2

As David’s car entered the Harrison family’s driveway, Aeris simply stared at the large house standing before her. The house had not changed. The tall pillars, the well-maintained garden, and the main door that had once always been open to welcome her home all looked the same as she remembered.

And yet, for some reason, this time the house felt so unfamiliar.

Three years ago, Aeris had left this place with her hands bound and accusations that had changed her life. She had tried to explain, crying as she gave countless testimonies, but none of it had been enough to make her family take her side. Not even a little. They had all joined in hating and ignoring her.

Today, she returned as someone who no longer knew whether she still had a place in this house or not.

David got out first. Aeris followed without saying anything.

As soon as the main door was opened, laughter could be heard from the family room. Several people were gathered there, and in the middle of them stood Cyntia in a simple yet elegant dress. Her hair was neatly styled, her face adorned with a confident smile, and in her hand was a glass of wine that she occasionally lifted as she spoke.

“Mom, Samvng Group is really growing so quickly. I never expected them to trust me with a manager position this soon.”

Jenny Harrison immediately smiled proudly. She praised her daughter, who had only been working for a few years but had already been trusted with a manager position at a rising foreign company. Daniel also nodded in satisfaction, saying that Cyntia certainly had the ability and that her future would become even better if she continued working hard.

David, who had just entered, smiled as well. “Congratulations, Cyntia.”

As soon as she heard his voice, Cyntia immediately approached him and hugged him affectionately.

“Thank you, David. This is also thanks to your support.”

David gently stroked Cyntia’s hair. Not long after, Donna Harrison, the second child of the Harrison family, came downstairs and immediately approached Cyntia to congratulate her. Cyntia smiled again and thanked her sister.

Aeris stood several steps away from them, hidden among the pillars leading to the family room. No one immediately noticed her presence. Even David, who had picked her up earlier, had forgotten about her.

She stared at the scene in silence.

Once, all that attention had belonged to her. Everything she did had always been met with appreciation. But now, all of it belonged to Cyntia.

Aeris lowered her gaze and looked at her dull, dirty palms.

It was okay.

She already knew this would happen.

Jenny finally noticed her presence and asked David if he had already picked up Aeris. David looked slightly awkward before pointing toward Aeris.

Their gazes immediately turned toward her.

For a few seconds, no one spoke. Their gazes moved from Aeris’s messy hair and simple clothes to her body, which looked much thinner.

Jenny frowned. Even the first thing she said was that Aeris should clean herself up first because she looked so disheveled.

Aeris did not answer.

Cyntia immediately walked closer. “Aeris, you’re finally back?”

She extended her hand, trying to welcome Aeris warmly. Her voice was gentle, and her eyes also gave the impression that she was very happy about Aeris’s return.

But Aeris knew better than anyone that behind that friendly and seemingly sweet attitude, Cyntia harbored so much hatred toward her. In the past, Aeris might have been fooled by a face like that. But three years in a place filled with pressure had taught her that not every smile was sincere.

She did not take Cyntia’s outstretched hand.

“Yes, thank you,” she replied briefly.

Cyntia slowly lowered her hand. The smile on her face did not change in the slightest, as though Aeris’s rejection meant nothing to her.

“I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”

Aeris almost laughed.

Doing well?

If she were truly doing well, perhaps she would not be standing before her family with a thin body and disheveled appearance after spending three years in a place she should never have been sent to.

However, Aeris said nothing. She simply looked away.

Cyntia suggested that Aeris should take a shower and rest if she was tired, but Aeris immediately cut her off by saying that she still knew the way to her room.

That answer made David frown. He reprimanded Aeris because Cyntia was trying to be nice to her and asked why Aeris kept acting as though everyone in this house was her enemy.

Aeris smiled faintly. “Isn’t it the other way around? You’re the ones who consider me your enemy?”

“Aeris!”

David’s shout instantly silenced the family room. Cyntia immediately calmed him down, saying that Aeris had just returned and might still not be used to things. She also reassured Aeris again that she had never considered her an enemy and was actually happy to see her back.

Jenny, who did not want the argument to continue, then told Aeris to go back to her room and clean herself up. She also reminded Aeris not to embarrass the family because the Kingsley family was on their way to their house.

Hearing that, Aeris felt a little happy.

The only person she wanted to see was her fiancé, Giovani Kingsley.

Jenny then ordered a maid named Sella to escort Aeris to her room. However, when Sella was about to take Aeris to her old room, she hesitated and finally explained that Aeris’s room had been used for the past three years to store many of Cyntia’s belongings.

Jenny did not care which room Aeris used. In her opinion, there were plenty of rooms in the house, and the most important thing was that their family did not look bad in front of the Kingsley family, who would be arriving soon.

Sella eventually took Aeris to another room.

Along the way, the maid nervously explained that ever since Aeris had been sent away for three years, her old room had indeed been turned into a place to store Cyntia’s belongings.

Aeris could actually already guess that.

She was not angry. More precisely, she no longer had the energy to be angry. However, when they arrived at the new room, Aeris suddenly remembered something.

“But ... where are my things, Sella?”

Sella fell silent for a moment before answering nervously. “In the old storage room at the back of the house, Miss Aeris.”

Aeris nodded slowly. “At least they didn’t throw my things away.”

When she arrived at the room, which was very different from the one she used to stay in, Aeris said nothing. She only wanted to rest for a while. Her exhausted body made her fall asleep so easily that Sella had to knock on the door and remind her about dinner.

Aeris quickly cleaned herself up and put on the clothes Sella had prepared at the edge of the bed. At least, she looked much better now than when she had first arrived.

However, when night fell and the dining room door opened, Aeris’s heart still beat a little faster when she saw the man entering the room.

Giovani Kingsley.

The man who had been her lover all this time.

Aeris stared at him for quite some time. For a moment, the world seemed to return to how it had been three years ago. Giovani was still the same. His handsome face, neatly styled hair, and the smile that had always made Aeris feel at ease were still there.

Without realizing it, Aeris smiled faintly.

Giovani saw her come in, but the smile on his face slowly disappeared. “So you’re back.”

That was all. And it was not what Aeris had expected to hear after three years apart.

Even so, Aeris still responded to Gio’s greeting. “Yes.”

Giovani then pulled out a chair and sat beside Cyntia, not beside Aeris.

Aeris watched him for a moment before sitting in her own place. She said nothing, but Giovani’s cold attitude slowly made something clear to her.

It turned out that her family was not the only thing that had changed.

Giovani had changed too.

In the past, the man had always been by her side. Now, even after three years apart, Giovani did not ask how she was doing. Instead, he sat beside Cyntia as though that position had always been his place.

Dinner continued with a conversation that centered almost entirely on Cyntia and her work at Samvng Group. Daniel, Jenny, and David continued praising her achievements, while Giovani occasionally joined in.

“I’m sure Cyntia can get an even higher position,” he said. “She really has the ability.”

Aeris’s heart ached, as though she had never given her family anything to be proud of. Unfortunately, throughout the warm dinner, Aeris’s presence meant nothing to them. It was as though she were merely sitting there as someone who happened to be at the same dining table.

Daniel finally brought up something more important. “Harrison Group needs to clarify its business relationship with the Castilano family as soon as possible. If we want to keep the partnership going, one of the Harrison family’s daughters has to marry into the Castilano family.”

“I don’t know whether this is good news or bad news,” Daniel said with a long sigh.

“Dad?” Cyntia stared at him in disbelief. “So you’re agreeing to this marriage?”

Daniel looked at Cyntia with an uneasy expression. “Yes, sweetheart. I have no other choice.”

“But why does it have to be Cyntia?” Donna immediately interrupted. Her face looked displeased. “Isn’t there another way to maintain the partnership with the Castilano family without having to get married?”

David nodded as well. “That’s right, Dad. We can find another solution. Besides, Cyntia is still too young to rush into marrying someone she has never even met.”

Jenny, who had been silent all this time, immediately took Cyntia’s hand. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. Your father would never let you do something that makes you unhappy. We can discuss this again and find a way out.”

Cyntia looked at them one by one. She still looked worried, as though she was truly afraid of having to accept the marriage.

“But if the Castilano family really is making marriage a condition for the partnership, what can we do?” she asked softly.

Daniel fell silent.

No one answered immediately. They all knew that Harrison Group was under pressure. If the partnership was canceled, their company would face major problems. Yet none of them wanted Cyntia to be the one who had to bear the consequences.

Cyntia then glanced toward Aeris.

Aeris had continued eating calmly all this time. She had not taken part in their conversation at all. Her face showed no interest either, as though the discussion about the marriage was not something she needed to think about.

Cyntia stared at Aeris for a few seconds before finally saying, “Doesn’t the Harrison family have two daughters?”

The dining table suddenly fell silent.

Cyntia looked at Daniel again with a hesitant expression. “Do I have to be the one to marry that man, Dad?”

Donna, who had looked uneasy all this time, suddenly brightened. Her gaze immediately shifted to Aeris.

“Cyntia is right, Dad.” Donna quickly said. “Why can’t Aeris marry that man?”