Chapter 5 The Man Behind the Lie

The memories of being ostracized on campus and bullied by Wendy in my previous life were still vivid in my mind. Just thinking about them made me physically uncomfortable.

Just like last time, I ran into Frederick Zane on my very first day at school. He was the fiance destined for the true heiress in those cliched rich-family stories.

I looked at Frederick's handsome, aristocratic face. Once, it had been my favorite face in the world. Now it only made me sick.

In my previous life, I had met him at my lowest point. Wendy had been leading a group of people in humiliating me when Frederick happened to walk through the hallway.

He stepped in and stopped them. That was when I started falling for him.

Every time I was at my most embarrassed or vulnerable, he seemed to appear out of nowhere to save me. I thought I had finally found someone who genuinely cared about me.

He became the unattainable dream of my youth.

He told me he believed in my musical talent. He dated me. Yet he never once acknowledged my identity in public.

My one-sided devotion ended with him handing all of my manuscripts to Wendy.

The moment I lost my usefulness, he threw me away without hesitation.

I would never forget the sight of him wrapping an arm around Wendy's waist, crushing what little dignity I had left beneath his feet. The two of them acted intimately right in front of me, every gesture stabbing at my nerves.

"You don't seriously think I ever liked you, do you? What made you think you were qualified to stand beside me? The only reason I helped you in high school was that people kept spreading rumors that you were my fiancee. Having someone like you associated with me was embarrassing.

"The person I've always loved is Wendy. Back in high school, and now too. Now that the Sutton family has kicked you out and our engagement is officially over, I don't have to keep pretending anymore. If your manuscripts hadn't been useful, I wouldn't have given you a second glance. Honestly, being around you disgusted me.

"If you're smart, stop bothering me. Tell the public that you're the one who stole Wendy's work, and I'll be generous enough not to release those private photos of yours. Otherwise, just wait until they end up trending online."

Not long afterward, they announced their engagement in grand fashion. They became the perfect golden couple in everyone's eyes.

Meanwhile, I hid in the shadows, licking my wounds alone. Frederick's approach had been a lie from the very beginning. The pathetic thing was that I had spent years lying to myself about it.

But things were different now.

I had already lived with the Sutton family for two years. I was no longer the dirty, frail, awkward Anya from my previous life. I had grown into myself.

Unlike the insecure girl I used to be, the years after my rebirth had given me confidence and brightness. The timid, small-town awkwardness that once clung to me had completely disappeared.

I had inherited Julian and Penelope's excellent features, and under Penelope's careful care and guidance, my body was no longer thin and malnourished. I was healthy, elegant, and beautiful, with flawless skin and refined features.

I looked every bit the wealthy heiress I was supposed to be.

When Penelope and I went shopping, talent scouts had approached me more than once. Each time, Penelope politely turned them down, saying I was still too young.

So, when Frederick saw me again in this life, I caught the unmistakable flash of amazement in his eyes. Then, I noticed Wendy shooting him a sharp glare.

Only then did he look away and continue down the hallway as though nothing had happened.

I almost laughed.

So, the signs had been there from the beginning. I had simply been too blind to see them. With a self-mocking smile, I took my seat.

Whispers immediately spread around the classroom.

"Isn't that the girl Wendy said was her family's maid's daughter? She doesn't look like it at all."

"Exactly. Honestly, she looks more like a rich heiress than Wendy does. Seriously, I can't stand Wendy's attitude."

I listened to the not-so-quiet gossip with a faint smile. Across from me, Wendy looked noticeably guilty.