When the Scapegoat Walks Away

Because of Jenny's words, I had to take lessons on dining etiquette every day.

But when it came to Jackson, who didn't know how to cut steak, not only did she ask the restaurant to cut them for him, she even complained to the manager and demanded that the steaks be served pre-cut from now on.

Now, dressed in a custom outfit worth hundreds of thousands, Jenny was eating greasy street food fed by Jackson while flies buzzed everywhere around them.

It turned out she did have a down-to-earth side after all. It just wasn't meant for me.

The sun blazed overhead, and my knees had long since gone numb from the pain.

A wave of dizziness hit me, and I lost consciousness almost immediately.

…

When I woke up again, I was already in a hospital bed. My pant leg had been rolled up. My feet had been treated and wrapped in bandages.

Jenny sat beside the bed. She scooped up a spoonful of chicken soup, blew on it to cool it down, then held it up to my mouth.

She complained, "The doctor said you fainted from malnutrition. You're so stubborn. I told you to go vegan, but couldn't you at least sneak something decent to eat? Look how weak you've gotten!

"Mom told me about the money on the card. It was meant for your mom's medical bills. I've also checked your account. You barely spent any of it. Can't you speak for yourself? Why didn't you explain?

"And these injuries on your feet… How did they get worse instead of better?"

I raised my eyebrows and glanced at Jenny.

Wasn't she the one who had Jackson pass along the message that I was to hike up to the mountaintop to pray daily as punishment? And now she was asking why the injuries had gotten worse?

This woman really did change her tune whenever it suited her.

As for explaining, I had done enough of that over the years. She just never believed me.

Jenny sighed when she saw me staying silent. "Try not to worry too much about your mom's condition. I'm still looking for a heart donor. I'll make sure she gets better."

But Mom was gone. She didn't need a heart anymore.

I lowered my head and said nothing.

Jenny glanced at me again and spoke carefully, "The police caught Jackson driving drunk. They're suspending his license. Since you have a license and no car, why don't you take the blame for him? Just name your price."

Mom had died because of that accident, and now she wanted me to take the fall for the person responsible?

I pushed away the bowl of soup Jenny had offered and said, "Let's end this, Jenny."

She had been waiting for me to name a price, but froze at my words. "End this? What do you mean?"

I replied calmly, "Didn't you say I only cared about your money? You've been tired of me for a long time anyway. We can go our separate ways, and I won't be in your way anymore."

Thinking I was just throwing a tantrum, Jenny sneered. "You were the one begging to marry into my family back then. Now you're trying to end things to force me to give in? If you're so bold, why don't you just ask for a divorce instead?"

She slammed the bowl onto the table and stormed out.

I didn't ask for a divorce because our marriage had been fake from the start. But I didn't bother explaining much since I'd be leaving soon anyway.

Soon after, I drifted into a hazy sleep.

…

By the time I woke up again, Jackson had come to visit with a gift bag in his hand. He said coldly, "I heard Jenny asked you to take the fall for me. Guess she really does love me."

I closed my eyes, not bothering to respond.

Jackson chuckled. "I never thought someone as greedy as you would actually turn it down. Your relationship with your mom is truly envious. She agreed to transfer hospitals because of you, you know."

I turned to him sharply. "There's no way Mom would listen to you. What did you do?"

Jackson looked completely unbothered as he smiled casually. "Nothing much. I just showed her the videos of you being forced to hike and of you eating out of a dog bowl. I told her you were living like that because of her, and she agreed to the transfer right away.

"We even arranged it so the power outage would be the signal for her to kill herself. She suffocated herself with her own hands in return for your freedom, Caleb. And you're still planning to stay loyal to Jenny?"