A Literal Pitiful Act

My childhood sweetheart and I are about to exchange rings at our wedding ceremony. Just then, a young woman charges into his arms and says pitifully, "Don't abandon me."

My childhood sweetheart brought her home when he was in high school after chancing upon her by the roadside. Everyone knows how doting he is toward her.

When she charges into his arms, she "accidentally" shoves me aside. I lose my balance and fall off the stage, knocking my head on the steps. I end up in a coma.

When I wake up again, I'm taken back to the day my childhood sweetheart meets the young woman.

"Nana, this girl is so pitiful. Let's take her home."

As soon as I heard those words, my consciousness suddenly returned to me. The familiar faces and scenes flooded back, and I immediately accepted the fact that I had been reborn.

The girl was shivering from the cold. Her tattered clothes barely concealed the signs of abuse on her body. Standing before me was a boy with delicate features. A hint of sadness lay between his brows.

His bright eyes were filled with sympathy and pity for the girl. His expensive branded clothes screamed "rich, naive young heir" from head to toe.

Looking at the scene unfolding before me, I felt a chill in my heart. In my previous life, we had encountered this girl on our regular route home from school.

My childhood friend, Nathan McKinley, immediately asked the driver to stop and investigate. After learning about her situation, he declared that he wanted to bring her home.

I had tried to stop Nathan, but he reprimanded me by calling me cold and unsympathetic. I believed he could not make such decisions on his own, and his parents would investigate the girl's background and send her back.

After all, I was busy with various competitions at the time, staying home to prepare, with a leave of absence from school.

However, when I returned to school after my competitions, I discovered that the McKinley family had adopted the girl, and she was even in my class. Later, she took advantage of the McKinley family's affection and constantly worked against me.

She would paint me in a bad light in front of adults. She would deliberately play the victim and claim I bullied her. Whenever I tried to defend myself, she would cry, which led to everyone revolving around her. Even my usually stern and indifferent parents showered her with affection.

Nonetheless, things would be different this time. I exclaimed, "Yes! We should help her!"

Nathan's face lit up with joy, and a glimmer of hope flashed in the girl's eyes. Even so, she weakly protested, "It's alright. I don't want to trouble you."

She added, "I can manage by begging for a few days and still get a meal. You're all so kind. I won't starve…"

Nathan's heart ached even more upon hearing this. He immediately took off his coat, draped it over her shoulders, and half-embraced her.

He consoled her by saying, "It's okay. I've always wanted a sister. Come home with me, and I promise to take good care of you!"

The girl looked up at him pitifully and said, "You're so kind. I can't remember anything except that my name is Jessie.

"What's your name?" Jessie gazed at Nathan with complete trust, as if he had become her whole world.

Nathan scratched his nose bashfully. His protective instincts kicked in. He replied, "I'm Nathan McKinley. You'll be my sister now."

The two seemed to bond instantly. They were like kindred spirits.

"How long have you been here?" I asked coldly.

Jessie appeared startled by my voice. She trembled as she tried to hide in Nathan's embrace. Nathan immediately held her protectively and cast a disapproving look my way.

He scolded, "Nana, you're scaring Jessie!"

I could not help but scoff at the use of "Nana" and "Jessie" so casually. He was acting like we were all close and friendly.

I corrected him and said, "Nana is my nickname. Only people close to me can call me that. You can just call me by my actual name."

"Luna Montgomery!" His face turned red with anger at being put in his place in front of Jessie. Jessie maintained her frightened demeanor, causing Nathan to quickly return to comforting her.