Chapter 3

After breakfast, Helen took me to transfer the property deed. Looking at my name on the document, I felt relieved.

I went back to continue packing. My eyes swept over the small trinkets on the bookshelf—all gifts Megan had given me over the years. I gathered them one by one, sealed them in a box, and prepared to take them to the storage room.

As soon as I stepped out, I ran into Megan.

"What's that?" She frowned at the box.

"Some old things I don't need anymore. Taking them to storage."

"Let me help." She took the box without waiting for an answer and walked off.

I had no choice but to follow. "Liam, why won't you go to the reunion? Are you still hung up on what those people said? That was so long ago! Leo's back in town. Let's all just hang out."

Hearing Leo's name made me pause. So he was back.

"I said I'm not going." My voice was calm. "Megan, who you want to be close to is your business. Don't use me as an excuse. We don't have that kind of relationship anymore, and there's no emotional blackmail. When it comes down to it, you don't owe me anything either."

Megan's face turned livid. "You!"

I took the box back and put it in the storage room, then turned to leave. Behind me, I heard her kick a cardboard box.

For the next two days, I sorted through my old things. Megan didn't come home, and Robert was on a business trip. Helen helped me pack quite a bit, and I shipped it all away.

The day I left, Helen looked up at the second floor, reluctance on her face. "That girl is so busy all the time... Never mind. Liam, she's busy with work. Let's not disturb her. Take care of yourself."

I wheeled my luggage out and sent Megan one final message: "Megan, goodbye."

No response. I headed straight for the station and began my long journey.

That night, on the sleeper train, I was added back to that class group chat. As soon as I entered, I saw photos Leo had posted from the reunion—him and Megan sitting very close, his arm casually draped over the back of her chair.

"After all this time, we meet again! Everyone's still the same!"

The group was full of congratulations and teasing.

"Are you two together? Congrats!"

"You're perfect for each other. When's the wedding?"

"Liam didn't come today. Is he upset? If you two get together, what about Liam?" Someone tagged Megan.

After a long pause, Megan finally replied: "What about him? What does it have to do with me?"

I stared at the screen, almost able to see her impatient face. I remembered high school, when she'd stand up for me and chase away troublemakers, then ruffle my hair and say, "Liam, you're family. I'll always take care of you." "Liam, you've lived with us for so long. Just stay forever, okay?"

I'd naively said back then, "I can't stay forever. I'll need my own place eventually."

But she'd stubbornly grabbed my wrist. "No! Everyone says you have to repay a life-saving debt. I have to take responsibility for you. We'll... we'll always be family."

Those words had made my heart race. I'd thought it was a promise. Looking back now, it was probably just a passing whim. Only I took it seriously.

Messages kept flooding the group. Someone mentioned me again, and Megan brushed it off: "Stop bringing him up. He lived with my family for all those years. Any debt was paid off long ago."

Leo chimed in: "Exactly. Megan has her own life. She can't be tied down by the past forever."

I laughed coldly and typed in the message box: "I could have lived without depending on anyone. It was you, Megan, who made me lose my only family. If I could turn back time, I would hold my dad back and stop him from saving you."

Send. Leave group. Block everyone.

Megan, goodbye forever.