The Prodigal of Love

irteen, my mother married into the James fa

spect-least of all Mark James, th

dead weight. In her mind, had I not existed, her path to

"The James family doesn't despise me. So tell me,

ac

my cheek. Not her first

oman, entangled with my fat

m a powerful family the Jameses relied on. He didn't dar

gged on by my mother, gave Kimber

. The stress and heartbreak wore her do

der Nolan's pressure and Kimberly no longer in

d us. I u

golden boy. No matter how cruelly he

from Nolan to soothe her pride. But I? I had no one

-under their roof,

He told me to do somet

and "disgusting shit" before his friend

ng enough to escape to some far-flung unive

aughed at

s own, right in front of me. "I can't bear the loneliness witho

zen, my fac

f I fail?"

e exams. Again and aga

d. If he loathed me so,

ation; I scraped by, dumped into "Preventive Me

ter, I shoved my architecture

ing up, fleeing to some distant town, building a cottag

r obliterated that f

liver's grave for the

n there; the pressure of senior year

chool. But I hate it." When Oliver was alive, no one fo

ng weeds, watching the flower wavering in the wind

on's starting!" Static and lau

He hung up with onl

phone and le

dmission. Nolan hadn't asked. Yet

are. His motives meant nothing to m

the nightclub. I sprinted inside, sti

ipped in the lobby. I hurried

n and young women, roared over musi

the girl beside him sl

sit beside him, not w

hone, his voice booming in my ear. Everyone quieted down and

ound my shoulder, pre

purpose, so I took the c

is Nebu

name with the freak in Guardian

Mark's lips curled

t waited, blank-faced,

rade, cutting off the laug

wreck the place, spare no expense!" He cracked

Music surged. The room conv

m Mark's side, he barely flicked a gl

, an unexpected hollown

versity. Yet no one

tion was just a roomful of

lized before me, pale fingers, neatl

s unremarkable at first glance, but wit

utside?" He noti

. "Just a drizzle. Pr

hett Wells. Ma

"Nice to

known this was your party, I'd have

isted the damp paper. "It's n

. "Take this. Worthless, really-jus

is. It's too valua

my time with the James family. I recognized quality-the plain silv

refusing, Rhett leaned

this ring h

ious, "Wh

ce. He said this ring brings luck, but it only lasts for two years. A

are just telling a story

ling the truth,"

performed exceptionally well, scoring an astonishing thirty points higher than my usual and got in. Isn't that amazing? I believed th

like lucky rings. Yet, for some reason, I really wanted to accep

in my palm. "I'll

aised his glass to

ett, Mark and I remained s

. Dismiss yourselves,

with a grin. "Nebu

ipped out before I

expect to pay for you?" His arm drap

we came all the way here just for

lf, "Who's really

ntention of helping me out. I knew he was serious,

direct way was to cut off the financial support chain. As long as I

ed working two jobs to save up for tuition before school starts. That way, during s

l have been written i

barely covered t

l the person waiting grew impatient and u

count, but it was still not enough. As I fumbled to activate a lo

. I'll repay you." My voice b

Sure, but how w

quickly took out my p

er. Don't worry,

ng into a soft smile. "I trust you. After all, whe

m, the drunken herd swayed like dying trees. They could

tling the bill taking so lon

Rhett was about to step forwar

today; there was no need to explain. He wan

d roughly pulled me aside. Then he shot Rhett with a cold gaze and

Mark dragge

ine. The thirty-minute drive would be tortur

uptly, "what do y

ame automatically-no sarcasm, just

er ice. "Changing targets already?

about?" I was confused

told you? Didn't she tell you to please me? To seduce me? To crawl into my bed? She thought

enching my fi

hings, but I didn't kn

at any chance to find a sugar daddy. Rhett gives you a ring, and you think you can la

rs. I forced a smile.

ions disgusting. The apple do

ul as the James family, what does it matter? Sure, the James family is the best, but so what? You are the worst choic

ou

collar with a

, he finally showe

Ha, that's

s about to let go. His grip falter

I released him and stepped bac

tily right in

stunned revulsion. "Disgusted

, his face openly

a moment of impulse. But seeing Mark so frustrate

all; I even wanted t

acted on impulse just now. My desire to climb high is just too strong. But that wasn't

down, knowing that offending Mark would make my life wit

e nothing I neede

melted steel. "Yo

hailing a cab and leaving. I had spent all

the late-night wind ch

rt crying, I wiped my face with my hand, feeling the coolne

ver band, feeling a bit

eady late, but to my surprise, the

bathrobe while Nolan loo

I barely got the words out before D

tunned, my cheek b

oward Nolan. "Tell him I nev

sion, then at Mark, and sudd

ou told me, and now you're not satisfied?

.. yo

oked for a moment. I tur

rd it that day

Suddenly, Nolan's cup exploded at

er my son. He pointed to the door. "I wo

hen opened them aga

letter is still in the be

tly. I didn't linger and we

stuffed it into the canvas bag I'd carrie

g onto. When Nolan said those words

looked down to see blood stainin

crouched down, and pressed them again

me. I didn't need to look

ook it and applie

d looked at M

you out?" he asked wi

ead. "For th

rms, watching me w

urned to leave, but Mark stopped me, pressing

k

ll, but more than enough for you. I'll s

iving this to

shrug

ht? I'm giving you a chance to mo

d he think it was just the ho

about what happened back then. But I've tried to make it up to you over the years. I think we're even now. From now on, we are clear. Let's stay

ay a moment longer

Mark calle

't loo

acceptance letter and

hat I wanted to get as far away f

finally stopping and sitting dow

d me also cam

he'd been followin

jacket into my lap. "Put

, throwing th

orcibly draping the jacket over my shoulders,

middle of the night, and you don't have a penny.

ren't for you, I could have stayed at a hotel. I might have ev

you started this, and now you're

austion. "It was just a kiss, wasn't it? What

ithout looking, I could easil

hing him lose his cool,

lub to the James family home, and then here

he might have fallen asleep too. Just as

s grip, pushing him away an

ou doing? L

ed. "Just returning the favor."

eal with him, so I stood up to leave, but