What Was Lost

Keith's Scheme

I turned to leave, but Keith stopped me once more.

This time, the grin on his face was gone, replaced by barely concealed rage. "Must I spell it all out for you? I'm going to steal everything away from you and the Warners! Then, I'll have those two kicked out of the family.

"I don't love her or her b*stard kid anyway! Aren't you mad?"

My face remained calm and blank, as if I felt nothing for Serene and Tina anymore.

Even if I warned them, they wouldn't believe me anyway. They reaped what they sowed.

Suppressing the agony stabbing through my heart, I replied coldly, "The two of them have nothing to do with me anymore. Whatever happens to them, they chose their own path. Move aside. I'm tired and need to rest."

While I did not know why he insisted on provoking me, I was not interested in talking to him anymore.

Suddenly, he leaned in close and whispered into my ear, "You're not angry about that? Well, then let me tell you this. I'm not even sick. Are you angry now?"

My heart skipped a beat as I stared at him in disbelief.

"What did you say?" My voice was low as I did my best to remain composed.

Keith's smug grin widened, full of mockery and provocation. "I said, I'm not sick at all. That's just a lie I made up to win Serene over."

The rage carried over from my past life overwhelmed me, no longer able to be suppressed.

After all, I wanted to live in freedom with no restrictions.

"Keith, aren't you afraid of what goes around comes around?"

I grabbed him by the shirt collar and glared at him with bloodshot eyes. At that moment, I wished I could tear him apart with my bare hands.

However, he did not care at all.

In fact, he continued to smile at me with that same provocative grin. Then, he punched himself in the stomach and let out a howl of pain.

Serene swiftly dashed down the stairs and slapped me across the face.

"Joseph, you b*stard! You can be mad at me, but what right do you have to hit him?"

"Serene, he's not even sick! I can move out of the way so you two can get together, but you have no right to take away my right to live with such a lie!"

"That's nonsense!" Serene snapped. "Keith is kind. He would never lie!"

With one arm wrapped around his stomach, Keith gasped between breaths, "I know you hate me, but you can't slander me like this. If you don't like me staying here tonight, I'll just leave."

At that moment, a heavy object crashed against my head. Warm liquid trickled down my forehead. The metallic stench of blood made my stomach churn.

Tina's voice rang from behind me. "You're mean, Dad! I'm avenging Keith!"

I burst out into loud peals of laughter.

Perhaps the blood on my face made me look terrifying, for Serene looked rather panicked.

"I'll take you to the hospital," she stammered.

I walked around her, swaying and stumbling.

Grabbing the luggage I'd spent the evening packing, I walked to the doorway.

"Serene, Tina, from now on, there are no more ties between us. Goodbye."

I left without a backward glance.

Pulling out my phone, I called my friend.

"Can you help me ask if I can start that rural teaching job early? It'd be great if I could leave in the next two days. I don't have much time left."

I just wanted to spend the final moments of my life with children who were truly innocent and kind.

Hopefully, with the last bits of good deed, I would never have to meet Serene again. Not even in another life.