Where The Melody Remembers Love

Chance suddenly ran over to grab my wrist and twisted it hard.

The edge of my ring dug into my flesh, but I kept my hand clenched, refusing to let go.

"Nora, are you done making a scene?" he scolded.

The veins of his temple bulged as he shoved my head down toward the floor.

"If my family hadn't paid for your mother's debts, you wouldn't even be qualified to work as a servant here!" he yelled.

His words cut through me. It reopened an old wound I had buried for eight years.

I pushed him away and laughed abruptly.

He froze; he did not expect me to fight back.

I threw the ring into the pile of broken porcelain by the time he let go.

The shards cut the band. The diamonds were streaked with blood as they rolled to Jenny.

She screamed and stumbled back, and it revealed a ruby anklet.

Last year on my birthday, Chance claimed that he was too busy to get me a birthday gift, but he had arranged for someone to bid for that precious anklet.

They had been in contact even then.

I had been a fool waiting for a gift that was never mine.

…

Three days later, I got a call from the hospital while I was cleaning the kitchen.

"Ms. Nora Song, you have an urgent medical report to collect in person."

I was puzzled. Last week, Jenny told me it was time for a 'servant check-up' and had the household doctor draw my blood.

I thought it was a routine check-up. I never imagined it would end up in a major hospital.

I wanted to ask questions, but I heard a loud crash.

Jenny had collapsed at my feet.

"Jenny!" yelled Chance.

He came running and glared at me.

"Nora! I told you I'd remarry you after fulfilling Jenny's wishes. Are you that eager to see her dead? I can't believe you're so vicious!" he yelled.

He carried Jenny away without letting me explain.

I felt drained.

I had promised Mr. Hart that I would take care of Chance forever.

We had been in love once, but I still lost to his so-called first love.

I felt hopeless, and the debt I owed Mr. Hart was crushing me.

He did not give me the chance to explain, dead certain that I pushed Jenny.

The soup I had made for her was still simmering on the stove.

I opened the hospital app almost without thinking.

The spoon slipped from my hand and landed on my foot when I saw the words 'Human Leukocyte Antigen Typing Report'.

Type B blood. HLA-DRB1*1501… A perfect match.

Jenny had secretly sent my blood for a compatibility test after the household doctor drew my blood.

The so-called 'servant check-up' was a ruse to get my blood.

All those nights when she had coughed so hard in front of us, she knew she could receive a new heart.

Perhaps I still held a shred of hope for Chance, so I called him.

"Jenny Young doesn't love you at all. She only came back for my heart," I said.

"Enough, Nora! How many times are you going to slander her? I always thought you weren't very smart, but at least you knew your place. Now, I see you're nothing but a malicious and unreasonable woman," he said.

I had to let out a cold laugh when he hung up.

I asked myself–what was I expecting?

I stared at the name 'Chance Hart' on my screen, and my nails dug deep into my palm.