3

David stared intently at Aeris. “You replace Cyntia, Aeris.”

David’s words immediately received agreement from almost everyone at the dining table. Most of them argued that Cyntia was still too young, that her career still had a long way to develop, and that the best way out was for Aeris to replace her.

Aeris calmly set down her spoon. “I know this marriage is meant to save the company and could even help it grow further, Dad.” She looked at her father calmly.

“I’m full.” Aeris stood up, ending her dinner. But before she actually left the dining table, she said, “I’ve also heard that the Castilano family has considerable influence and great wealth. You could live a luxurious life, Cyntia. Are you sure you want to pass that up?”

“Aeris!” Daniel snapped, displeased. “Watch your attitude!”

But Aeris didn’t care. She chose to return to her room.

And the next day, Cyntia was reported to be ill. Since morning, she had refused to eat and didn’t want to see anyone. Jenny said her daughter felt too pressured after the discussion about marrying into the Castilano family.

Aeris had just come downstairs from her room when she found that the atmosphere in the house had already changed. Everyone looked tense, and the moment David saw her, he immediately walked toward her.

“Are you satisfied?”

Aeris stopped and turned around. “What?”

“You know what you just did.” David glared at her. “Cyntia is like this because of what you said last night!”

Aeris looked at him expressionlessly.

Donna, who had been standing near the stairs all this time, also spoke up.

“Have you never learned any manners?” Her gaze was filled with dislike. “Do you really want Cyntia to marry that old man so soon?”

Aeris fell silent for a few moments. “I only said what I thought was best for this family.”

David grew even more annoyed. “Don’t pretend you don’t know what you did.”

Aeris didn’t answer, choosing to turn around and head back to her room when Jenny’s voice came from behind.

“Aeris, at least don’t make things even more difficult.”

Aeris’s steps stopped for a moment, but in the end, she simply continued walking.

Several hours later, Cyntia’s condition worsened. Because she continued refusing to eat and her body was becoming weaker, the family finally took her to the hospital.

The news immediately sent the entire household into a panic again. And once again, Aeris’s name was brought up.

Jenny even came to look for her personally. “This is all because of you!”

Her bedroom door was thrown open roughly, making a rather loud noise. Aeris, who was tidying up her belongings, flinched in surprise, and when she saw her mother’s anger, she knew what had happened.

“What’s wrong?”

“Cyntia ended up in the hospital because of all this pressure. She hasn’t eaten since last night. Are you satisfied now?”

Aeris stared at her mother for quite some time. To them, Cyntia was the one who was hurting right now, and Aeris was the one to blame.

Once again.

Aeris lowered her gaze. “Then I hope she gets better soon.”

That answer only made Jenny angrier. “You can still say that so calmly?”

Aeris didn’t answer. She chose to continue tidying her belongings.

Jenny truly couldn’t understand how Aeris could treat Cyntia that way. She simply left without saying anything else.

Aeris remained silent, letting her mother leave. After the door closed, Aeris leaned back against the chair and let out a long breath.

Aeris smiled bitterly. Three years had passed, yet apparently nothing had changed. As long as Cyntia wasn’t doing well, everyone would always have a reason to blame Aeris.

Several hours later, Daniel asked her to come to his study.

Aeris stood calmly before her father. Daniel looked far more exhausted than usual. His face was filled with pressure, but Aeris no longer felt the pity she once had for him.

“Aeris,” he finally said. “You know the condition of the company right now and Cyntia’s condition.”

“I don’t—”

“I don’t need your comments,” Daniel immediately interrupted. “Harrison Group needs the partnership with the Castilano family. If this marriage is canceled, we’ll suffer huge losses.”

Aeris fell silent.

Daniel took a deep breath. “Cyntia can’t get married.”

Aeris could already guess where the conversation was headed. “So?”

Daniel looked at her. “You will replace her.”

The room suddenly fell silent.

Aeris stared at her father for several seconds, as though making sure she hadn’t heard him wrong. “Why does it have to be me?”

“It’s for the company,” Daniel answered quickly. “And for our family.”

Aeris let out a small laugh. Not because it was funny, but because she didn’t know what else to do but laugh.

“So now you remember me because you need something?”

“Aeris.” Daniel frowned. “Don’t be like this. For all these years, your mother and I have raised you, taken care of you, given you a home, an education, and everything you needed. Now the family is in trouble. Isn’t it time for you to do something to repay everything we’ve given you?”

Aeris fell silent.

The words sounded so simple. So reasonable from their point of view. But to Aeris, every word felt like an old wound being reopened.

They talked about the home, her education, and how they had taken care of her for all those years. But not a single one of them remembered that three years of her life had been taken from her because of them.

“Wasn’t that enough?”

Daniel frowned. “What?”

Aeris looked at him, her eyes beginning to redden, but her voice remained calm. “Wasn’t it enough that I replaced Cyntia in prison?”

Daniel fell silent.

“Didn’t I already pay for everything?” Aeris continued. “I lost three years of my life. I lost the opportunity to receive the scholarship that should have allowed me to continue my life, while Cyntia could walk away and live her life as usual.”

“Aeris, don’t start again.”

“Why?” Aeris smiled bitterly. “Because you don’t like hearing it?”

Daniel slammed his hand hard against the desk. “Enough!”

Aeris fell silent.

“We’ve done so much for you!” Daniel’s voice rose. “Don’t act as though you’re the only one who has ever made sacrifices!”

Aeris stared at her father for quite some time. Something inside her was slowly dying. Finally, she let out a small, bitter laugh.

“Fine.”

Daniel looked at her.

“Prepare an agreement stating that the Harrison family’s daughter agrees to marry into the Castilano family.”

For a moment, Daniel looked relieved, but Aeris wasn’t finished speaking. “But I want something in return.”

Daniel frowned. “What do you want in return?”

A faint smile formed on Aeris’s lips. She approached the man she had always called ‘Daddy’ and said.

Daniel’s first response after hearing Aeris’s words was to stare at her in disbelief, then he slammed his hand hard against the desk.

“Aeris!” Daniel’s voice echoed throughout the room. “Are you insane? How dare you ask for something like that after everything we’ve done for you!”

“I don’t care what you want to say, Mr. Harrison,” Aeris said softly. Although her heart felt like it was hurting, she continued to look at her father without fear. “If you don’t want Cyntia to marry into the Castilano family, then I’m the only choice you have left, right?”