Chapter 3 How Foolish She Had Been

Richard froze in surprise. Never had he imagined Brynn would speak with such sharpness, especially when she had always yielded to him before.

He remembered clearly how frightened she was of needles, shaking uncontrollably whenever she faced an injection, needing ages to calm down afterward.

And still, she had offered her blood to Rena again and again because she cared for him.

Thinking of that, Richard hesitated, his expression shifting as he looked at Brynn. "Then-"

Before he could finish the sentence, Rena cut in, crying loudly, "Brynn, how could you say that? Do you want me to die?"

Brynn returned Rena's theatrics with a cold stare. Her cruelty, her obsession, and her flawless performance always fooled Richard without fail. Or maybe he wanted to be fooled.

A cold smile tugged at Brynn's lips as that thought crossed her mind. She spoke with unwavering resolve. "Anyone else can give her blood if they want to. I'm done."

Rena tightened her grip on Richard's arm and spoke in a hurt tone. "Richard, did you hear her? She wishes I'd land in the ICU just like my mom."

Sharon Davis, Rena's mother, had once saved Richard's life and had remained unconscious ever since.

Because of that sacrifice, Richard carried a deep sense of guilt toward Rena and found himself unable to refuse her.

Rena relied heavily on that guilt, dragging Sharon into every outburst, and Richard usually let her get away with it.

This time, though, something shifted. When Sharon's name left Rena's lips, Richard's brows drew together.

He could never forget the moment five years earlier when a truck barreled toward them. Sharon had shoved him to safety and ended up beneath the wheels herself, a pool of blood spreading around her.

However, Brynn had given up much for him as well.

Brynn noticed Richard's lingering silence, and a fragile hope rose inside her. Just once, if he chose her over Rena, she would believe her years of devotion had meant something.

She would convince herself he didn't reject her-only that he didn't know how to love.

"Brynn, could you donate blood for Rena one last time? Please. I swear this will be the final request," Richard said as he lifted his gaze to her, her reflection captured in his eyes.

The small flicker of hope inside Brynn vanished instantly.

A humorless laugh escaped her-how foolish she had been to expect anything different from him.

Whenever a decision had to be made, his choice never changed. And she was always the one he placed on the altar of his compromises.

Rena quietly exhaled in relief and looked at Brynn with blatant triumph. "Brynn, it seems I need your help again. Thank you in advance!"

Brynn shot her a sideways glance, seeing clearly now that Richard's worry belonged solely to Rena.

Once, she had convinced herself that he simply loved in a slow, quiet way. Now he was proving, with the same coldness he always carried, that he would never love her at all.

Brynn returned her attention to him, letting her gaze sweep over him without emotion. "I already said I'm not giving her blood."

Richard's brows pulled together, unsettled by the distant look in her eyes.

He found himself recalling the very first time he noticed her. On that brilliant summer afternoon, her smile shone even brighter than the sun above. But somewhere along the way, that smile had faded.

"What am I supposed to do? If Brynn refuses to give me blood, I'll die!" Rena cried, her voice trembling. "Richard, you promised my mom you'd always protect me..."

Richard answered with a tone that held no warmth, "I'll look for another donor right away. I'm not letting you die."

Rena's eyes flew open in shock as she stared at him. "What if no one else matches? Brynn has donated to me so many times-our blood types work perfectly. Why replace her now?"

Richard offered no reply.

Tears spilled over Rena's lashes as she pushed the threat further. "Alright then. If you don't care, I'll go to Michelle!"

With that, she darted off toward Michelle's hospital room, still sobbing.

Soon after, Rena returned with Michelle beside her.

Michelle looked groggy from being awakened so soon after falling asleep.

Whatever Rena had said clearly had an effect, because Michelle's gaze drifted to Brynn with a trace of blame.

Michelle finally spoke to Richard. "Richard, stop scolding Rena. Her mother ended up in a coma because she saved your life. Now she only needs a bit of blood from Brynn. It's hardly anything. Brynn has donated countless times already, and nothing bad has ever happened. But if Rena doesn't receive blood right now, she might actually die!"

Richard tightened his jaw, frustration lining his face. "I'll look for another donor. There's enough blood in the bank. Brynn doesn't have to be the one."

"Michelle, did you hear that?" Rena cried, clutching at the opening. "He cares only about Brynn and not about me at all!"

Michelle pressed her fingers to her temple, clearly irritated, but Richard kept his stern composure, his cold stare warning everyone that his decision wouldn't change. She understood perfectly that once he settled on something, no one could sway him.

She finally faced Brynn and said, "Brynn, please help Rena this time. Do it for me."

Brynn's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. She had predicted this ending from the start. Whenever Rena caused trouble, the burden always fell back on her.

And Michelle-her would-be mother-in-law-never hesitated to let her shoulder every injustice.

Brynn couldn't even bring herself to feel disappointed anymore. From the very beginning, she had been the one trying her hardest to win their approval.

She recalled meeting Michelle for the first time five years earlier during winter break.

At that point, she had only just begun her university life.

One night, while heading back to campus, she was dragged into a dark alley by a drunken thug. At the final moment, a tall and slender young man rushed in and saved her. She never saw his face clearly, but she did see the knife slash across his chest.

Later, after she recovered and left the hospital, she caught sight of a matching scar on Richard's chest.

She had already fallen for him the instant she first saw him, and learning he was the young man who rescued her only deepened that devotion.

Even though he spoke to her with nothing but indifference, she kept drawing closer with even more determination.

Although she was one of the most admired girls in the law department, she clung to him with unwavering persistence, ignoring every mocking whisper behind her.

During the next winter break, she couldn't bear the thought of spending a whole month without seeing him, so she secretly bought a train ticket to his hometown, defying her family's objections.

Growing up sheltered in the city, she had never endured real hardship before.

When she finally located Richard, she found him forced to the ground by someone holding him down.

One of the villagers tried to reason with Richard. "Why won't you listen? We told you there are wolves in that forest! Someone was bitten just recently! If you charge in now, you're practically asking to die! Your mother must have crossed paths with them, too. We already called the police. Wait for them. Don't act recklessly."

Voices filled the area as the villagers muttered among themselves.

Richard lay pinned to the ground, dirt streaking his face and grass tangled against his clothes.

Still, he kept his gaze locked on the forest ahead, a raw and frantic resolve burning in his eyes, fierce like a cornered animal.

"Let him go!" Brynn shouted as she ran forward, somehow summoning enough strength to shove aside the two men restraining Richard.

"Who are you? Stop making trouble here. We're stopping him for his own safety! It's almost dark, and stepping into that forest means becoming a meal for wolves!" one of the villagers shouted.

Richard sat silently where he fell, his long fingers curled tightly into fists, refusing to speak.

"There are so many of you standing around! Why not go into the forest and help search before it gets completely dark? Isn't that better than arguing here?" Brynn asked.

The villagers exchanged uneasy glances, but no one stepped forward.

Confronting wolves was a risk none of them dared to accept.

"If none of you plan to help, then stop holding him back!" Brynn insisted as she lifted Richard to his feet. "Come on. I'll go with you to look for your mother!"

Richard raised his eyes to her from where he had fallen.

"Let's move!" Brynn urged again, pulling him with her toward the forest's edge.

By then, the sky had already sunk into darkness.

"Richard, I'll help you find your mother," Brynn said as she inhaled sharply, fixing her gaze on the shadowed trees while forcing herself to stay brave despite the fear pounding through her chest.

"After we find her, we should learn boxing and self-defense together. Then no one will ever be able to hold you down again!" she said to him, hoping to stir some strength in him.

Watching Richard pinned helplessly moments ago had shaken Brynn deeply.

She finally understood that even someone as brilliant and proud as Richard could be driven into despair.

She never wanted to witness that again.

In her eyes, he was someone meant to stand tall, someone destined to be admired.

Fate had given them a moment to walk side by side.

As night finally settled over the sky, they discovered Michelle, barely conscious from losing so much blood.

She hadn't met any wolves after all. She had simply slipped, and a sharp branch had stabbed into her leg, leaving her bleeding heavily.

Richard lifted her in his arms without hesitation and carried her out of the forest.

Brynn recalled how Michelle had thanked her over and over, urging Richard not to let go of a girl as good as she was.

But that was years ago, and time had reshaped everything-including the people in it.

Now Michelle was standing on the opposite side of it all, asking Brynn to give her blood to another woman.