Chapter 4

"I don't care if you're rich or not, but today she brought some random man here just to disrespect you. As your mom, I can't let that slide," Mom said. "If you won't fight back, then I will!"

Her words hit me like a thunderclap, making my eyes sting with tears.

Brandon covered his face, his eyes brimming with tears, but he didn't dare let out a sob.

Kathy instantly moved to shield him, her expression so cold it was almost frightening.

"Austin, how old are you? How can you go tattling to your mom like a little kid?" she snapped.

Before she could finish, I charged forward and slapped her hard across the face.

"Kathy, out of everyone here, you're the one who deserves to be slapped the most," I shouted.

After slapping her, I grabbed a sheet of paper from the coffee table drawer and slammed it against her chest. It was a medical report.

"Do you have any idea what I regret the most?" I demanded.

Kathy bent down and picked up the report. As she read it, her eyes went wide in disbelief. "Austin, are you sick?"

I saw the sudden flash of worry in Kathy's eyes as she rushed toward me, like she used to in the past. But now, it felt bitterly ironic.

She'd forgotten Brandon was still standing there, forgot how she turned her back on me at the wedding, or how cold she'd been these last few days. It was as if, now that I might be dying, she thought all her mistakes would simply disappear.

But how could I pretend those times she abandoned me, those endless nights I couldn't sleep, and the way my heart got shattered never happened?

I shoved her away, eyes red with anger, and yelled, "I don't need your fake concern.

"Yesterday, when you came to the hospital asking me to help you shield Brandon, that was when I decided to give up on treatment."

Before Kathy could say anything, Mildred cut in, her voice urgent. "No way.

"You two have been together for seven years. If we ignore your illness now, what kind of people would that make us?"

Kathy, usually so cold and composed, suddenly looked rattled. "Austin, please, don't act out. Just listen to me."

"I'm not acting out," I said, locking eyes with her. "From the moment you left me at the altar, we were done."

Kathy tried to explain, but Brandon suddenly burst into tears.

"Austin, it's all my fault. Please don't blame Kathy. I was the one who lost my head and fell for someone I never should've. I-I really messed up," he sobbed.

Before anyone could say anything else, Brandon ran out of the room, sobbing.

Kathy shifted her weight anxiously, her face clouded with worry as she looked at me.

"Austin, Brandon's in a really bad place right now. I'm scared he might do something stupid. Stay here for now, okay? We'll talk about your situation later," she said.

Just as she was about to rush out, Mildred grabbed her arm.

"Kathy, are you trying to kill us with worry? Who's really your boyfriend? Who's more important to you? Can't you figure that out?" Mildred snapped.

But one couldn't make someone see what they didn't want to. Kathy shook off Mildred's hand, her brows furrowed. "Mom, Brandon's struggling with depression. He's a living, breathing person."

The room fell silent.

Kathy looked at me guiltily, but still turned and hurried after him.

She seemed to forget that Brandon's life mattered, but so did mine.

Out of nowhere, rain started pouring down outside.

Mildred squeezed my hand and closed her eyes for a moment. "Austin, it's raining so hard. How about waiting until tomorrow to leave?"

I looked out at the curtain of rain and shook my head. "No, I'll go."

Let this winter rain be my final farewell to Kathy.

That night, I went back to my parents' place. Meanwhile, Kathy spent the whole night in the pouring rain outside the house.

Early the next morning, my mom went with me to the hospital. When we opened the door, Kathy's eyes lit up with hope. She looked at me.

"Austin, you're awake," Kathy said.

She was drenched and looked utterly miserable. Her eyes, once so full of life, were now shadowed and weary from a sleepless night.

I was so sick of her way of begging for forgiveness after everything blew up. If she really cared, why did she keep ditching me over and over again?

Kathy blocked my way into the hospital.

She looked at me earnestly, vowing, "Austin, I've already talked things through with Brandon. I've asked the other team members to take care of him.

"From now on, I won't be involved with him anymore. The team made it official. Here, see for yourself."

She held out her phone, her eyes stubbornly pleading with me, refusing to give up.

I grabbed the phone and smashed it hard on the ground. "Kathy, we can't go back."

Kathy stared at me, completely shattered, pain written all over her face.

"Why? Austin, I promised you a future. Can't you just wait a little longer for me? Why can't you simply believe in me?" she asked.

She still didn't understand, even after all this.

It was never about love or trust. The moment a third person got involved, our relationship was tainted.