Chapter 2

I still put on a smile.

"I've already made dinner. Should we eat now?"

Wendy looked up, her gaze tracing over my face again and again.

After confirming I really wasn't angry, she breathed a sigh of relief and quickly grabbed my hand.

"Let's eat! Nina, you don't know how terrible the restaurant food was."

"It's your birthday and you still had to cook. That must have been hard."

I kept smiling, the curve of my lips unchanged.

But I suddenly yanked my hand free from Wendy's grasp, turned, and rushed into my room, slamming the door hard.

The bedroom curtains were drawn tight, not letting in a sliver of light.

I curled up in the corner, my whole body shaking uncontrollably.

I couldn't.

I couldn't let Wendy see me like this.

Mom started pounding on the door.

"Nina, you scared Wendy with your dramatics!"

"Come out right now and apologize to Wendy!"

I desperately pinched my palm to control myself, creating several bloody crescent marks.

"I'll be right out, Mom."

I stumbled to my nightstand and took out the gift I'd prepared for Wendy long ago.

Taking several deep breaths, I opened the door.

Wendy hung her head while Mom and Dad stood beside her, their expressions tense.

I grinned as if nothing had happened and crouched beside Wendy.

"Wendy, you love vintage things. I found this for you."

Scalding tears fell onto the back of my hand.

Her voice was hoarse as she asked:

"Nina, we've known each other for ten years, and I didn't even remember your birthday. Are you upset with me?"

I shook my head gently.

"No."

If it hadn't been for Wendy back then, I would have died long ago.

Mom let out a long breath and wheeled Wendy to the dining table.

Dad pulled me into the kitchen under the pretense of serving food.

"Nina, I hope what happened today doesn't happen again."

"Wendy became the way she is because of you. You shouldn't give her the cold shoulder."

I clutched my clothes, my voice soft:

"Dad, I wasn't being cold. It's the physical manifestation of my depression."

He frowned, his voice turning cold:

"Nina, depression isn't that easy to get. Have you been secretly reading your mother's and my psychology books again?"

I opened my mouth but didn't know how to argue.

The doorbell rang.

Mom opened the door and welcomed Wendy's parents inside.

They still wore the custommade formal wear from Wendy's ceremony, carrying a few boxes of milk and snacks.

Their attitude was perfunctory and dismissive.

"We didn't realize today was Nina's birthday too. We didn't have time to prepare any gifts."

Mom and Dad's smiles didn't change one bit.

They'd long grown accustomed to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence's dismissive attitude toward me.

The person who'd caused Wendy to lose her legs had died.

So naturally, the Lawrences transferred their hatred to me.

I said nothing and simply brought the dishes to the table.

I sat down next to Wendy.

The two sets of parents chatted animatedly.

Under the table, Wendy's hand moved and hooked around my finger.

Her voice was quiet: "Nina, you're eating too little."

I leaned close to her ear and whispered my secret.

"I can't eat much right now."

Actually, that wasn't it.

It was because my depression was too severe.

One more bite and I'd want to vomit.

Vomiting in front of elders would be very rude.

Wendy laughed at my serious tone.

The parents' conversation stopped, their eyes falling on us.

Mrs. Lawrence set down her fork: "Wendy, your comingofage ceremony was ruined. How can you still be so happy?"

The atmosphere instantly froze.

Mom and Dad exchanged glances and tried to smooth things over with a laugh: "The kids are just whispering and laughing, it's nothing..."

"Kids?"

Mrs. Lawrence scoffed. "They're adults now. What kind of kids?"

"Some things need to be said clearly. Back then, you two caused both children to be kidnapped. My daughter nearly died, but your daughter came out without a scratch!"

"And you two keep showing up in front of my daughter."

Her voice suddenly rose: "You're the culprits! You're breaking my daughter's heart!"

The peace maintained for many years shattered in this moment.

Mom and Dad's faces went white, breaking out in cold sweat from guilt.

Wendy gripped my icecold hand tightly and screamed in disbelief:

"Mom, what are you saying?"

Mrs. Lawrence's eyes were icy:

"Wendy, you're softhearted, but being softhearted to everyone will only hurt you."

"From now on, we forbid you from seeing Nina again."

They ignored Wendy's protests and wheeled her away.

As the door slammed shut, I met her tearfilled eyes as she shook her head frantically.

I bit the soft flesh inside my cheek and silently mouthed: "It's okay."

Mom and Dad sat at the dining table, their faces pale as paper.

Their eyes were empty, unfocused, murmuring:

"Nina, you deserve this."

"This is what our family owes them."

I nodded and returned to my room, vomit and tears falling together into the trash can.

If I'd died in that village, would everyone be happy?