Catherine said gently, "Jacob, Mia didn't mean it. No need to apologize."

I blurted out without hesitation, "I can't apologize for that."

I had already told her I couldn't eat seafood.

Catherine looked heartbroken. "Do you hate me, Mia? I prepared this especially for you two."

Jacob forced me to eat those shrimp to make Catherine happy.

Catherine seemed startled by my reaction and flinched.

Jacob hugged her and slapped me with his other hand.

"If you won't apologize, then I'll make you pay!"

I was so angry that I couldn't hold it back any longer. I passed out.

The first time I met Jacob was in my rundown little house.

I came back from school wearing patched clothes.

The village chief showed up at my door with three elegant strangers. They were Jacob and his parents. He told me they'd take me back with them and sponsor my education.

I didn't know why I was so lucky, but I couldn't shake off the fear I felt around them.

I locked myself in my room and didn't dare come out. Jacob came inside, gently patting my head to comfort me.

"From now on, I'm your brother. I'll protect you. You don't have to be afraid."

At that moment, the walls I'd built around my frozen heart began to melt.

From then on, I became like a little shadow following behind him.

Memories always seemed perfect in hindsight.

I'd freeze time and live in those days forever if I could.

I opened my eyes to find Jacob by my bedside, but Catherine was gone.

There was a hint of panic in his eyes.

"Mia, the doctor said you're not fully recovered yet. You shouldn't get so emotional."

I nodded faintly, not saying a word.

He pulled out his phone and fiddled with it for a while before looking up at me with a reproachful gaze.

"Why didn't you say you weren't feeling well earlier? Do you know how guilty Catherine feels now?"

The tenderness that used to be in his eyes was gone entirely, replaced by outright disdain.

I couldn't hold back anymore. Tears welled up in my eyes as I demanded sharply.

"Jacob, I'm the one who's sick!"

"I've already been pushed to this point because of you—do you even have a heart?"

"I told you I was allergic, but Catherine still forced me to eat it. What exactly was she trying to do?"

He didn't used to be like this.

Whenever I got hurt in the past, he would be so distressed that he would hug me in his arms.

"Mia, don't get hurt anymore. It breaks my heart."

But now, he's the one who's turned me into this.

Perhaps overwhelmed by shame and anger, he stood up abruptly.

"Mia, do I need to remind you that you're nothing more than a little pet my family supports?"

"Catherine is my girlfriend and she's the woman I've chosen to marry. Show her some respect."

"If you cross the line again, I'll make you pay for it."

With those cutting words, he turned and walked away.

It felt like a giant hand was squeezing my heart, leaving me gasping for air.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I tried to speak. My voice shook, barely audible.

"Jacob, I think it's time I gave up on you."

I watched him walk away.

While clutching at my chest as a pang of sorrow hit me.

For some reason, I felt like I was about to lose something—something slipping through my fingers no matter how tightly I tried to hold on.

I stayed in the hospital for three days.

Since that day, it felt like Jacob had utterly forgotten about me. He had yet to show up again.

I packed all my things. I dragged my weak body back to the Yales’s house. I didn't want to return here.

But I had no other place to go. I went back to my room.

My teacher gave me two weeks to finish everything, which was plenty of time.

I had a competition in a week. It's a design competition that's recognized throughout the industry.

Winning a prize in this competition would be a big boost for my future So, I took it very seriously.

I confined myself to my room for four days straight, only emerging for meals.

Jacob never showed up, either. I guessed he's sick of the Yale family by now.

On the morning of the fifth day, I finally completed my initial draft.

Then, someone knocked on my door.

When I opened it, I saw someone I hadn't seen in a long time standing there.

Jacob smiled brightly. "Mia, I heard that you have been locking yourself in your room. It's not good for your health."

"I asked someone to make your favorite dishes. Let's go eat together."

At that moment, I felt a bit dizzy. The boy I had held dear in my heart seemed to have returned to me.

I naturally placed my hand in his.

I let Jacob lead me downstairs.

Once downstairs, he served me a bowl of soup and piled my plate high with food.

"Mia, you need to eat more. You've lost so much weight."

"Don't let all that stuff get to you. I've got you, okay?"

He patted my shoulder, his tone full of pride.

Jacob was indeed a gifted child. He had never focused on studying, yet he was always at the top of the class.

After starting college, he took over his family's company. The company's performance increased several times in his hands. He was like a character from a novel—someone destined for greatness.

I lowered my head, trying to hide the loneliness in my bowl.

I smiled sweetly at him when I looked up again.

My attitude softened a bit. "Jacob, you should eat more too."

We sat on the couch and chatted after dinner.

Jacob hesitated momentarily before saying, "Mia, I'm sorry about last time."

"I forgot about your allergy and Catherine didn't mean to upset you."

"Let's just put it behind us, okay? We're all family anyway."

The words "family" dug a bloody wound in my heart. I tried to keep my expression steady. "Jacob, do you like her that much?"

I didn't know why I asked that. I just knew that when he answered.

I held my breath and looked at him expectantly. Part of me thought I was foolish, but another hoped he could see how much I cared.

I've poured my entire heart and soul into him.

Jacob paused for a moment. Then, his face lit up with pride. "Mia, you're too young to understand."

"Catherine might not be the prettiest, but I love her the most. She's kind, graceful, and no one could be a better wife for the future head of the Yale Family."

A bitter taste filled my heart as though all the bile in the world had churned in my stomach.

I stared into his eyes and spoke slowly, word by word. "So, you really do like her."

I was trying to remember how I made it back to my room. All I felt was an icy coldness spreading through me.

I forced a bitter smile. Would I always be the little sister?

I clenched my fists and buried those feelings deep in my heart.

I focused intently on finishing the design at hand. This time, I was designing a ring called "Secret Love".

I poured all my feelings for Jacob into this ring, hiding them within its delicate details.

After this, I had to let go of all my emotions for him. It was time to move on to a better life.

The next day, I went to the design competition wearing the ring. It was only during the presentation that I realized Catherine was also there. She was presenting right before me.

Jacob stood by her side, his gaze on me filled with an emotion I couldn't decipher.

Soon, it was Catherine's turn. She walked onto the stage with her design.

"Good afternoon, judges. Today, I am presenting my piece, a ring called Secret Love."

My mind went blank as I stared at Catherine in disbelief.

She opened the design the same as the one in my hand. Every single detail matched perfectly. She quickly finished her presentation.

Then, I heard my name being called from the stage. "Miss Mia Simone, please come up."

I was rooted to the spot, completely frozen.

How did my design end up in Catherine's hands?

The announcer kept repeating. "Miss Mia Simone, please come up."

I locked eyes with Catherine. Her gaze was full of smug defiance.

My fingers clenched the design tightly. I couldn't go up. I knew the difference between withdrawing from the competition and being accused of plagiarism.

Catherine, however, wasn't about to let me off. She walked over to me. "Mia, they're calling your name! Hurry up and go onstage!"

"Everyone may not know this, but Mia is the most talented designer. I'm sure she'll deliver a piece that everyone will love."

As she spoke, she grabbed my wrist tightly.

My face contorted as I violently shook her hand off. I suppressed the pain and approached the stage in my high heels.

Well then, Catherine. Please don't blame me for what happened next.

I unfolded the design and the audience gasped.

Catherine was the first to stand up. "Mia, what are you doing? That is my design!"

The people below quickly reacted, pointing at me and murmuring among themselves.

"Isn't this plagiarism?"

"How dare you present a plagiarized work? You're shameless."

"Someone like you dares to be a designer? Get out of here!"

Their voices flooded my ears one after another.

I smiled at Catherine. "You're saying this design is yours?"

Catherine held her head high. "Mia, I know we're short on time, but this really is my work."

Just then, Jacob walked over.

His face was grim as he snapped, "Mia, get down right now. You've embarrassed us enough."

I bit my lip, releasing it only when he finished speaking.

In that moment, I finally found peace.

The boy I once cherished deeply had long disappeared into the river of time.

Standing before me now was Jacob, the man who loved Catherine.

I gave Catherine a smirk. "You're the one who plagiarized, aren't you?"

Hearing that, Catherine's face turned pale. Her anger surged like a tide. Her eyes reddened with fury as she trembled, glaring at me.