Jennie

I'm still reeling from my conversation with Lisa this morning. I hate all these memories that are suddenly assailing me. I've never once imagined myself having a child with Mino, but I wanted children with Lisa. I wanted it so badly that I could even imagine what they'd look like. I wanted everything with her. I wanted her to propose and I wanted to call her my fiancé before finally getting to call her my wife . I wanted to be Mrs. Jennie Manoban, yet I can't even imagine being Mrs. Jennie Song. I guess it's because I'm older now. I don't have time for childish fantasies anymore.

"What are you thinking about so hard?" Dad asks.

I blink at him and adjust his blanket. He's hooked up to his dialysis machine, and according to the clock we only have a couple of minutes left. I shake my head and smile at my dad. "It's nothing, Daddy."

Dad smiles at me and brushes my hair out of my face. "You know you don't have to sit here with me every day. It just makes me feel bad. Why don't you help Lisa out with work? That girl has done so much for me, but I can't repay her myself. Why don't you spend a few hours a day working with her? I won't feel so guilty about leeching off her, then."

I'm about to make an excuse, but dad holds up his finger. "And don't give me that crap about your work contract in London. You're a lawyer. Find a loophole."

I sigh. He's not leaving me much choice, and he's right. I can't even imagine how much all of this equipment costs, and then there's the nurse, the chef and the personal trainer. Lisa has gone all out.

"Fine. I'll talk to her and check what she might need help with. I just wanted to spend as much time with you as possible, Dad."

The timer goes off and Dad yanks the needle out, startling his nurse. She runs up to him and shakes her head anxiously, and Dad sits back in annoyance. I glare at him and cross my arms over each other. "Let her do her job," I warn him.

"Fine, but I'm tired of staying in. Let's go for a drive, shall we? I need to pick up some stuff from the house anyway."

I nod and lead Dad to the front door, but he pulls on my hand and shakes his head. "This way," he tells me. He walks me to a garage that houses five different cars. All supercars, it seems. Dad grabs a set of keys from the hook by the door and walks straight up to a red car. He throws the keys my way and I shake my head.

"Dad, I don't think we should be driving any of these. I've been borrowing your old car. It's parked out front."

Dad shrugs and gets into the red sports car without a single worry. "It's fine," he says. "Lisa won't mind you driving this."

I bite down on my lip nervously. There's no reason for Dad to lie to me, but I'm anxious nonetheless. These cars all look really expensive, and I wouldn't put it past myself to accidentally dent or scratch them.

"Come on, Jennie," Dad shouts, and I jump into action. I get into the car and just sit there for a minute. It isn't until Dad snaps at me again that I finally drive out of the garage.

I smile up at our house and park right in front of it. My full focus has been on Dad since I got here. I haven't even visited my old house yet. I'm excited as I step out of the car, only to freeze when the door to the house next to ours opens.

Helen walks out with a wide smile on her face, and my heart twists painfully. I look away, hoping we can both just pretend we didn't see each other, but Dad waves at her.

"Helen, darling, how are ya?" he shouts, and I grimace. It's been eight years. Of course, he's on good terms with our neighbors. I'm sure she's looked out for Dad in the time that I wasn't here to do it myself, but I can't stand to look at her nonetheless. I still vividly remember her handing me her credit card and asking me to move out of the place Lisa and I shared. I remember her telling me that I shouldn't make things harder on Lisa by staying. I always thought of her as the mother I never had, but in the end, blood is thicker than water.

I nod at her politely and tug on my dad's arm. "Jennie," Dad murmurs. "Come on, let's drop by and say hi."

I look up at him, my eyes flashing with rage. "No. I will not keep you from greeting our neighbors, but I refuse to join you in doing so," I tell him defensively. I know I'm hiding behind the lawyer persona I've built for myself, and it isn't fair on Dad, but I can't help myself either. I do it without thinking. "I'm happy to wait in the car for you, or alternatively, you can let me into the house," I add, my voice soft.

Dad looks at me, and for a second he looks so defeated, that I almost want to give in. But then he nods in understanding and waves at Helen as he leads me to the front door. Just seeing her again ruined my entire mood. Logically, I understand her choosing her daughter's happiness over mine, but at the same time, I can't forgive her for it. I can't forgive her for all the pain she caused and all the blame she placed on me. The only sin I ever committed was loving her daughter. I didn't deserve to be treated the way I was, especially not by a woman I loved like she was my own mother.

I walk into my old bedroom, my entire body tense with anger, and I lean back against my closed door. Everything is still the same. I stand there for a minute, just staring into Lisa's room. How many times have I stood here, watching her? I sigh and push away from the door, slowly walking through my bedroom. I rummage through my wardrobe and pause on a tee I once stole from Lisa. My fingers linger over the fabric, and I carefully take it off the hanger. I try my best not to overthink it as I fold it and put it in my handbag. They're just jammies, that's all.

I frown when I hear the sound of a sports car, and for just a second I worry I left the key in the ignition. I stick my head out the window and find Lisa stepping out of a sleek black sports car. She looks up, and my traitorous heart skips a beat.