That night.

In a hazy sleep, I heard my own sister, Chloe, speaking outside.

"Why the hell did you bring Elias back? It's his fault Rhys had another episode. If anything happens to Rhys, I swear I'll put Elias back in prison myself, and this time he'll never get out."

My mother sighed, a wordless sound of resignation.

But my father spoke. "Elias is Sutton blood, after all. His sentence is up. If he lives somewhere else and someone sees him, it'll be in the news again. It will only provoke Rhys further."

"So what's the plan? The hospital is cold and lonely. Rhys can't stay there forever," Chloe's voice was sharp, as if she'd completely forgotten I was her brother, too. Her real brother.

Then, my mother's voice cut through. "When Rhys comes home, just make sure Elias stays in his room. Keep him out of sight."

Even though I had no expectations left, hearing my mother say "out of sight" still felt like a shard of glass in my heart.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated. A message from Professor Iris from the University of Arts.

"My artistic boy, my child. It has been ten years to the day since we last spoke. Are you well?"

Seeing the message from the woman who had been more of a mother to me than my own, the tears I hadn't shed for a decade finally fell.

I met Professor Iris at a charity event at the orphanage.

This kind, elderly woman deeply admired my work, always calling me her "artistic boy," her "child."

Long before I was sent to prison for Rhys, she had offered me a lifeline—an invitation to be her assistant in Paris, to continue my studies.

Tragically, before I could even decide, they threw me into that island prison for a decade.

I never imagined that she wouldn't believe the official reports, that she would worry about me for ten long years, and reach out the moment I was free.

I was still her child.

Without hesitation, I typed back, asking if the offer to go to Paris was still open.

Her reply came almost instantly.

"My child, God bless you. The doors of art are always open for you."

"Give me one month. I will come to get you myself. I will bring my genius back to his stage!"

The tears that had built up for a decade felt like they would never end.

One month…

I closed my eyes and began the silent countdown.

Just one more month of endurance, and I can leave this loveless hellhole forever.

One more month, and I can be born again…