Countdown to Cancer: May Your Guilt Kill You

Before I left, I continued working at the bar. I decided to depart from the Lewis residence after receiving this month's salary.

During this time, I would only eat a single packet of instant noodles to keep myself alive. Whenever I had to serve the patrons steak and wine, I had to force myself to swallow the drool in my mouth and ignore the pangs of hunger radiating from my stomach.

I was still in a daze when Andy and Summer blocked my path, and I nearly collided with them. Thankfully, one of my colleagues called out to me, and I was able to halt my footsteps at the last second.

"Welcome. There are two empty seats on your left. Please have a seat." I forced a smile as I greeted them.

Andy's brows knitted together as he studied me with an upset expression. "Winter, if you need money, you just have to say the word. Why do you insist on doing this type of dirty work outside?"

His words were laughable in my ears. "Mr. Lewis, I was once told that I would never receive even a single cent of the Lewis family's fortune. Even if I begged you, you wouldn't give me any money."

A complicated emotion swirled in Andy's eyes.

"If you'd like to have a meal here, please take a seat. If not, please move aside. You're blocking the way," I spat icily.

Summer tugged on Andy's arm, wearing a troubled expression. "Andy, my bracelet is missing."

Andy's eyes turned scrutinizing as he stared at me. I didn't know what they were up to, but when I rounded them to take my leave, Andy's hand shot out and grabbed my arm.

I was caught off-guard, losing my grip on the tray as it clattered to the floor. As I looked at the ruined steak on the ground, I couldn't help but think it was such a waste of a delicious meal. I would even have to compensate the bar later for the mishap.

"Hand Summer's bracelet over," Andy demanded coldly. "Why haven't you changed your bad habit of stealing what doesn't belong to you?" He criticized harshly.

I scoffed. "I didn't take her bracelet. But I can't change your mind if you're already dead set on pinning the blame on me!"

I knew that even if I tried to explain myself, Andy wouldn't believe me.

In the past eight years, I was framed for many things that I didn't do. If the incident concerned me and Summer, I would always be the guilty party.

"Your attitude is getting worse by the day," Andy said. "Summer's bracelet is worth millions of dollars. No one else in the house has a habit of stealing. Who else would have taken it if not you?"

Andy's words were heated. It was clear that he had convinced himself that I must be guilty.

Distrust and disappointment washed over his features. I let out a bitter laugh. In his eyes, this wasn't the first time I had done something so despicable.

When the scandal first broke out during my time in high school, Kenneth and Autumn had originally planned to send me back to the village. Although Andy didn't like me very much, he had begged them to let me stay.

"Dad, Mom, Winter didn't receive a good education in the past few years, but she's still a member of the Lewis family. She's just still immature. Please give her another chance!"

The incident that solidified his hatred of me was when he assumed I had stolen Summer's asthma medication.

Summer had asthma. Her medicine had gone missing during one of her attacks, and we couldn't find it no matter where we searched. In the end, I found the medicine when I was rummaging through the storeroom.

I had no idea how the asthma medicine had ended up there, but I didn't think too much of it at the time and hastily gave it to Summer so she could take it. When her breathing had calmed, she pointed at me, wearing a look of disbelief.

"Winter, why did you hide my medicine?"

Upon hearing her words, Andy rounded on me and slapped me hard across the face. The blow was so powerful that it sent me crashing to the ground. He even aimed a powerful kick at me.

His face had been steely when he yelled, "Winter, you're such a heartless person!

"I always thought that you were just stubborn, so I kept giving you chances, but you've gotten more and more evil. If you didn't bring out the medicine today, Summer would have died!

"Did you think that your life would get better if she was gone? Did you think that Dad and Mom would love you more? Do you really think that you're more important than Summer?"

Frank had been standing to the side at the time, and he fanned the flames of Andy's ire, making it burn hotter.

"Her hands have been tainted since she was a child. She has the habit of holding grudges, too. It's all my fault for not teaching her well. She ended up becoming such a selfish and horrible person because of me."

Frank's words solidified the image the Lewises had of me being a thief. It also convinced Andy that I was nothing more than an ungrateful person.

From that day forth, the only person who had ever cared about me disappeared from my life. Andy had taken Summer's side, just like everyone else.

"Say something!" Andy bellowed after realizing I had fallen silent.

My eyes reddened as tears welled up. "Andy, would you believe me if I said I was dying? Would you trust my words?" I murmured.

Andy was stunned momentarily, a hint of hesitation flickering in his eyes.

I hadn't eaten anything yet today, and my stomach was beginning to scream in protest. I was once again assaulted by a wave of excruciating pain. I curled into myself as I usually did and pressed a hand to my stomach.

The pain was much more pronounced than before. Cold sweat beaded all over my skin. I even lost the strength to continue speaking.

Andy was confused by my behavior before a look of realization crossed his face when he loosened his grip on my arm.

"You're pretending again. Winter, you need to stop acting like you're sick. I won't fall for your schemes or feel bad for you."

A wobbly smile stretched across my lips as I finally let the tears fall from my eyes and drip to the floor. The pain made me dry heave.

Andy frowned as he looked at me. He reached out for me but let his hand stay suspended in the air for a few moments before ultimately retracting it. He wore a conflicted expression as he stared at me.

"Andy, I don't blame Winter. Maybe she just liked that bracelet a little too much. Let's just drop the subject."

Upon seeing how Andy had become mute, she played the role of the good person and spoke in his stead. Since Summer was letting me off the hook, Andy sighed long and deep.

"Look how sensible Summer is, Winter. You need to clean up your act, too, and stop causing trouble. Dad and Mom will send you back to the village if you keep disobeying them.

"I won't pursue this incident any longer. After you go home, trim every inch of the grass in the garden. That will be your punishment."

After he was done speaking, he whirled around with a hint of hesitation, pulled Summer with him, and left the bar.

"Let's go, Summer. I'll buy a new bracelet for you," he said, looking at her with adoration.

Summer nodded happily in response.

Before they turned the corner, Summer turned her head to look at me. Glee and arrogance shone in her eyes. I had seen her haughty gaze, but how was I, a person who already had one foot through death's door, supposed to fight back against someone who was loved and treasured?

I wiped the tears from my eyes and forced myself to get back up on my feet despite the pain. My condition was getting worse, and I had a feeling I would die in the next few days.

I powered through the pain, reminding myself that I needed to at least complete my shift for the day. With the money in hand, I would be able to purchase painkillers that were more effective.

I wanted to die, but I didn't want to die in too much pain.

Winter had arrived in the city. I was going to die in the freezing winter, but I wanted to cling on to the last embers of warmth before the cold days fully settled in.