Chapter 3

Ten years ago, Seraphina's mom and my dad both passed away from illness, and we bonded over our shared grief, becoming best friends.

My mom, feeling sorry for her, doted on her like her own daughter.

The two families grew close, and over time, my mom actually fell in love with Seraphina's father, Richard Hayes.

But Richard couldn't let go of his deceased wife and always kept my mom at a distance despite her overtures.

Unable to get what she wanted, my mom poured more of her energy into Seraphina, almost to the point of granting her every wish.

And I, because I tried to tell her that you can't force love, gradually grew estranged from her.

Even Seraphina's attempts to mediate couldn't reconcile our mother-daughter relationship.

It was during that period that I met my first love, Marcus Reed.

Not wanting my mom to know about the relationship, I only confided my secret romance to Seraphina.

I treated her as my best sister, sharing the sweetness of falling in love, sharing every little gift Marcus gave me.

But I never imagined that while she wished me well to my face, she would turn around and seduce Marcus.

On Marcus's birthday, I secretly prepared a surprise for him.

Pushing open his apartment door, I saw two bodies entwined on the sofa.

Seraphina frantically pulled her clothes to cover herself, while Marcus, the man who constantly claimed to love me, averted his gaze:

"Chloe, let me explain…"

I didn't cry or make a scene; I just quietly questioned Seraphina:

"You already have all of my mother's love, and my friendship. Why do you need to steal my boyfriend too?"

She cried, begging for my forgiveness, but then leaned closer and whispered:

"Who told your mom to keep chasing my dad?"

In that moment, I swore I would get my mom back from her.

I ran all the way home, wanting to tell Mom that Seraphina wasn't a good person, that she was the kind of 'other woman' Mom despised.

But I never imagined that Seraphina and Marcus would accuse me first.

Seraphina sobbed heartbrokenly in my mom's arms:

"Mom, I know Chloe always disliked me getting so much of your attention, but how could she… how could she steal my boyfriend?"

I argued reasonably, but my mom didn't believe me.

Only because she was madly in love with Richard Hayes.

Seraphina was the most important link in maintaining her relationship with Richard.

My words were light as a feather compared to Seraphina's tears.

Without asking any questions, she forced me to apologize to Seraphina.

"Chloe, apologize to Seraphina! Swear you'll never bother Marcus again!"

I looked at her protecting Seraphina, at Seraphina's defiant gaze from behind my mom, and my youthful defiance overpowered all my hurt.

"I didn't do anything wrong! She's the one who stole my boyfriend!"

"Incorrigible! Get out! Don't come back until you realize your mistake, or don't ever return to this house!"