Chapter 3

After I got home, my father looked behind me and his expression darkened.

"Weren't you traveling with Lily? Where is she?"

I forced a smile and stepped forward, linking my arm through his and acting cute.

"I suddenly missed you, so I came back. Let her go have fun by herself!"

His expression softened slightly, but his tone remained stern.

"Aria, after all, Lily is the housekeeper's daughter."

"The reason the Morgan family has supported her through college is so she can take care of you."

"If she can't do that, I don't mind cutting off her living expenses!"

The smile disappeared from my face. My heart felt like it was being stabbed with needles.

Lily had been brought into the Morgan household by Helen when she was seven.

I remember her thin, frail body standing there timidly, like a stray kitten.

When I learned that she'd been abused by her biological father and sometimes went days without a proper meal.

As an only child, I treated her like a real sister.

She had been part of nearly my entire life up to this point.

Even though I knew Ethan's feelings for me were slowly shifting.

Even now, I didn't believe she would betray me.

My sad eyes dodged my father's gaze in panic. I quickly put down my backpack to cover it up.

"Okay, okay, I'm hungry!"

My father's instructing voice sounded behind me.

"Tomorrow, meet with the heir of the Pierce family!"

"If it goes well, we can start preparing for the wedding!"

My whole body stiffened. After a long pause, I responded.

"Okay!"

I made plans with Nathan Pierce at a stylish café.

I scrolled through my phone listlessly, waiting for him.

Lily's social media feed kept updating.

They first went to the seaside to feed seagulls, then went to a church, and next were planning to climb a mountain.

This was the detailed itinerary I'd spent a month preparing in advance.

I had been so full of anticipation, but ultimately it came to nothing.

As bitterness filled my heart, Lily video-called me.

She excitedly introduced me to the beauty of the coastal city and kept praising Ethan.

"I'm doing an inspection for you. So far, not bad."

"When I got tired walking, he carried me on his back. When I pouted, a cold drink appeared at my lips. He even knew to hold an umbrella to keep me from getting sunburned..."

My perfunctory smile disappeared. My gaze fixed on her neck.

Those red marks were like knives stabbing my eyes painfully.

Perhaps seeing my expression was off, she unnaturally adjusted her collar.

"Today... there's a bit of wind, you know!"

Before she could finish, a figure rushed over and hugged her.

"I told you not to sleep naked with the AC on last night. You're going to catch a cold, aren't you?"

"You're not getting any more tonight..."

Lily's face showed panic. The video suddenly cut off.

But I still recognized it...

That was Ethan's voice.

My mind went blank. My hand froze in the air, not knowing where to put it.

I desperately called Ethan, but no one answered.

Until I was soaked in cold sweat and slowly regained consciousness.

Only then did Ethan video-call me back.

His eyes were full of tenderness, completely normal.

"I was concentrating on picking out a gift for you. My phone was in my pocket and I didn't hear it."

"Do you miss me? We'll be back in a few days..."

But through the video, I saw Lily hiding not far away.

The jacket she was wearing was the Valentine's Day gift I had dragged her along to pick out for Ethan.

My heart felt like someone had punched it hard. My face went pale and I couldn't breathe.

I hung up the video in a panic.

A cup of hot water was placed in front of me.

It was Nathan Pierce.

I forced a smile that looked worse than crying.

"It's an arranged marriage anyway. Nothing to talk about."

"If you have no objections, let's prepare for the wedding!"