Chapter 3

He'd wait for hours in line for that limited-edition pastry I loved; he'd shield me fiercely during an earthquake; he'd remember every single one of my preferences, always surprising me with something new.

I once believed that meeting Gaylen Thorne was the greatest fortune of my life.

Then, I met Stella Vance.

At the time, I was a piano prodigy who had won countless competitions.

Stella, on the other hand, was a girl from a poor background, but with the same dream of playing piano.

She pleaded with me, tears welling in her eyes, saying she also wanted to play the piano.

So I took pity on her, brought her home, and my parents adopted her as their goddaughter.

From then on, she became the Alice family's second daughter.

Unlike my outgoing nature, Stella always appeared delicate and vulnerable.

She was often ostracized by our peers, and every time, Gaylen and I would stand up for her.

I'd stand defiantly, one foot propped on a locker, declaring Stella my honorary sister. Anyone who dared to mess with her was messing with *me*.

Gaylen would stand behind us, a helpless look on his face, always ready to pull us away if things got too wild.

For countless afternoons in the piano room, it was always the three of us.

I'd chatter on, explaining sheet music to Stella, while Gaylen watched with a gentle smile. Then, just as my throat went dry from talking, he'd perfectly time bringing me my coffee, with just a touch of sweetness.

Until the eve of my big competition, when Gaylen and I walked down the aisle, I believed I was the happiest person in the world.

But later, I discovered that this so-called happiness was just honey-coated poison.

Which is why what happened later left me so utterly hysterical, so unable to let go.

A warm cup of coffee was offered to me. Stella's gaze swept over my plain white shirt.

"Alice, it must have been so hard for you to make a living all these years, with your face ruined like that."

"Did you encounter many difficult clients while working as a hostess?"

She asked, her words subtly loaded, while seemingly casually showing off her designer brands.

"Gaylen bought me so many clothes, I can't possibly wear them all. Maybe I could give you some?"

"Don't worry, they're all brand new."

After all these years, Stella had only grown more fond of flaunting her possessions.

It was a shame, though, that her taste remained as poor as ever.

She couldn't tell that the clothes I was wearing were custom-designed couture from Ryan Carter.

Seeing my silence, Stella's expression stiffened.

She forced another smile and pushed on.

"Alice, please stop this. I've forgiven you for your past mistakes, and I'm sure Mom and Dad wouldn't want to see—"

"Ah!!"

I splashed the coffee directly onto Stella.

Gaylen instinctively pulled her behind him.

But when his eyes met mine, his composure faltered, and he ultimately said nothing.

I let out a cold laugh.

My gaze fixed on the man and woman before me.

"Gaylen Thorne, Stella Vance, are you two truly clueless about whose fault it was back then?"