Chapter 2

Isabella's tightly furrowed brow finally relaxed, a hint of satisfaction on her face.

Back home, I habitually called out, "Mimi."

But the cat that used to leap into my arms was nowhere to be seen.

Sebastian looked apologetic. "Sorry, Jacob. After Isabella and I got engaged and moved in together, I developed a cat allergy, so we had Mimi rehomed."

"How about I get you another one?"

Isabella anxiously watched my expression. Given my old temper, if Sebastian had gotten rid of the cat my late father gave me, I would have raised hell.

But I just shook my head in fear, eyes wide with panic. "No need. You're the head of the house. You decide about pets."

Isabella let out a long sigh of relief and handed me a can of Coke.

"Good boy. Wasn't this your favorite drink? Drink up today."

I stood frozen, remembering being force-fed Coke until I choked, and hesitated to take it.

"Hmm? Don't like it?"

I flinched, snatched the Coke, and gulped it down, ignoring the bursting blisters in my throat, the searing pain.

Sebastian wrapped an arm around Isabella's slim waist. "Isabella, why be so harsh? Jacob is still just a nineteen-year-old kid."

Isabella glanced at me, a dark current in her eyes.

"You always spoil him."

She chuckled, leaning into Sebastian's embrace, but her eyes kept flicking towards me.

I kept my head down, not daring to look, just staring at the tips of my shoes.

Isabella hadn't expected me to change so drastically. Seeing her intimate with someone else, I no longer threw tantrums or tried to drive them away like before.

A faint sense of melancholy touched her heart, but she quickly hid it.

"Your old room is still there. Go on up."

The thought that just last year, I was thrown into that hellhole merely for indulging in the scent of her clothes made me shiver.

I stammered, "N-no... no need. I'm used to guest rooms now."

With that, I picked up my luggage and retreated to the guest room furthest from Isabella's.

Only when the door closed did I dare to relax completely.

Trembling, I took out a tin box from my suitcase. It was full of nickels, dimes, and quarters – all the money I'd earned on Devil's Island.

I counted it. Seven hundred dollars.

Before Mom left, she told me if I was ever unhappy, I should go find her.

I was going to use this money to buy a bus ticket and leave this place for good.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Jacob, are you asleep?"

Hearing that familiar female voice, I sat up almost reflexively.

In that moment, I forgot I was home; I thought I was still on Devil's Island.

There was a rule: whenever I heard Isabella's voice on a recording, I had to... be ready.

Otherwise, I'd be beaten so badly I couldn't get out of bed for three days.

They said it was to cure me of my 'obsession' with Isabella.

But today, maybe it was the change of environment, or maybe I'd truly lost my love for her.

As the door opened, I immediately threw myself at her feet, crying out, "Don't hit me! Don't hit me, I'll be quick!"