turning thirty soon. How can a woman live without a child? A kid brings life to a home, and you'll actually have someone to lean on when you're older!"

Before Brenda could even finish, Linda chimed in from the back:

"Haven't you seen the news lately? Single, older women dying in their apartments with nobody noticing for weeks until... well, you know! It's horrific! If you have a child by your side, tragedy like that never happens!"

She shook her head, looking at me with unbearable pity.

"Lucas has been dead for eight years, and you never remarried. Everyone in this building knows how devoted and filial you've been to his parents."

"This sweet boy clearly loves you already. If you don't take him in, who's going to look after you when you're old and gray?!"

I nearly laughed out loud.

So without a child, I'm destined to rot in a ditch?

Even if I died alone and nobody found my body, I'd be dead anyway. Why would I give a damn about what happens to my corpse?

Besides, I was a senior VP at an elite corporate firm making well into the six figures. Did they really think I couldn't afford a five-star luxury retirement community when I retired?

I let out a cold smirk, my patience completely exhausted.

"How I live out my golden years is none of your business. I'll pay for a private luxury suite in the best facility in the country, and my life will be far more peaceful than it is right now!"

Martha instantly shrieked back:

"Haven't you watched the horror stories on TV?! Caregivers in those nursing homes are monsters!”

“If you don't have grown children visiting and checking in, they'll neglect you until you die! Only your own flesh and blood can be trusted!"

She roughly shoved the little boy forward. Leo bit his lip and dropped straight to his knees on the hard floor.

I frowned.

The next second, he began slamming his forehead against the ground, sobbing hysterically:

"Mommy, please don't kick me out! Mommy, please don't kick me out!"

After just a few slams, a massive purple bruise swelled on his tiny forehead.

Martha immediately swooped in, scooping him up with dramatic distress, showing him off like a wounded puppy as she pleaded with me:

"My poor, sweet baby! Look at him! Where on earth are you ever going to find a child this obedient and loving?!"