The Price of His Depression Chapter 2

Late at night, Liam used to hold me tight and whisper that in this entire world, my love was the only thing he never doubted.

That even his parents' love for him wasn't as pure as mine.

Those whispered promises used to make me so incredibly happy. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world to find genuine love in a society where it was so rare.

But looking back on it now, nobody else could possibly be this stupid. Risking heatstroke out in the blazing sun just for a five-dollar extreme weather bonus, just so I could scrape together enough for his medical bills a little sooner.

"I haven't slept for more than five hours a night in so long. I dreamt of the day you would finally get better."

"You knew all of this better than anyone, didn't you?"

My accusing voice slowly broke into a sob.

Liam's previously calm expression finally cracked. His eyes reddened slightly, and he nodded.

We lived in a cramped, rundown, one-bedroom apartment, a thirty-minute walk just to get to the subway station.

He watched me exhaust myself. He watched me stretch every single dollar until it broke.

He watched me struggle, desperately working to pay for his fake poverty-simulation game, just to 'cure' this imaginary depression he had fabricated.

He watched the entire thing unfold like some detached creator observing a rat in a maze.

"I'll transfer a large sum of money to your account. Consider it compensation."

"I... I truly wronged you."

Liam lowered his head, his eyes filled with guilt and a hint of helplessness. He realized he couldn't lie his way out of this, so he simply gave up trying.

With stiff fingers, I pulled the crumpled receipt from my pocket. It was half a meter long, listing nothing but the most premium, expensive cuts of meat.

I crumpled it into a ball and threw it at him with every ounce of strength I had left.

Liam didn't dodge. His expression was a mix of sorrow and deep regret.

The cold air conditioning from inside the house provided a stark contrast to the blazing heat outside. Over the loud hum of the cicadas, I heard footsteps approaching from inside.

Followed immediately by a whining, sweet female voice:

"Liam, is the food not here yet? I'm literally starving to death!"