Chapter 3

He nodded.

I believed him.

From eighteen to twenty-three, I gave him the best five years of my life.

I learned how to take care of his daily necessities. I memorized all his preferences. When he was tired, I stayed quietly by his side. When he needed comfort, I spoke to him gently.

I even learned how to taste wine, read financial reports, and understand the insider language of their world.

He said his family wanted him to marry someone of equal status and told me to wait.

He told me to wait until he had enough power to speak for himself, wait until he could make us public, and wait until he would marry me.

Yesterday, I found out I was pregnant. I had not had the chance to tell him before the Sinclair family brought me back.

I thought that, at last, we would be on equal footing.

However, he told me that the person he would marry had always been Moon.

Moon was not even the biological daughter of the Sinclair family, which meant she no longer matched him in status either.

My vision blurred.

I pulled my lips into a bitter smile and opened my email.

There was an unread message from three days ago. It was an offer from the Royal College of Art in the United Kindom for a master’s program.

I clicked [Accept Offer].

Cameron, this child, and those ridiculous five years were all things I no longer wanted anymore.

[Huh? What was she looking at just now? Was that a Kindish page?]

[Ignore it. She’s definitely thinking of ways to cling to him again.]

[Waiting for the next dramatic development. This is getting good!]

The people in the comments kept up the guessing game.

I turned off my phone screen. I saw my reflection on the dark screen.

…

The next morning at breakfast, Moon walked over holding a bowl of seafood porridge. She smiled sweetly.

“Mindy, try this. It’s really good.”

“No, thank you,” I said politely.

However, she insisted on bringing it closer. Then, her foot slipped.

The boiling porridge spilled all over my thighs, and the porcelain bowl broke on the floor.

My skin instantly burned. A red splotch began spreading quickly. I gasped in pain.

Moon’s eyes filled with tears immediately. “Mindy, I’m sorry… I didn’t mean it…”

My mother spoke first. Her tone carried blame.

“Why didn’t you reach out and catch it?”

My father frowned. “You’re really slow and careless.”

[It’s starting! Mindy is going to use this to make a scene!]

[She definitely didn’t dodge on purpose! She’s so cunning!]

[She deserves it! Who told her to go after Cameron?!]

Just then, Cameron arrived.

Moon threw herself into his arms and cried uncontrollably.

Cameron looked at her with clear concern. He patted her back, then turned to me with a cold expression.

“Moon was kind enough to serve you porridge. Why are you acting like this?”

I looked up and asked my parents, “Mr. Sinclair, Mrs. Sinclair, did I spill the porridge?”

They said nothing. My father waved his hand.

“Moon being frightened is what matters most.”

To calm Moon down, my father made a decision on the spot.

“The small subsidiary that was initially meant for Mindy will go to Moon for now.”

Cameron nodded. “I’ll add some support. Consider it my engagement gift to Moon.”

“Fine,” I said, agreeing calmly.

[Why isn’t Mindy making a fuss? Something is not right…]

After I returned to my room, Cameron sent another transfer. [Stop targeting Moon.]

I accepted the money.

Then, I slowly typed a message and sent it.

[Cameron, do you remember that I’m allergic to seafood?]

He went silent.

After a long time, another transfer came in.

I smiled slightly and accepted every transfer.

There was no reason not to refuse. It was what I deserved anyway. It was compensation for my lost youth and payments for keeping quiet.

Outside the window, a car engine sounded, followed by Moon’s soft, cheerful laughter.