After having received confirmation of my guess, my lips curved into a mocking arc. And as I looked at my mother, disappointment showed in my eyes.
Well, well… It turns out that I’ve been looking at things through rose-colored glasses! My family isn’t sincere in being amiable to me. At the end of the day, they’re only putting on a show for Steven’s sake so that his subsequent medical expenses will be taken care of.
“Mom, I really wonder whether I’m your biological daughter. Why are you so cruel to me? What exactly have I done wrong?” I roared as I stared right into my mother’s eyes, trembling all over.
Those words had been bottled within me for a very long time, and I truly couldn’t suppress them anymore. I really wanted to know why there was such a huge disparity between Steven and me in her affections.
After bellowing that, I spun around and left in a flash. I didn’t want to listen to a single word further.
“What nonsense are you spouting, Anna?”
My mother’s infuriated bellow rang out behind me when I fled the room. Nonetheless, I ignored her and quickened my pace instead.
I sprinted to the yard behind the hospital with tears streaming down my face, my heart a mangled mess in my chest. Only then did I know that my mother would truly do anything at all for Steven, yet she couldn’t spare me even a smidge of love.
I plopped down on a bench in the yard. Many people coming and going stared at me, but I wasn’t bothered at all. I only wanted to cry my heart out so that I would feel better.
After crying for what seemed an eternity, a packet of tissue suddenly appeared before me. Taken aback, I looked up at the person in front of me, only for the rage within me to surge once again when Michael’s countenance greeted me.
Pushing Michael’s hand away, I shot to my feet.
“What are you doing here? Just why did you come to the hospital? And why did you say that you’ll bear all of Steven’s medical expenses?” I lambasted at the top of my lungs.
If he hadn’t said such a thing to my parents, I wouldn’t have learned that my mother only changed her attitude toward me because of Steven! I’d rather they keep being indifferent to me than to know the truth!
At that moment, my heart had truly shattered into a million pieces.
Upon seeing my emotional state, Michael frowned and glowered at me indignantly. His dark eyes were stained with a hint of anger.
“Stop being so ungrateful, Anna! I’m helping you!”
While saying that, Michael’s gaze was chilly and his expression grim.
“Helping me? How have you helped me? Should I be thanking you for telling my parents that you’ll bear all of Steven’s medical expenses?”
Having caused such a dilemma, he’s actually claiming that he’s helping me! What a joke!
I eyed him scornfully, my voice heavy with sorrow.
“Didn’t you want your family to treat you better? I’ve already made that happen, so why are you angry?”
Michael stared at me in bafflement, his expression flinty. The fury in his voice became all the more distinct.
All of a sudden, a light bulb went off in my head. Oh, so this is him keeping the promise he made to me back then! It turned out that such was the method he employed so that my family would treat me better.
Initially, I thought that I could surely mend my relationship with my family as long as he helped me. But from the look of things now, it was all wishful thinking on my part.
“Have you? You merely twisted the knife deeper! Michael, you don’t know what I want at all! You have absolutely no idea how I wish that they’ll treat me sincerely!”
I want them to love me from the bottom of their hearts and not because of money!
Shellshocked, Michael stood rooted to the spot. The wrath on his face faded, but he seemed somewhat confused.
“You know nothing. You have no inkling of what I truly want.”
Suddenly growing subdued, I turned around to leave after saying that weakly. At that moment, I didn’t want to argue with him.
Someone like him can never understand my feelings right now. After all, he has never known how it feels to have both his parents detesting him.
Out of the blue, I sensed a restraining force on my arm. With a yank, Michael pulled me into his embrace and hugged me tightly without saying anything.
Still feeling resentful toward him because of the incident just now, I struggled wildly. But still, he cradled me against him tightly and refused to let go of me.
He said nary a word, engulfing me within his strong arms. Tired from my struggles, I finally yielded and allowed him to simply hold me. While shielded in his embrace, a sense of peace infused me.
All this while, I felt as though I had been abandoned by the whole world, for even my closest and beloved family only harbored resentment toward me. Aggravation and grief built within me, but I had nowhere to vent and could only bottle everything.
“Why must they treat me so unjustly? Am I not good enough?” I muttered, resting against his chest.
“You’re too soft-hearted, Anna,” Michael remarked without answering my question.
Naturally, I knew what he meant by that. I indeed wanted to be more ruthless, but I simply couldn’t harden my heart against them at the thought that they were my family.
“I’m tired. I want to go home.”
I changed the subject, not wanting to dwell upon my family issues anymore. Right then, I only wanted some peace.
Michael remained silent. Taking my hand, he headed toward the parking lot.
Huh? He’s actually not keeping a distance from me in a public place such as this? Is he not afraid of being recognized? Isn’t he most worried that our relationship would come to light and ruin his reputation?
With Michael driving, we arrived back at Birchwood shortly. As soon as we were home, I shut myself in the bedroom.
Michael didn’t get up in arms or bother me. After a long time had passed, I slipped into a deep slumber on the bed. Having wept and vented, I inwardly resolved that I would still be the same person when I wake up tomorrow after a good night’s sleep.
While groggy with sleep, I seemingly heard Michael getting into bed. There was barely a rustle as he lay down beside me, as though he was afraid of waking me. Then, he even thoughtfully tucked the covers around me.
Astonishment washed over me, for he would never do such a thing from what I know of him.
Inwardly, I mused, How could he possibly be so gentle with me? Besides, he has never been afraid of rousing me in the past. I must be dreaming. I’m asleep, so this must be a dream!
Nevertheless, it felt so real that it could be construed as reality.
I slept until I woke up naturally. When I roused, the sun was already overhead. Rubbing my eyes, I fumbled for my cell phone. The instant I glimpsed the time, my eyes instantly went wide.
What the hell? It’s actually eleven o’clock in the morning? Oh God, how did I oversleep? Damn it! I’m already late for work today! I’m sure I set my alarm, so why didn’t I hear it ringing?
