Chapter 2

My thoughts snapped back to the present. When Asher saw how I was silent, his expression darkened. "Could someone as heartless as you actually feel sad?" He stared at me coldly before exclaiming, "How ridiculous!" I shivered slightly, carefully turning my downcast gaze toward Asher. A quick glance from the live stream had made me feel that he looked more and more like Winston. Upon a closer look now, it wasn't just their appearances. The way Asher held his back straight and the slight tilt of his chin—he carried the same arrogant defiance as Winston. And just like Winston, Asher despised me. I suppressed my tears and tried to school my expression to a look of greed. "Why wouldn't I feel sad? You're suggesting 100,000 dollars to sponsor me as your secret lover—am I just worth this price?" I looked at Winston and said, "I want 500,000 dollars." No one knew him better than I did, and no one was better at pushing his buttons. As expected, anger flashed in Winston's gaze as he gritted, "I'm disgusted at how despicable you've become, Seraphina." I smiled and replied, "Well, what an honor. But since Mr. Jones is reluctant to part with the money, I'll be taking my leave now. What a shame, though—I never get to experience what a Maybach feels like." I stepped around Winston and Asher, ready to leave the suffocating scene, but two bank cards were then tossed at me. "I hope your skills as a secret lover are worth 500,000 dollars, Seraphina." "You could be bought with just the price of a pair of shoes—how cheap of you!" Their insults stopped me in my tracks. I stared in shock at the bank cards on the ground before looking up at the both of them. They were wearing similar expressions of fury and hatred toward me. I took a deep breath before asking, "Do you really want me to stay by your side that badly?" Winston scoffed. "Stay by our side? Do you think you're worthy of that, Seraphina? Back then, you left me and Asher when we were sickly and chose enjoyment instead." He spoke decisively, "You should've known since then that we would never forgive you even if you die!" A sharp pain shot through my chest as I saw the intense hatred in both Winston's and Asher's eyes. I ran my fingers over the long scars on each side of my waist and smiled. They were unaware that I had given both my kidneys away to them five years ago. Now, my doctor had already issued my critical condition notice—I was about to die soon. … I dragged my weary body back to my rented apartment. It was small, damp, and cramped—freezing in winter, stifling in summer. But at least it was cheap. Winston and I stayed here in the first few years after our graduation. This was where we shared our first intimacy, beginning our journey into marriage and parenthood. It was also where we ended our last moment of passion. After finding out that my kidneys were a match for Winston and Asher, I pretended to have found a patron and asked Winston for a divorce. However, as much as I could read him, he also knew me very well. I had always stayed by Winston's side no matter how hard things had been. He refused to believe that I would leave Asher and him at such a time. He hugged me, asked me to tell him what was wrong, and pleaded with me not to degrade myself like that. Asher had also collapsed by my side, tugging at my pants. "Please don't leave, Mommy. I can't live without you!" My heart broke seeing them in tears, but I couldn't just stand by and watch them suffer in pain as they waited for death to come. I broke free from Winston's embrace and pried open Asher's fingers. "Why should I suffer with you guys? Why should I spend my life tied to two people who are on the brink of death? "Can't I ask for a better life? Was I born to be miserable in your eyes? Tell me. Am I meant to spend the rest of my life in this rented apartment, living off plain bread and cold water?" I asked slowly, "How could the two of you be so selfish?" Even until now, I could still remember how Winston had picked Asher up from the ground. He hung his head low as his gaunt hand signed the divorce agreement. I could still hear Asher's heart-wrenching sobs coming from the rented apartment even when I had gone far with my suitcase. … At some point, it started to rain, mixing with the tears on my face. With trembling hands, I pushed open the door to my rented apartment. My best friend, Selene Lundell, was already waiting for me inside. She had seen clips of the broadcast online. Knowing how I was, she was sure I would do anything to keep the secret from five years ago—even if it meant clashing with Winston. Selene worriedly linked arms with me. "Are you alright?" I didn't realize my face was as pale and despairing as it was five years ago, when she carried me back from the hospital. I shook my head and brought up the bank cards Winston and Asher had thrown to me. "I now have the money to live for longer, Sel." All these years, I've collected scraps, worked as a waitress, and delivered food. I struggled to cover the overwhelming costs of dialysis. It wasn't that I was afraid of dying—I only wanted to live a little longer, just so I could see Winston and Asher live happily with my own eyes. Selene stared at me in shock. Suddenly, tears rolled down her cheeks. "Why put yourself through this, Sera?" She held me tightly, as if she had many things to say, but the chime of a text interrupted her. Winston's number on the screen was painfully familiar. It turned out neither of us had changed our numbers after five years. I clicked into the text. It read, "Come to Yarrow Residence in 30 minutes." I declined Selene's offer to accompany me and went to the address Winston provided on my own.