Chapter 3

I needed some documents to finalize the paperwork for my admission.

So I took advantage of the time they were out having fun to make a quick trip back home.

It wasn’t far—less than an hour’s flight.

Yet the second I pushed open the front door, confetti burst out all around and over me.

A whole crowd of Bryan’s close buddies materialized before my eyes.

“Surprise!”

Startled, I used my hands to shield my face from the falling flakes.

“Aww, look who’s acting shy now?”

“Bryan arranged this whole thing for you. He spent months on it.”

My chest hitched.

It felt as if a long open wound was suddenly beginning to heal.

A long time ago, I had indeed told Bryan how girls love romantic confessions—complete with colorful confetti and fresh flowers.

He actually remembered.

“Here, Damask roses, your absolute favorite.”

A huge bouquet was thrust into my hands.

I could hardly believe it.

“Is this… really for me?”

The guy standing beside me nodded enthusiastically. “Of course! You know Daisy, Bryan took this dry run far more seriously than next week’s main event.

“For Violet, he only ordered a cheap silver ring online. But for you, he bought a full thousand dollars’ worth of fresh roses.

“Said he was saving the best for you.

“Doesn’t matter you’re just helping him practice his confession. My guy refused to skimp.”

My hands dropped slowly.

My small, pale face was drenched in tears at this point.

In an instant, the room fell silent.

“Vi… Violet?”

Just then, the bedroom door swung open from the inside.

Bryan stepped out dressed in a sharp suit, staring at me in complete stupor.

“What… are you doing here?”

I clenched my fists, unable to hold myself back any longer. I lunged forward and slapped him straight across the face.

“You’d better drop it now! I won’t accept it! I’ll never accept you!”

The door swung open a second time.

Daisy walked in, humming a cheerful tune under her breath.

“So, how was my idea? Pretty brilliant, right?

“Send her an AI-generated video and she’ll never realize we actually came back long ago—”

The moment her eyes landed on me, the wine bottle slipped from her hand.

Dark red wine splashed across the floor like spilled blood.

A few stray drops landed on my cheek.

“Violet… why are you here?”

Forcing down the scalding rage in my chest, I kept my voice as steady as possible:

“Came back to grab a few things.”

Without sparing them another glance, I walked straight into my bedroom as if they were invisible.

Outside, Daisy’s soft sobbing suddenly broke out.

“It’s over… she knows everything now.

“It’s all my fault for insisting on the rehearsal. Now the surprise is ruined—what if she refuses you?”

Bryan offered a low, reassuring murmur:

“It’s fine. She’s had a crush on me for years—this whole thing is unnecessary. One word from me and she’ll come crawling.”

The emotions I had suppressed for an entire day finally exploded.

Clutching the documents, I barged out of the room.

“Enough!

“You were gonna show me your love with a cheap ring, after splurging a grand on flowers for her, and expecting me to say yes?

“I’ve had enough with you! Stop pushing your luck!”

But Bryan cut me off with a look of impatience: “I never realized you care so much about money.

“Can money measure real affection?

“Besides, today was just a joke—why do you always have to make such a fuss out of nothing?”

Daisy nodded in agreement.

She stepped over and grabbed my arm, attempting to soothe me with the familiar intimacy of our childhood.

“Come on, it really was just a joke.

“Bryan was worried he’d be too nervous and mess up, so he asked for my help.

“If there were romance between us, do you really think it would be your turn?”

I lifted my eyes and shoved her hand off me with everything I had.

“Three people are too many for a couple. Count me out.

“And from now on, stop making jokes at my expense. I will take them seriously.”

With that, I tightened my grip on my documents and walked into the bathroom, not turning back once.

Once I packed the last few items for my skincare, every trace of my existence in this house would be wiped clean.