Chapter 4The Girl Who Came Back

3.

I was silent for a moment.

The fact that I needed money was apparently public knowledge.

Chloe and Lucas knew I had a hard time abroad, so when they threatened me, they knew exactly where to strike.

But I refused.

Chloe looked surprised.

That night ended on a bad note.

For the next few days, I was busy looking for work, but every time, I was rejected after the first interview.

It wasn't until a young interviewer stammered that it was "Ms. Chloe's orders" that I realized she didn't even want me to find a job.

Chloe was dead set on making me leave the country again.

After being stunned for a long time, I thanked the interviewer who told me the truth.

Just as I left the office, I got a text from the hospital.

Last night, I made an appointment to get some antidepressants.

During the visit, the doctor told me my condition was bad and suggested more therapy sessions.

Doctors abroad had given me the same advice.

It seemed my depression was indeed severe.

Walking out of the clinic with my meds, I was reading the instructions and accidentally bumped into someone around the corner.

"Sorry..."

I apologized first, but looking up, I realized the person standing in front of me was Lucas.

And behind him stood Chloe.

Lucas frowned, seemingly not intending to speak to me, ready to walk past.

But then, he noticed the medicine in my hand.

"Jane, why are you at the hospital?"

He seemed to want to see what I was holding, but I quickly stuffed the box into my bag. "Just a cold, buying some meds."

Chloe chimed in at the right moment. "Lots of people getting the flu lately."

Lucas didn't speak, but kept staring at my bag.

I lowered my head and quickly walked downstairs.

Running into Lucas wasn't in my plan.

Before, I always wanted to see him, but he was always busy.

Before I went abroad, the times we met were countable on one hand. Most of the time, he'd just send a text or two.

After I left, he stopped contacting me altogether.

I didn't expect that now, when I truly didn't want to see him, I'd run into him.

I've had depression for a long time.

At my worst, I had severe somatic symptoms and even thought about jumping off a building, but I gritted my teeth and survived.

When I got home, Lily was waiting in the living room.

She hadn't slept well the night before.

I decided to put her to bed early.

But just as I started feeling sleepy, I smelled something burning.

Lily was fast asleep, unaware.

At first, I thought a neighbor burned dinner, but as the smell got stronger, I realized something was wrong.

Jumping out of bed, I went to the window and saw thick smoke rising into the air.

—This building was on fire.

Memories flooded back. Ignoring everything else, I snatched Lily from the bed.

She rubbed her eyes groggily. "Mommy, what's wrong?"

Realizing the fire, she gripped my sleeve. "Mommy?"

I was shaking from fear as I held her.

Stumbling out the door, I carried her down the emergency stairs.

I fell three or four times, bruising my knees, but I stood up without feeling the pain.

Bursting out of the building entrance, I saw a crowd gathered outside.

The fire trucks had arrived.

The scene before me overlapped with memories of the past.

Holding Lily, I leaned against a tree across the street, feeling faint.

Lily asked anxiously, "Mommy, are we going to die?"

I snapped back and hugged her tighter. "No."

As long as Lily was with me, I would never let anything happen to her.

Because—

Lily's biological mother already died saving me.