Chapter 3

I called Kieran multiple times, but he didn’t answer.

The repeated mechanical voice was frustrating, so I hung up and took a cab home.

When I arrived, the door was open. I thought Kieran was back and was about to call out to him, but the words caught in my throat.

The house was in chaos, everything overturned.

I was about to call the police when I locked eyes with someone coming down the stairs.

It was my mother, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time.

She was holding a photo frame and, upon seeing me, paused before hurling it at me with force.

It landed at my feet, the glass shattered into pieces.

She lunged at me, pulling my hair and hitting me, her voice a chaotic repetition of bitter accusations: "You still want to get married?"

"Do you deserve it?" "You killed your sister!" "You should go to hell!"

"You don’t deserve happiness!"

"Why—why wasn't it you who died?!" I didn't dare fight back, only shielding my head, as her venomous words pierced my heart.

Overwhelmed by negative emotions, I could only cover my ears and mutter to myself.

I can't die. I promised her.