Chapter 3

After eating that tasteless dinner,

Kaelen showed up at our front door holding two bracelets.

One was a delicate, thin bracelet studded with diamonds—exactly Lyra's style.

Lyra excitedly put it on, then jumped up and hugged Kaelen.

"I've loved this one for so long! Thank you, Kaelen! You know me so well!"

Kaelen hugged her back with an indulgent smile.

I held my bracelet, a coldness seeping from my palm straight into my heart.

When we were kids, I met Kaelen first.

He fell into a river by accident, and I was the one who pulled him out.

We became best friends who shared everything. I'd pour out my sorrow over being ignored, and he'd listen with a face full of anger and heartache.

"They must be blind! You're so amazing!"

Back then, I naively thought I finally had something that belonged only to me.

But later, after meeting Lyra, Kaelen said:

"Lyra really is more likable than you."

Even so, I still liked Kaelen.

He was the only one who remembered I existed while thinking about Lyra.

The things he bought were always identical pairs.

But I don't know when it started—the two gifts he bought became only things Lyra liked.

"Carrie, what are you spacing out for? Try it on, I bought it especially for you."

Seeing I hadn't moved, Kaelen casually urged me.

But his eyes were still on Lyra's smiling face.

I looked at him and explained,

"Kaelen, I don't like thin bracelets. I like bangles."

The air went quiet for a second.

Kaelen frowned, seemingly trying hard to remember, then replied in an impatient tone.

"Really? I remember you wearing them before."

"Besides, what's the difference?"

"Can you stop being so picky?"

I rubbed the scar on my wrist and said nothing more.

It was a scar I got from a sharp rock while saving Kaelen when we were kids.

Kaelen knew I hated the scar and had promised to find me the most beautiful bangle to cover it up.

But he had forgotten.

Liam scoffed coldly from the side.

"Carrie, are you really going to throw a fit right when everyone's having a good time?"

I looked down in disappointment, glad I hadn't chosen the Silvermoon Pack.

Otherwise, I'd just be subjected to more neglect and baseless accusations.

The next day, my parents wanted to take a family portrait as a keepsake.

During the shoot, Mom, Dad, Liam, and Lyra naturally sat close together on the sofa.

While I awkwardly stood to the side.

Like an outsider.

The photographer noticed and looked uncomfortable.

But seeing that the others seemed totally used to it, he kept his mouth shut.

Then the photographer suggested taking some candid, free-style shots to capture a natural family vibe.

Immediately, everyone rushed to take photos with Lyra.

They crowded around her, fighting for the spot closest to her.

The photographer asked me, "Miss, would you like to take a few shots too?"

Liam waved his hand impatiently. "She always looks miserable. She takes terrible photos."

Dad nodded. "Carrie doesn't like taking pictures anyway, just leave it."

No one ever asked me if I really disliked it.

In the end, they kept shooting until the film ran out, and I had quietly slipped away long before then.

I walked slowly back home along the route we came.

Entering the kitchen, I made myself a simple plate of pasta.

I added a ton of spicy sauce.

It was so spicy it made me cry.

But it tasted amazing.

After eating, I washed the plate and wiped down the counter.

That's when I received a mind-link from Mom. She sounded impatient:

"Carrie, where did you go? We're heading out to eat."

"Hurry up and get over here, don't make us wait!"

I stayed silent for a moment before saying, "I'm not going."

Then I blocked her mind-link.

Back in my room, I opened my closet, wanting to pull out the dress I had secretly saved up for.

Mom and Dad had decided early on to host a banquet to celebrate Lyra finishing her assessment.

I secretly hoped that maybe my results would make them proud too, so I survived on one meal a day to save enough money to buy this dress.

Unfortunately, it looked like I wouldn't be attending the banquet after all.

But when I opened the closet, the dress was gone.

I searched my entire room and found nothing.

Where did it go?

Just as I was on the verge of a breakdown and about to call the police, my door opened.

Lyra walked in, wearing that exact dress.

The original design had been altered into a backless style that Lyra loved.

She spun around for me.

"Does it look good? Mom gave it to me. It really shows off my figure, doesn't it?"

I looked at Mom in disbelief.

"You went through my things and took my dress?"