When the Scapegoat Walks Away

At first, Jenny didn't take her anger out on me. She even wrote a farewell letter to her first love and married me.

She then learned I had injured my hand saving her, and I would never be able to pick up a scalpel again.

Feeling guilty, she searched high and low for renowned doctors, trying every folk remedy she could find. When none of it worked, she cried in my arms, promising to give me a child and a home.

We lived happily for a while.

Then Jackson Wembley, the younger cousin of Jenny's first love, showed up. With evidence in hand, he accused me of orchestrating the car accident years ago.

Jenny threw the abortion paperwork in my face. For the first time, she spat at me, "Someone who'll do anything to climb the ladder like you doesn't deserve to be the father of my child, Caleb Hudson! You don't deserve a family at all!"

I clutched the paper, my heart twisting in pain as tears streamed down my face.

That day, Jenny killed our child with her own hands, and whatever remained of our relationship died with it.

The whole thing had been planned by Rowena, but I couldn't say anything when Mom's life was in her hands.

"Cut the act! I'd like to see how long you can keep this up!" Unmoved by my tears, Jenny swept the expensive dishes off the table.

"From now on, you'll live on five dollars a day. Since you're so obsessed with money and want to live a lavish life so much, I won't let you have your way, Caleb!" she said.

Jenny then walked away without looking back, her hand in Jackson's, who looked so much like her first love.

Most of the people around her were the type to suck up to the powerful and step on the weak.

One word from Jenny, and they made sure every job I applied for fell apart.

Even a beggar took pity on me and bought me a burger, but they crushed it under their feet. "That burger cost two-fifty. That's half a day's food allowance for you. You really know how to waste it."

They kicked a dog bowl toward me. "Here. You can have whatever leftovers Goldie didn't finish."

I used to think life would go on like that. I would muddle through each day until the agreement ended.

But not long ago, Jenny told me a matching heart donor had finally been found for Mom. "I can assign the heart to your mother. But Jackson said his cousin has been cursed with terrible luck and needed someone to hike up to the mountaintop cathedral and sincerely pray for him."

It was incredibly hard to find a matching heart. She must have gone to great lengths to secure one.

I thought asking me to hike up to the mountaintop cathedral was just Jenny's way of punishing me for lying. I believed she still cared for me deep down.

But when I finally finished the climb, she glared at me and said, "Your prayers weren't sincere enough, Caleb. Instead of bringing him good luck, he ended up developing heart problems. That donor heart is going to him. Start all over and pray properly this time!"

Jenny only wanted to toy with me and get back at me.

To think that I had foolishly believed she might still have even the slightest bit of love for me was ridiculous.

I staggered to my feet, numb, ready to start the climb all over again.

Even the bystanders couldn't bear to watch any longer. They stepped in to stop me. "You've already injured your legs. You're going to kill yourself if you keep going!"

Only then did Jenny notice my bloodied feet. She looked away and scoffed. "Forget it. It'll only backfire if your prayers aren't sincere. Just go vegan for a month while you pray for him instead."

Compared to the dog food I'd been living on, vegan meals were practically a luxury. I'd even gained some weight by the time the punishment ended.

I rushed straight to the hospital the moment I came down the mountain. I wanted to ask about the heart transplant, but I was told Mom had been transferred to a smaller hospital.

Before I could even ask Mom about it, I received the news that she had passed away.

My eyes were hollow as I caressed Mom's photo repeatedly. My tears had long since run dry.

In the end, Jenny had been right. I didn't deserve a family, and now, I no longer have one.

Her call only came by the time everything was taken care of.

"I can't believe she's only calling after everything's over. At least she still has the decency to apologize," Rowena muttered as she pressed the answer button for me, putting it on speaker.

Jenny's cold voice came through. "Jackson's mom's birthday is coming up in a couple of days. Go make the arrangements."