Chapter 2

When I woke up, Kael was already geared up and waiting by the main entrance.

“Your clothes are all here. Files are sorted.”

He frowned slightly, his strong, elegant fingers brushing aside a stray lock of hair as he meticulously checked the luggage.

“Your calming diffuser was a bit damp, so I didn’t bring it. I’ll get you a new one later.”

“The plushie, I bagged it separately…”

“Throw it out,” I said flatly.

That plushie was a gift from Kael.

He was originally going to give it to Chloe, but she rejected it, so he passed it off to me.

The ridiculous part was, I cherished it.

Kael paused.

“Why?”

It was the first time he hadn’t obeyed my command.

“Didn’t you like it a lot? Keep it…”

“Brother Kael!”

Chloe’s light footsteps echoed as she ran into the yard, throwing herself into Kael’s arms.

“Thank you for yesterday! I came to express my gratitude.”

Kael stiffened, his hands unsure where to go. His ears, out of Chloe’s sight, were flushed and hot.

His scorpion tail hovered high, as if afraid of accidentally hurting her.

I glanced at the back of my hand.

It had been brushed by a venomous barb last night. It was red and swollen, looking like it might break the skin.

Perhaps I was used to it; I didn’t even feel the pain.

“Oh? Isn’t this the doll I didn’t want?”

Chloe picked up the beautifully wrapped plushie, examining it.

“How did it get here?”

“Did you give it to Anya?”

Kael glanced at me.

He hesitated slightly.

“Uh… no.”

I turned my face away, my hands, hanging at my sides, unconsciously clenching.

He said, “I left it at home and forgot to throw it out. It’s just garbage.”

With a flick of his scorpion tail, the plushie was flung into the trash.

Its plush face, still smiling, rolled into the grime, becoming saturated with its foul wetness.

“I knew it! Why would you give my unwanted garbage to Anya?”

Kael caught sight of my pale face, his pupils trembled, then he quickly looked away.

I couldn’t tell if it was guilt or perhaps a flicker of pity.

He was afraid Chloe would misunderstand.

So, he chose to hurt me. Of course, there was no comparison between us.

Even a gift had to be something she didn’t want.

I unclenched my hands.

Several crescent-shaped indents marred my palms.

“Throw out the luggage. I’ll buy new stuff.”

“I don’t want any of it.”

I looked at Kael.

“Not even you. I don’t want you anymore.”