00:00a private high school funded by the Blackwoods.
00:01That made Liam fall apart.
00:06Although Chloe's condition kept getting worse,
00:08he left her and forced himself
00:10to skip a grade, becoming a freshman
00:12too. But he thought I had followed
00:13the Blackwoods arrangement and gone to our
00:15PACS school. Until high school started,
00:18he and Caleb searched the entire
00:19freshman list and confirmed I hadn't enrolled
00:21at all.
00:24Chloe seemed to make an
00:25even bigger scene after that.
00:27Even 8th grade work was hard
00:29for her, but she still forced Dad
00:31to put her into the same class as Liam.
00:33Caleb fought with the Stone family
00:35and wanted to transfer schools to follow
00:37me, but his mother grounded him.
00:39That ridiculous engagement
00:41had already been returned by me as a
00:43joke before summer break. I gave
00:45back the bracelet Mrs. Stone had once
00:47personally given me.
00:48Under her tearful gaze, I bowed
00:51deeply. Mrs. Stone, please
00:53keep your son under control and don't
00:55let him keep bothering me.
00:57Also, this is the modern world.
00:59Arranged marriages are not a
01:01thing anymore. Those words made
01:03her finally give up on letting him stay
01:05close to me. Still kept calling me
01:07every day. But too bad I blocked
01:09them all. I also told the principal
01:11in advance that I refused to meet anyone
01:13from outside. So for 3 whole years
01:15I barely saw them at all.
01:17Until the day the college entrance exams
01:19ended, my parents caught me at the school
01:21gate before I could run. Both of them
01:23looked more than 10 years older. Mom
01:25walked toward me with a careful smile.
01:26I took half a step back without thinking.
01:29Her movement froze. She covered her mouth
01:31and leaned into Dad's arms, crying.
01:33Dad's eyes filled with tears too.
01:36Ava,
01:37I really missed you. Let me hug you,
01:39okay? I frowned without meaning
01:41to. Every time I had contact
01:43with them, my body felt sick.
01:45Before, for the sake of going to school in peace,
01:47I had forced myself to play along sometimes.
01:49But now, I tilted my head
01:51and looked at her in confusion. Miss who?
01:53Hug who? Me? No way.
01:55You already have both a son
01:57and a daughter at home. Your son is
01:59smart, hardworking, and loves his sister.
02:01Your daughter is gentle, sweet,
02:03and respects her elders.
02:05Why would you miss me for no reason?
02:07Mom's muffled crying stopped at once.
02:09Mom's muffled crying
02:09Don't ask her to be,
02:10Mom's muffled crying
