Chapter 2

A tidal wave of memories crashed over me. I sank to the floor, wrapping my arms around my knees.

Julian and I had been childhood sweethearts.

As a child, I suffered from a rare blood disorder and needed constant care.

The Sterlings were a prominent medical dynasty. Growing up surrounded by doctors, Julian took care of me with endless tenderness.

He tracked my daily symptoms and turned dull medical instructions into bedtime stories.

He even gave up taking over his family's corporate empire to study medicine, all so he could look after me.

Everyone used to say Julian spoiled me to death.

And I truly believed this man would be my anchor for life.

That unshakable certainty began to crumble the year Chloe entered the Sterling household.

Chloe was the daughter of an old family friend. After her parents died in an accident, the Sterlings took her in as their ward.

When she first arrived, she was quiet, timid, always hiding in corners like a wounded fawn.

Julian told me she had just lost her parents and that we needed to be gentle with her.

I believed him.

I gave her my favorite dresses, took her to my secret hideouts, and shared the limited-edition plushies Julian had gifted me.

I never imagined my kindness would become the start of her endless taking.

In front of Julian, she always casually brought up her late parents, letting tears pool in her eyes as she whimpered about feeling alone.

Whenever my condition flared up and I needed Julian by my side, she would suddenly develop "heart palpitations," forcing Julian to abandon me to rush to her.

At first, Julian would apologize and explain. But as it happened again and again, he began treating me like the unreasonable one—the bully picking on the poor, defenseless Chloe.

"Elena, we're older. We need to be patient with Chloe."

"She just lost her family. Can’t you be more mature instead of always upsetting her?"

I tried to explain, but my words were always cut off by Chloe's soft sobs.

Julian would only frown, tell me to stop causing a scene, and pull her into his arms to comfort her—leaving me lying in a hospital bed, feeling completely invisible.

Julian, we grew up together. Did you really trust me so little?

Or had the scale in your heart already tipped toward Chloe long ago?

Eventually, in Julian's eyes, I became synonymous with drama and pettiness.

"Be patient with Chloe" became his favorite mantra.

I still remember that winter when a bad infection sent me into a high fever. Delirious and shivering in the clinic bed, all I wanted was Julian.

I called him, my voice barely a whisper. "Julian, it hurts so bad. Can you please come stay with me?"

A pause lingered on the line. Then he said, "Elena, Chloe is performing in her school’s winter showcase tonight. It’s a big milestone for her. I’ll visit you later."

He hung up.

Clutching the icy phone, burning tears rolled down my cheeks.

I couldn't fathom how her school play was more important than whether I lived or died.

I survived those dangerous forty-eight hours alone in the hospital.

When the fever finally broke, our family housekeeper called from upstate, her voice trembling with panic.

She said my grandfather was in critical condition and hanging on just to see me one last time.

Grandpa was my only living relative. Forgetting my battered body, I booked the earliest train ticket home.

Before boarding, I texted Julian about Grandpa's condition, begging him to come with me.

Before he passed, Grandpa's biggest worry was whether I would be taken care of.

I wanted to bring Julian home so Grandpa could leave this world at peace, knowing I was in good hands.

I waited endlessly at the station, only to receive a cold text:

[Chloe messed up her performance and is getting bullied by her classmates. She's having an emotional breakdown. I can't leave her.]

At that moment, I finally accepted reality: on his scale of priorities, I had long ceased to matter.

Waiting for Julian cost me two earlier connections.

By the time I reached my hometown, Grandpa had already drawn his last breath.

I knelt before his casket for three days and three nights, without food or water.

On the day of the burial, exhaustion claimed me, and I collapsed in the muddy cemetery.

As darkness pulled me under, Julian's voice seemed to echo in the wind.

"Chloe needs someone. I can't leave her alone."

"Elena, you have to be the bigger person."