Chapter 2

My momentary defiance made things go from bad to worse.

And I found myself falling deeper and deeper.

Countless times, I wanted to tell Caleb.

The person you love isn't me.

The first time Caleb saw me, he asked me a question.

His eyes were gentle, completely devoid of the rumored hostility.

"Jade, you were even using a crutch when you saved me. Weren't you scared?"

A crutch?

I stared at him blankly.

I'd suffered countless injuries growing up, but I'd never broken a leg.

It was Chloe who broke her leg.

Caleb had always loved Chloe.

All his intense love for Chloe had been transferred to me.

Not long after we started dating, Caleb took me home to meet his family.

Mr. Blackwood held his newspaper the entire time, seemingly unable to put it down.

But Caleb's stance was too firm.

Enraged, Mr. Blackwood slapped Caleb across the face.

"You scoundrel! How dare you bring such an unsuitable woman into this house? Are you trying to ruin the Blackwood name?"

That day, Caleb and his father had a monumental fight in the Blackwood mansion.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Blackwood and Caleb's aunt sat nearby, chatting, as if I wasn't even there.

They knew exactly how to make someone feel worthless.

But they didn't hurt me.

Because I always knew I wasn't good enough for Caleb.

Their reaction was only natural.

The farce only ended when Mr. Blackwood smashed a teacup near my feet.

Caleb carefully picked me up, made a furious declaration, and completely cut ties with his family.

Before leaving, I saw Mrs. Blackwood's gaze fixed on me.

It was cold and venomous.

The teacup shards had torn my pants.

But they had also torn Mrs. Blackwood's long dress.

Yet, Caleb only had eyes for me, completely ignoring his mother's disheveled state.

I sighed.

I had tried my best to be perfectly obedient on this visit, hoping to leave them with a good impression.

It seemed I had failed completely.