Chapter 1

Andy's POV

The door clicked shut and was locked. I pulled the handle, but it wouldn't budge.

Nadine Grant had locked me in the car like I was some kind of nuisance.

My phone buzzed, and I saw it was a photo from Nick Lockwood.

In the picture, the coffee set I had spent two weeks picking out was already on the table. Nadine's father, Patrick Grant, was holding the massager I had spent so long choosing, grinning from ear to ear.

Nick sent another message. He wrote, "Mr. Grant loves it. Don't worry, Andy. I'll make a good first impression on your behalf."

I stared at the screen, my fingers slowly going numb.

I had gone to three different stores before I found that coffee set.

I saved two months' worth of pay to buy the massager. Patrick's back was bad, and I had written down all those little details in my notes.

And now, they were being passed off as Nick's gifts.

I called Nadine. It rang for a long time before she finally answered, with laughter filling the background.

"Andy, don't start," she said.

"Unlock the car doors," I demanded.

"I told you. I'll bring you inside in a little while," she replied.

My voice turned icy. "Nadine, I'm the one who's supposed to meet your parents today, not Nick," I said. "And I bought those gifts!"

Nadine spoke to me like I was a child, asking, "Does it really matter who those gifts were from? Nick's just trying to keep Dad happy for you.

"Once you officially become part of the family, Dad will still remember what you did for him, alright?"

I laughed bitterly. "So I paid for everything and picked out the gifts, and I'm supposed to thank Nick for taking the credit?"

Nadine lowered her voice. "Andy, Grandma is here today too. Do you really want to ruin everyone's mood over something this trivial?"

Just as I was about to respond, I heard Nick's voice through the phone. "Nadine, come quick. Mr. Grant wants to take a family photo with us."

Nadine immediately answered, "Coming!"

Then, she hung up.

The curtains of the first-floor floor-to-ceiling windows weren't fully closed. I sat in the car, looking inside through the window.

Nick moved to stand beside Nadine, then joined the Grant family for the photo when Patrick called them over. Nick smiled as he took the spot that should have been mine.

Soon, a new message appeared in the Grant family's group chat.

Patrick had sent the photo. The caption beneath it read, "We finally have another good kid in the family."

Someone immediately replied, "Is this Nadine's boyfriend? They look perfect together."

Nadine didn't deny it. She didn't explain that the person in the photo wasn't me, either.

I called Nadine again. This time, she rejected my call.

A message popped up right after. "Let Nicky keep Grandma company for now. I'll come get you soon."

I stared at the name "Nicky" and suddenly found the whole thing ridiculous.

I wasn't going to wait. I leaned over and hit the emergency unlock button.

The moment the door popped open, cold air rushed in.

I grabbed the remaining gifts and walked straight toward the front door.

When the maid, Mary Fisher, saw me, she froze. "Mr. Sharp, Ms. Grant said…"

I showed her the message Patrick had sent me the day before, inviting me over for dinner.

"Mr. Grant invited me." I looked up at the closed door. "Who says I can't come in?"

Mary hesitated, unsure if she should stop me.

I pushed the door open and walked in.

The lively chatter in the living room fell silent.

When Nadine turned around and saw me, her expression darkened instantly. "Andy, what are you doing here?"

I ignored her. One glance was all it took for me to spot the gray house slippers on Nick's feet.

Nadine and I had picked them out together last week. She had said she wanted everything to feel special for my first visit to her family's home.

Nick noticed where I was looking and said seriously, "Andy, why did you come in still?"

Patrick stepped out of the living room, looking displeased. "Andy, Nicky was only trying to help. He said today wasn't a good day for you to come inside, so we asked you to stay away for a while."

I looked at Patrick. He was wearing the massager Nick had adjusted for him.

I didn't want to argue anymore.

Nadine walked over to me and lowered her voice. "Now that you're here, don't make a scene. When Grandma comes out, just keep quiet and stick to me."

I looked at her. "What about Nick?"

She paused. "He'll go through the formalities for you today."

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

Nadine didn't answer.