Chapter 2

The moment my body tilted backward, a powerful force yanked me back.

I stumbled into his arms, and before I could even steady myself, a stinging slap landed on my face.

"Are you insane?! You'll die if you fall from here! Don't you even know what death is?!"

Leo’s voice cracked as he roared at me.

Feeling the sharp pain on my cheek, I belatedly started to tremble.

I didn't know if it was from the fear of nearly falling, or the unsettling sting of his harsh scolding.

But I still instinctively raised my hand, wanting to wipe away the tears at the corner of his eyes.

"Leo, I'm sorry."

But the next second, Leo roughly pushed me away:

"You idiot, what else can you say besides 'I'm sorry'!"

Just then, the iron door to the rooftop burst open.

Chloe rushed in, looking frantic.

She glanced at the two of us, her face instantly paling:

"Leo, have you lost your mind? What are you doing bringing her to a place like this?!"

"If anything happened to her, you'd be charged with aiding and abetting suicide. You'd go to jail for that!"

Her voice was hoarse as she clutched Leo's arm tightly, then pulled him into a fierce embrace:

"If you end up in prison, what will I do?"

At that moment, Leo finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably into her shoulder:

"I don't know... I'm just so tired..."

Watching his trembling back, I vaguely realized something.

For the past ten years, I seemed to have truly become the source of all his pain.

After Leo calmed down, he noticed the large scrapes on my knees.

A flicker of guilt flashed in his eyes:

"Scarlett, does it hurt? I'm sorry... I didn't mean to be so harsh just now."

He helped me up, and together with Chloe, we went downstairs.

Back home, Leo found the first-aid kit and, as he had countless times before, carefully dressed and bandaged my wound.

But this time, though his movements were still practiced, his eyes held nothing but exhaustion and weariness.

After treating my injury, Leo handed me a piece of candy and gently told me:

"Stay home, be a good girl."

Then, he took Chloe's hand and walked out the door.

I was a little curious, so I quietly crept to the door.

I heard snippets of their conversation.

"Chloe, I'm really tired... As long as she's alive, I won't have a single day of peace."

"You know what? I even thought that after she jumped, I'd just die with her..."

Hearing this, Chloe's brows instantly furrowed:

"Leo, what nonsense are you talking about! You've already sacrificed a whole decade for that idiot, and you're still thinking of throwing your life away too?"

Leo replied weakly:

"But what can I do? She became like this saving me back then. I owe her too much."

Just then, Chloe suddenly noticed me eavesdropping behind the door.

She rushed over, grabbing my collar:

"Scarlett, even if you're an idiot, you should at least have some shame, shouldn't you? Do you really want to drag Leo down your whole life, content to just be a parasite?"

Leo quickly pulled her back:

"Chloe, why are you arguing with her? She doesn't understand any of this."

"Alright, stop it. Come with me for a walk. There are some company matters I need to discuss with you."

Leo glanced at me, told me to stay home and be good, then left with Chloe.

After they left, I stood by the door, frozen for a long time.

A few neighbors happened to pass by and saw me.

They began to whisper amongst themselves.

"Oh, poor Leo, he has such a hard life. Busy with company matters all day, then he has to take care of an idiot when he gets home."

"I heard that young lady, Chloe, has proposed to him several times, but Leo never agreed, all because he can't let go of this idiot."

"If you ask me, Leo is just too kind. In this situation, he should send that idiot to a psychiatric hospital."

"Or if she just died, Leo's life would be much easier..."

Hearing those words, my heart gave a violent lurch. I couldn't help but walk closer.

The neighbors saw me approach, fear crossing their faces as they took a few steps back.

But I just blinked, nervously asking:

"Auntie, Uncle, if I go to the psychiatric hospital, will Leo not be sad anymore?"

Seeing them not answer, I pressed on:

"Then... if I die, will Leo be happy?"