I Refused To Reunite With My Family

In the days that followed, I poured all my focus into the final stages of my application to study abroad.

I soon received an offer letter from a foreign university. My departure date was set for next month.

The day before I was supposed to leave, I had just stepped out of the library when two men in black suits blocked my path.

“Mr. Lawson, Ms. Jones wants to see you.”

I was forced into a car that sped through the city before stopping at the topmost floor of a skyscraper overlooking a scenic river.

“Ms. Jones is occupied at the moment. Please wait here.”

They led me into a glass-walled room and left after locking the door behind me.

The view in the room was breathtaking. One wall was made entirely of glass, and across from it stood the city’s most luxurious rooftop restaurant.

The restaurant was glowing with golden light. Laughter and music spilled into the night as a lavish birthday banquet took place inside.

The man at the center of it all was Zac.

He wore an immaculate suit and was surrounded by well-wishers.

Cathy was standing beside him and straightening his tie, all while looking at him with an affectionate gaze.

I watched as she took his hand and led him into the first dance.

They twirled, drew close, and whispered to each other with such tenderness that they seemed like a perfect pair.

Applause filled the room. Every face glowed with joy.

I almost laughed. I wanted to laugh at how blindly stubborn I had been in my last life.

I wasted everything on a woman who never loved me. Was it worth it?

I shut my eyes. I was unwilling to watch that dazzling scene any longer.

But the memory forced itself through. I could see Cathy’s bloodied face in the earthquake and her trembling back as she shielded me from the falling debris.

She had hated me, but she had also saved me.

That love and hate tangled like a net and trapped me in there.

Time slipped by. The noise from the party died down.

The door behind me opened suddenly.

I turned and saw Zac standing by the door.

He walked toward me with a triumphant smile.

“Harry,” he said while looking down at me. “How does it feel watching the woman you love throw such a grand birthday party for me?”

I finally understood.

Cathy had not sent the guards. He had sent them.

He had brought me here to crush whatever feelings I might still have left for Cathy.

But he did not need to. In this life, I had already let go of all my feelings for her.

I said nothing and stared at him coldly.

My silence seemed to enrage him. His smile twisted.

“You think keeping quiet makes you look noble? Let me tell you, what isn’t yours will never be yours!”

He leaned in closer and lowered his voice as he whispered, “If you hadn’t shown up, Cathy and I would’ve been engaged long ago. You ruined everything!”

“Are you done?” I asked calmly. “If so, I’d like to leave.”

He trembled in fury.

Suddenly, he drew a dagger from his suit pocket. The blade flashed under the light.

My chest tightened.

“What are you doing?”

“What am I doing?” His laugh was maniacal.

“I want Cathy to see what you have driven me to! I want her to know that as long as you exist, I’ll never have peace!”

Before I could move, he slashed the blade across his own wrist.

He looked at me and smiled. Then, he began shouting at the top of his lungs.

“Please! I’ll give you everything! Why must you attack me?!”

Footsteps thundered outside, and Cathy burst through the door first. She rushed over to hold him. Her face darkened.

Zac sagged weakly in her arms. His face was pale as he pointed his trembling fingers at me.

“Cathy… he said he’s the real heir of the Lowe family! He said I don’t deserve any of this… that I should just die…”

Cathy’s head snapped up. The fury in her eyes burned like wildfire.

“Harry,” she said coldly, “did I not warn you to behave yourself?

“It’s Zac’s birthday today, and it was supposed to be his happiest day. You ruined everything!”