But surprisingly, there was no brother to hit
me, bite me, or steal my things. There were
no parents who favored him over me.
There was only Jason, who spoiled me like a
princess.
୮
When I was little, he braided my hair, bought
me dresses and shoes, and fed me.
When a kid pushed me and scraped my knee,
that kid was forced to transfer schools the
next day. I never saw him again.
As I got older, Jason drove me to and from
school, cooked for me, and picked out my
clothes.
He attended my parent–teacher conferences
and packed my bags for trips.
When I was sick, no matter how busy he was,
he’d stay by my side.
He always cheered me on at my competitions
and performances.
Once, after I finished dancing at a New Year’s
Eve party, a boy whistled and commented on
how white my skin was and how long my legs
were. When Jason came to give me flowers,
he glanced at the boy with a smile.
That same day, the boy was beaten up and
hospitalized, his mouth stuffed with broken
glass.
His parents knelt before Jason, begging him
to spare their son.
Jason noticed me watching and came over to
ruffle my hair. “It’s late, sweetie. Time for
bed.”
I nodded and went back to my room. I never
found out what happened to that family.
Everyone said Jason seemed approachable
but was distant to everyone except me.
I thought so too.
So when I turned eighteen and realized I had
feelings for Jason, I confessed to him directly.
He sighed and patted my head. “Sweetie,
you’re too young. You can’t tell the difference
between love and dependence.”
I confessed again when I was twenty, and
then twenty–one.
He let me kiss him, but he didn’t kiss back.
He just pushed me away and asked, “Can’t
we just stay like this forever, sweetie?”
I falt
I thought about walking in on Melanie and
Jason this morning, and my chest tightened.
[Uncle Jason, I need to prepare for exams, so
I’ll be staying at school for a while.]
I’d never stayed at school overnight before.
Jason had always been strict. When I
mentioned it once, he got so angry that I
never brought it up again.
But this time, he didn’t reply for days.
A week later, Jason and Melanie came to
school to find me.
They were so attractive that they turned
heads wherever they went.
Г
Jason wore a black overcoat over a silver-
gray suit. Even the crooked scarf I knitted for
him couldn’t diminish his elegance and
handsomeness.
We’d never been apart for so long.
I traced his features with my eyes, then
quickly looked away when I saw Melanie
beside him, ashamed of my feelings.
Melanie walked over, looking apologetic.
“Chloe, are you upset because Jason and I
went on a trip and didn’t take you with us?
I’m sorry, we should have.”
So Jason hadn’t replied to my messages for a
week because he was on a trip with his
girlfriend?
く
My heart ached, but I hid my feelings. “I’m not
mad.”
Melanie sighed in relief. “That’s good. Jason
cares about you so much, and I wouldn’t want
there to be any awkwardness between you
because of me. Let’s go home. We can have
dinner together tonight.‘
I didn’t want to be a third wheel.
But Jason chuckled. “I knew my sweetie was
the most understanding. Let’s go. Your auntie
and I bought you a lot of presents. They’re in
the car.”
He never allowed anyone to refuse him, not
even me.
L
The words of refusal died on my lips. “Okay.”
We went home, where the housekeeper had
already prepared dinner.
The table was full of spicy dishes that I
couldn’t eat.
Melanie looked up at me, surprised. “Chloe,
don’t you like the food?”
Jason looked at me too, his expression
indifferent.
“No.” I didn’t want to ruin the mood, so I
finished the small plate Melanie had given me.
By the end of the meal, my stomach was
cramping.
Г
I excused myself to get some medicine. Jason
followed.
“Stomach ache? Such a delicate little thing.”
He handed me a glass of water and some
pills, his smile gentle and exasperated.
So he remembered that spicy food upset my
stomach. Then why wasn’t there a single dish.
I could eat on the table?
I took the water and pills, hesitating. “Thank
you, Uncle Jason. You and Miss Melanie…”
“She’s going to be your aunt soon. You
should call her Auntie Melanie.”
“…Okay.”
<
“What were you going to say, sweetie?”
“Nothing. Just that you and Auntie look good
together.”
I wanted to ask him when he met Melanie,
and when he fell in love with her.
Had he gone back on his promise that even if
we couldn’t be lovers, we could be family, and
he would still treat me the same?
But I didn’t ask.
No one was obligated to be good to anyone.
He was just withdrawing his kindness, and I
had no right to complain.
Jason smiled.
Г
His smile was as beautiful as ever, but I didn’t
dare stare at him anymore.
Melanie called out to him for a towel, and he
turned to leave.
I watched as his bedroom door closed,
swallowed the pills with water, and thought
how bitter the medicine tasted today.
At the end of the month, Jason and Melanie
took me to a charity gala.
When the chandelier fell, I was standing
directly beneath it, while Melanie was near
the edge.
But Jason rushed over and pulled her away,
shielding her with his body.
Г
I stood there frozen. As the huge crystal
chandelier crashed down on me, all I saw was
Jason’s pale face, and all I heard were
screams.
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Someone rushed over, pushed me, and we fell
together.
I was covered in blood and couldn’t move.
The other person wasn’t doing much better
either.
Jason rushed over, his eyes filled with
distress and guilt.
“Sweetie, don’t worry, I’ll get you to the
hospital. You’ll be fine.”
Г
He had some people take me to the hospital,
while he took Melanie to change.
