Chapter 2

I clenched my fists, pushed the door open, and walked in. The room instantly went quiet. Everyone turned to look at me, their eyes filled with contempt.

I took a deep breath and said to Alison, “Thank you for the wonderful meal. I should get going.”

Tate was the first to step forward and grab my hand. “Lily…”

Lucas took two steps toward me but stopped dead in his tracks the next second. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he said nothing in the end. After all, to him, family always came first.

I pulled my hand out of Tate’s grip and walked out the front door without looking back. Just then, my phone screen lit up. It was a friend of mine from a multinational corporation.

“Lily, my boss is very happy with your resume. When can you start?”

“Three days from now.”

Right after that, Lucas sent me the location pin of a hotel.

[Lily, check into a hotel for the night. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow.]

Then, Tate sent a voice message. “Lily, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think things would turn out like this. Let me talk to Alison and smooth things over for you.”

I ignored both messages and booked a different hotel for myself. Once I got into the car, the tears I had held back all evening finally fell.

When Lucas and I first started dating, Alison had been so good to me. On every video call, she would invite me over for dinner. She also remembered my preferences and my allergies.

Whenever Lucas and I fought, she would always take my side. For someone like me, who had never experienced my parents’ love growing up, this felt extremely heartwarming.

Later on, Lucas brought me home to meet his mother, and I brought Tate along. We had grown up together in the orphanage, and she was my best friend. On such an important day, I wanted her there with me.

Right before we walked through the door, Tate had even comforted me, saying, “Lily, don’t be nervous. I'm your family.”

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect that the moment we stepped inside, Alison would walk past me, grab Tate’s hand, and call her a family. No matter how many times I tried to explain that I was his actual girlfriend, as soon as her perception was challenged, she had an emotional breakdown.

Remembering how kind Alison used to be to me, out of fear of triggering her episode, I had no choice but to allow Lucas and Tate to pretend to be a couple. And now, Tate had become a permanent part of their family while I had been reduced to an extra.

As soon as I got to the hotel, Lucas sent another message.

[Did you get there? Answer me.]

He was worried about me, yet he couldn’t even bring himself to make a phone call.

I looked down and replied, [I booked my own hotel. I need to get back to work.]

He didn’t ask any further questions or offer any extra explanation.

[Alright, I’ll come pick you up tomorrow morning.]

The night outside was ablaze with lights. I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the bright fireworks in the distance. It looked so lively.

Lucas updated his Instagram feed with a new video. In the video, he was holding Tate’s hand as they lit fireworks together.

With a loud whoosh, a firework shot up into the sky. Tate ducked playfully into his arms, and he cupped his hands over her ears to block the sound. In the split second they locked eyes, the brilliant sparks of the fireworks reflected in their gazes, making them look exactly like a real couple.

The caption read, “For the rest of my life, I will be right by your side.”

It was romantic and beautiful.

I stared at those words and laughed bitterly because Lucas had once said those exact words to me during the New Year after we started working.

Lucas hadn’t gone home, choosing instead to stay behind in our rented apartment to ring in the New Year with me. In the final seconds of the countdown, he dropped to one knee and slid a diamond ring onto my ring finger.

He kissed the back of my hand and swore, “Lily, for the rest of my life, I will be right by your side.”

That day had been the happiest moment of my life, and I believed Lucas and I would be a real family.

So, I swallowed every grievance and waited year after year. Yet, when all was said and done, all I got was his passionate declaration to Tate, and I was no longer the bride in the wedding.

The comment section beneath the video was flooded with likes and comments from friends and family.

Alison: [My gorgeous daughter-in-law.]

[When is the wedding? I can’t wait to celebrate!]

After a long silence, I liked it and left a comment. [Wishing you both happiness.]

Shortly after, both of them reached out in our trio chat, offering synchronized excuses.

[Lily, we’re just putting on an act. Don’t overthink it.]

[Lily, please don’t misunderstand. Alison took that video and forced Lucas to post it on his feed.]

However, I wasn’t a fool. The love they shared every time their eyes met couldn’t be faked.