Chapter 3 · Leaving Him Because I Loved Him

Danielle came out to greet me and poured me some coffee.

"Miss Price, long time no see," she said with a half-smile, watching my confused expression. "You might have forgotten, but Jacob and I were in the same major.

"I often saw him going to see you back then."

Now I finally realized why her name felt so familiar.

Danielle had known Jacob for about as long as I had.

"I really envied you back then. He was such a golden boy, cold to everyone else. You were the only one he cared about," she said. "I never expected you two to break up so... completely."

I forced an awkward smile, then retreated to a corner to set up my easel, not daring to say anything.

Jacob was distant because of his condition.

Maybe he only cared about me because I was persistent enough.

But all that was in the past now.

Now, I was here to paint the Jacob and Danielle, the match made in heaven.

I spent the morning at their house, painting them watering flowers in the garden, Jacob's arm around her waist.

Danielle nodded approvingly and handed me a glass of water, smiling. "It looks great. No wonder Jacob wanted you for this.

"You've been painting all morning. You must be tired. Have some water and take a break."

I didn't hesitate and took a big gulp.

The scalding water burned all the way down, and I instinctively grabbed my neck, hacking in agony.

"Oh shoot, I totally forgot the water was just boiled!" Danielle jumped up, looking mortified.

In her rush, she knocked over the glass.

Just like that, all my hard work from the morning was gone in a flash.

I couldn't even worry about that anymore.

The pain in my throat set off a fit of coughing that wouldn't stop, and soon I was gasping for air.

Jacob rushed over, scooped me up in his arms, carried me to the room, and pressed my asthma inhaler to my lips.

The darkness finally cleared from my vision, and as my breathing steadied, I saw Jacob's eyes rimmed red.

Behind him, on the nightstand, I saw a row of unopened asthma inhalers.

They were the kind I used all the time.

"Kelly, after getting 1 million dollars, can't you buy yourself the best medicine?" Jacob's voice trembled.

I slowly sat up and brushed it off, acting like it was nothing.

"Of course I bought it. With 1 million dollars, you really think I wouldn't take care of myself?" I flashed him a grin. "It's been a long time since I had an attack.

"This was just a freak accident. I know Danielle didn't do it on purpose..."

"Shut up," Jacob snapped, cutting me off.

I paused, caught off guard.

Jacob spoke in a cold, detached tone, almost like he was delivering a verdict, "I looked into it. Painting hasn't been your main occupation these past few years.

"You haven't sold a single painting. Seven years ago, your name disappeared from the art scene.

"Back then, you gave me up for your art.

"But now, even the asthma inhaler you carry is the cheapest kind." He pulled one out of my bag, then stepped forward, pinning me against the headboard.

He went on. "So tell me, what did you really spend that 1 million dollars on?"

I started to tremble.

But I couldn't let him see through me, so I hid my hands behind my back and pinched them hard.

My hands, battered and scarred, hurt like hell.

However, it was nothing compared to the ache in my heart.

I'd already spent all that 1 million dollars on Rosie.

Rosie was the daughter I secretly gave birth to, and her father was Jacob. She was born with a congenital heart defect.

I poured every cent I had into hospital bills, from her birth all the way till seven years today.

Just a month ago, she finally underwent a successful heart transplant, only to suffer severe rejection afterward.

The overwhelming cost of her treatment felt like a mountain pressing down on me, making it impossible for me to catch my breath.

Right at that moment, Jacob showed up.

So I had no reason not to go to him. I ripped off what little dignity I had left, shamelessly played on our old relationship, and beg him for help.

As for painting... I thought back to sitting at the easel this morning, picking up my brush, and a soft smile crossed my face.

It really did feel like a lifetime ago.

But I couldn't tell him any of this.

"I'm not some big-name artist. I sell my paintings on the down low, so it's no surprise nobody knows me," I said.

I broke free from his grip and gave him a relaxed shrug.

I said, "Like I said, I blew through that 1 million dollars. That's why I'm hustling now, painting on the side and picking up odd jobs to pay off my debts.

"As for my asthma, since it can't be cured, any medicine is pretty much the same for me."

Chapter 3

Danielle came out to greet me and poured me some coffee.

"Miss Price, long time no see," she said with a half-smile, watching my confused expression. "You might have forgotten, but Jacob and I were in the same major.

"I often saw him going to see you back then."

Now I finally realized why her name felt so familiar.

Danielle had known Jacob for about as long as I had.

"I really envied you back then. He was such a golden boy, cold to everyone else. You were the only one he cared about," she said. "I never expected you two to break up so... completely."

I forced an awkward smile, then retreated to a corner to set up my easel, not daring to say anything.

Jacob was distant because of his condition.

Maybe he only cared about me because I was persistent enough.

But all that was in the past now.

Now, I was here to paint the Jacob and Danielle, the match made in heaven.

I spent the morning at their house, painting them watering flowers in the garden, Jacob's arm around her waist.

Danielle nodded approvingly and handed me a glass of water, smiling. "It looks great. No wonder Jacob wanted you for this.

"You've been painting all morning. You must be tired. Have some water and take a break."

I didn't hesitate and took a big gulp.

The scalding water burned all the way down, and I instinctively grabbed my neck, hacking in agony.

"Oh shoot, I totally forgot the water was just boiled!" Danielle jumped up, looking mortified.

In her rush, she knocked over the glass.

Just like that, all my hard work from the morning was gone in a flash.

I couldn't even worry about that anymore.

The pain in my throat set off a fit of coughing that wouldn't stop, and soon I was gasping for air.

Jacob rushed over, scooped me up in his arms, carried me to the room, and pressed my asthma inhaler to my lips.

The darkness finally cleared from my vision, and as my breathing steadied, I saw Jacob's eyes rimmed red.

Behind him, on the nightstand, I saw a row of unopened asthma inhalers.

They were the kind I used all the time.

"Kelly, after getting 1 million dollars, can't you buy yourself the best medicine?" Jacob's voice trembled.

I slowly sat up and brushed it off, acting like it was nothing.

"Of course I bought it. With 1 million dollars, you really think I wouldn't take care of myself?" I flashed him a grin. "It's been a long time since I had an attack.

"This was just a freak accident. I know Danielle didn't do it on purpose..."

"Shut up," Jacob snapped, cutting me off.

I paused, caught off guard.

Jacob spoke in a cold, detached tone, almost like he was delivering a verdict, "I looked into it. Painting hasn't been your main occupation these past few years.

"You haven't sold a single painting. Seven years ago, your name disappeared from the art scene.

"Back then, you gave me up for your art.

"But now, even the asthma inhaler you carry is the cheapest kind." He pulled one out of my bag, then stepped forward, pinning me against the headboard.

He went on. "So tell me, what did you really spend that 1 million dollars on?"

I started to tremble.

But I couldn't let him see through me, so I hid my hands behind my back and pinched them hard.

My hands, battered and scarred, hurt like hell.

However, it was nothing compared to the ache in my heart.

I'd already spent all that 1 million dollars on Rosie.

Rosie was the daughter I secretly gave birth to, and her father was Jacob. She was born with a congenital heart defect.

I poured every cent I had into hospital bills, from her birth all the way till seven years today.

Just a month ago, she finally underwent a successful heart transplant, only to suffer severe rejection afterward.

The overwhelming cost of her treatment felt like a mountain pressing down on me, making it impossible for me to catch my breath.

Right at that moment, Jacob showed up.

So I had no reason not to go to him. I ripped off what little dignity I had left, shamelessly played on our old relationship, and beg him for help.

As for painting... I thought back to sitting at the easel this morning, picking up my brush, and a soft smile crossed my face.

It really did feel like a lifetime ago.

But I couldn't tell him any of this.

"I'm not some big-name artist. I sell my paintings on the down low, so it's no surprise nobody knows me," I said.

I broke free from his grip and gave him a relaxed shrug.

I said, "Like I said, I blew through that 1 million dollars. That's why I'm hustling now, painting on the side and picking up odd jobs to pay off my debts.

"As for my asthma, since it can't be cured, any medicine is pretty much the same for me."