Chapter 3

The slap landed squarely on Jonathan's cheek, leaving a visible red mark. Eleanor froze, her right hand lingering in the air. Staring at Jonathan's reddened face, she stammered, suddenly worried, "J-Jon, I thought you'd dodge. I didn't mean to hit you…" Jonathan's gaze was steady as he looked at her. "Madam Eleanor, sign it." Her momentary guilt was wiped away at his calm insistence. Enraged, she shouted, "Jon, when will you learn to behave? Is this because I wasn't there for the first 15 years of your life? Do you resent me that much?" Jonathan's expression didn't change as he repeated, "Sign it." Clenching her teeth, Eleanor snatched the pen and contract from Gregory, scribbling her name furiously before tossing it back to him with a scowl. She didn't believe Jonathan could survive on his own without the Campbells' help. Sooner or later, he would come crawling back, begging for forgiveness. Watching her sign, Jonathan felt an inexplicable wave of relief. His attention shifted to Gregory. "Your turn, Mr. Campbell." Gregory's face twisted in fury. "You've made a mistake, and we're trying to discipline you. But instead of reflecting, you're unwilling to accept it? Jonathan, do you even realize what you're doing? Without the Campbell family, you're nothing!" He raised his hand to strike, but Jonathan caught his arm midair and pushed it away coldly. "Sign it," Jonathan said, not bothering to argue any further. Gregory trembled with rage, his chest heaving. "So you're being stubborn just to spite us, huh? You think you can survive without us? Don't say I didn't warn you—you'll regret this!" Thinking Jonathan was bluffing, Gregory signed his name decisively. Winona watched Jonathan's indifferent demeanor and laughed mockingly. "Jonathan, do you think our family is some revolving door where you can come and go as you please? Do you think we care about you so much we'd beg you to come back? Don't be ridiculous!" Isabella chimed in, "Exactly, Winny. He's just trying to threaten us and make his insignificant presence known." "Mom, Dad, don't waste your anger on him! He's not worth it!" Stephanie said after she returned to her senses. After all, Jonathan used to go out of his way to please all of them. There was no way he would leave the Campbell family so easily. Stephanie mockingly added, "The Campbell family's businesses span the entire country. Just wait until he's begging us for help to find a job. That'll be the real joke!" Hearing their daughters' dismissive remarks, Gregory and Eleanor felt a bit more at ease. Without a word, Jonathan retrieved a signed copy of the agreement from Gregory, leaving two copies in the older man's hands. Under everyone's shocked gaze, he turned on his heel and strode into the Campbell residence. Mutters swept through the crowd as soon as he was out of sight. Minutes later, Jonathan reappeared at the front door, suitcase in hand. Without so much as a glance back, he walked toward the gates of the residence. Eleanor felt an inexplicable unease rising within her. She instinctively took a step forward to stop him, but Frederick clutched at her sleeve. "Mom, my stomach really hurts," he whined weakly. Her attention shifted instantly. Waving for the family doctor, she fussed over him. "Where else does it hurt? Let's get some scans to be sure…" The scene devolved into chaos again as everyone gathered around Frederick, completely forgetting about Jonathan leaving the residence. … The summer sun blazed over Satbury in August, the heat heavy and oppressive. Jonathan sat in the backseat of a cab, watching the city pass by as the car turned into a narrow alley. He rolled down the window, letting the warm breeze in as he stared at the lush green trees and the rows of red-brick rooftops. The sounds of street vendors hawking their wares drifted into the car, and the smell of smoke was strong. After getting out of the cab, Jonathan went to rent a small room. Once he had put away his luggage, he stepped outside. He walked straight ahead, turned right into a narrow alley, and stopped in front of an old clinic that seemed to carry the weight of time. A gentle breeze rustled past, making the windows creak softly. An elderly woman—about 70 years old—walked out of the clinic. Her face lit up with joy when she saw Jonathan. "Jon! I made your favorite beef stew. Come in and eat while it's still hot," she said, her voice brimming with affection. Jonathan's nose tingled as a surge of emotion washed over him. This kind old woman, Jayla Stewart, wasn't related to him by blood. When he was a child living in the orphanage, he often snuck out to explore. One day, he peeked through the half-open window of the clinic and saw her performing acupuncture on a patient. Intrigued, he started visiting regularly to watch her practice traditional medicine on patients. Over time, their bond grew stronger, and he developed a deep interest in the field. Since starting high school, he had set his mind on getting into the best medical university. But after being taken back by the Campbells, all he could think about was how to fit into the big family. He lost focus on his studies and neglected his education. After being kicked out of the Campbell family in his past life and ending up at the hospital, Jayla couldn't get in touch with him for a few days. So, she had anxiously reached out to the orphanage director to find out what had happened. When she learned Jonathan was in the hospital, she prepared lots of his favorite foods. But on her way there, she got into a car accident and died on the spot. It was a wound that never healed in his past life. After her death, the clinic closed, and he had no choice but to work in a factory to survive. As he was the cause of Jayla's death, he lost the courage to pursue his dreams in medicine. Back at the orphanage, life had been harsh and basic. When he first met her, he was frail and undernourished, much smaller than other kids his age. She noticed immediately and started making special meals for him whenever he visited, ensuring he always left with a full stomach. But the orphanage had strict rules, and he couldn't always sneak out successfully. On those days, she would pack the food in insulated containers and deliver it herself. Jayla had never married or had children, dedicating her entire life to traditional medicine. When she discovered his interest, she patiently taught him and even bought him books on the subject. "Jon, why are you just standing there? Come eat!" Jayla called out with a puzzled expression. "Did you have a fight with your family?" "No, we're fine," Jonathan replied softly, unwilling to burden her with his troubles. He had always been the type to share only good news. She didn't press further and tugged him inside. The clinic was simple but clean. To the left was a counter for dispensing herbs, while the right side housed three neat beds for treating patients. A few small tables and stools were scattered around. Jayla led him through the middle door to the backyard and then into a spacious living room. The dining table was already set, and there was a pot of beef stew in the middle, its aroma filling the air. "Eat while it's hot. I have a house call to make," she said as she grabbed her bag. "I'll bring back some snacks for you." Jonathan's throat tightened. "Okay, Grandma. Be careful out there." After she left, Jonathan ate the stew in silence, savoring each bite. When he was done, he washed the dishes and tidied up. The next day marked the start of his senior year. After paying his rent for the next month and the semester's tuition, Jonathan had little money left over, just enough for some basic living expenses. So, before anything else, he needed to find a way to make some money. He opened a job-search app on his phone to look for part-time work, when a message from his homeroom teacher popped up in the class group chat. She had tagged everyone. "This is your final year of high school. It's time to buckle down and stop slacking off. This Sunday, we'll have a physics competition. All students must participate, and I've already signed you all up. The top 20 students in our grade will receive a monetary reward. Everyone should prepare seriously." The message was followed by an image with more details about the competition, as well as an electronic document titled "Physics Competition Key Points and Typical Examples". Jonathan zoomed in on the image. The first-place prize was 20,000 dollars, and the 20th-place prize was 500 dollars. If he won first place, he would not only have some extra money, but he could also buy some gifts for Jayla. With that thought in mind, he clicked on the 600-page-long document. His eyes moved quickly across the content, and then he closed them slowly. The details he had just scanned were crystal clear in his mind. It was as if he could recall every word he had read without even trying. He had a photographic memory, able to absorb information with a single glance. But in his past life, he had been consumed by the internal strife with the Campbell family. He never focused on his studies and wasted this talent. With less than a week until the physics competition, time was short. However, he was skilled at connecting knowledge points and solving typical problems, so he was more than capable of handling the tricky, unpredictable nature of the competition. Back in middle school, Jonathan had ranked first in his entrance exam to Satbury's prestigious Gracefield High School, where he had shared a class with Frederick and Stella. But after that, his grades had plummeted. At least he still had time. The college entrance exam wasn't set in stone yet. There was still hope! Jonathan quickly skimmed through the rest of the document, then stood up. He decided to step outside and see if Jayla had returned to the clinic. "Is anyone here?" A sweet, youthful voice cut through the warm air and reached Jonathan's ears from outside the clinic. He opened the door to find a graceful young lady standing there. Her delicate features and fair skin immediately caught his attention. Beneath her slender neck, her collarbones were subtly visible, both innocent and alluring. She wore a strapless, peach-pink floral dress with matching white rhinestone sandals. Two light blue butterfly hairbands held her long, black hair in twin ponytails that cascaded down her shoulders. The warm breeze gently ruffled her hair. Jonathan's heart skipped a beat. Wasn't this the daughter of the factory manager from his past life? Why was she here?