Chapter 2

The sky outside the hospital was gloomy, the cold wind cutting like a knife against my face.

I took a taxi home, intending to pack up my belongings.

As soon as I opened the door, the phone rang. It was the hospital.

"Mr. Lu, your father... he just passed away."

I held the phone, feeling utterly calm. All the tears I had to cry were shed in my past life.

I hung up and continued packing my things.

Soon after, my phone started ringing incessantly.

Annoyed, I picked up. Sophia's voice came through, barely containing her fury:

"Where are you? Your father is dead, and Ethan is so distraught he's threatening to jump from the hospital roof!"

"He's asking for you specifically. Get over here right now!"

I almost laughed. Ethan valued his life too much to ever jump.

"If he wants to jump, let him," I said coldly. "What's that got to do with me?"

"Lucas!" Sophia's angry voice came again.

"If it weren't for your tantrum, your father wouldn't be dead! I don't care what you're doing, get to Central Hospital now! Or face the consequences!"

I couldn't be bothered to deal with her anymore and hung up.

Half an hour later, the villa's door was kicked open.

Sophia stood in the doorway, backlit, with over a dozen menacing bodyguards behind her.

She saw the suitcase at my feet, and her eyes instantly turned vicious.

"You're leaving?" she asked.

"None of your business," I replied.

She walked towards me step by step, those eyes that once entranced me now filled with terrifying anger.

She grabbed my wrist, yanking me towards her.

"Come with me to the hospital," she demanded.

"I said, I'm not going," I repeated.

She narrowed her eyes, the chill in them intensifying.

"Lucas, don't push me," she warned.

She forcibly dragged me out and shoved me into the backseat of a car.

On the hospital rooftop, the wind was strong, making it hard to keep my eyes open.

Ethan stood at the edge in a white shirt, looking down emotionally.

"It's all your fault, Lucas!" he screamed when he saw me. "You killed Dad with your selfishness!"

"Why don't you just die!" he shrieked.

He shuffled towards me as he yelled.

Sophia nervously followed behind me.

"Ethan, calm down. Watch your step," she cautioned.

Just as Ethan passed by me, a flash of malice crossed his eyes. He deliberately rammed his shoulder into me hard, while pretending to stumble.

"Ah! Sophia, save me!" he cried out.

It all happened so fast. Sophia, without thinking, reached out and pulled the seemingly faltering Ethan into her arms.

The force of his "stumble" knocked me off balance. My body tilted backwards uncontrollably, over the roof's railing.

"No!" I heard Sophia's horrified scream.

The sensation of falling from the fourth floor felt exactly like the moment of death in my past life.

I closed my eyes, but a mocking smile tugged at my lips.

Sophia, you chose him. Again.

When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed.

I looked at my right leg in a cast, feeling the excruciating pain inside.

The door opened, and Sophia walked in, a hint of guilt on her face.

"Ethan's fine now, just a bit shaken up," she said.

"The doctor said your leg has a comminuted fracture. You'll need to rest. I'll take care of the medical bills and compensation."

I looked at her and suddenly laughed.

"Sophia Song, do you think all the harm you cause can be fixed with money?"

0