While fleeing the fire, I came across a young boy on the verge of losing consciousness. His left arm had been badly burned, and he was in grave danger.

I couldn't bear to leave him behind, so I summoned all my strength and carried him out on my back.

To calm his fear, I removed the protective charm my grandmother had given me and gently fastened it around his neck.

"Don't be scared," I whispered. "With this charm, nothing bad will happen."

…

Now that I think about it, Carl does have a burn scar on his left arm. Though time has faded it, the mark is still there.

Back when Lucy and I hadn't yet become enemies, I once mentioned the incident to her in passing.

Later, we became rivals in the piano competition, and our relationship gradually deteriorated.

All I knew after that was her family suddenly grew unusually close to the Manos family.

Looking at it now, it's clear that Carl had mistaken Lucy for the girl who saved his life in that fire.

A cold laugh escaped my lips. So I'd spent all this time paving the way for someone else's glory.

…

After uncovering the full truth, I contacted a covert organization and dialed their number.

"Do you take on jobs that involve staging a death and helping someone disappear?"

"As long as the money's good, anything's possible."

"Money isn't a problem. I just need you to get me out."

The call must've roused Carl. He stirred in bed and stared at me for several seconds before speaking in a hoarse voice.

"Reily, who are you talking to at this hour?"

I slipped my phone away and turned to him calmly. "No one important. Just an old friend overseas."

He didn't press further.

The next morning, Carl took me to a piano gallery to pick out a new instrument.

While I was testing the tone of a grand piano, he stepped out to take a call. When he returned, his face was tight with urgency.

"Reily, something urgent came up at the company. I need to go handle it." He kissed my forehead with gentle reassurance. "When your hands fully recover, I'll host a one-of-a-kind concert just for you."

I nodded, my voice flat as I said, "I understand. Go take care of it."

After I finished testing the piano and stepped out of the shop, a car suddenly sped up beside me. Two men jumped out, grabbed me, and shoved me inside. A knife pressed against my neck as they ordered me to stay silent.

I didn't know how long we drove, but eventually they brought me to an abandoned warehouse.

The man behind the kidnapping was Reese, Lucy's younger brother.

He tossed a stack of photographs at my face, scattering them across the floor. "Take a good look."

I stared at the images. Every one of them showed Carl and Lucy—arms linked, smiling, eyes brimming with affection. The intimacy between them was unmistakable.

Seeing me fall silent, Reese sneered with satisfaction. "How do those photos make you feel?"

I steadied my emotions, lifting my gaze to meet his coldly. "So you kidnapped me just to show me this? Cut the drama. What do you really want?"

Before he could reply, a venomous female voice rang out.

"To make you suffer, of course! I want you to live a life worse than death."

Lucy stepped forward, hatred burning in her eyes as they fixed on my hands.

"Reily, you hid it well. Your hands have healed, and you didn't even bother telling me. Still hoping to compete with me again?"

My heart skipped, but I kept my expression neutral. "How did you find out my hands have recovered?"

Lucy gave a triumphant, twisted smile. Her gaze stayed locked on me, full of resentment.

"You live under constant surveillance in the Manos household. You think you could hide something like that? Reily, you brought this on yourself. Why were you always first, and I always second? Why did I have to live in your shadow?!

"Well, now, things are different. Carl thinks I'm his savior. And you? You're nothing. In fact, I should thank you. If you hadn't rushed into that fire to save Carl all those years ago, I wouldn't have the life I do today.

"He's willing to do anything for me, even hiring someone to sever your tendons. Last time, it was him. This time, it'll be me."

"This time, I won't just ruin your hands. I'll blind you too. Let's see if you still dare to compete with me."

The words hit me like a thunderclap. I never imagined Lucy's malice could run this deep.

I turned to run, but before I could take more than a step, Reese swung a wooden stick hard against my legs. Then again, across my back, without mercy.

"Run again, and I'll make sure you spend the rest of your life crippled."

In a panic, I grabbed a handful of dirt from the floor and threw it at his face. While he flinched, I snatched the stick from him and struck back.

Lucy, who had been hiding in the shadows, suddenly lunged forward, shielding Reese with her body.

The next second, Carl burst through the door, brow furrowed, eyes fixed on Lucy's bruised arm.

"Lucy, are you okay? Your hand! Does it hurt?"

…

Lucy's arm was turning purple. Tears spilled down her cheeks. She looked fragile and pitiful.

"Carl," she choked out, "Reily had me kidnapped. If Reese hadn't gotten here in time, I might never have seen you again."

She paused, then looked at me. Her voice turned sharp and shrill.

"Reily! You used to be a pianist. You know how much our hands mean to us. And yet you tried to destroy mine! Carl, can we please call the police? I'm really scared…"

At the mention of the police, Carl didn't respond right away.

Frustration flickered through Lucy's eyes.

Reese seized the moment, finger jabbing at me as he twisted the story.

"Carl, you know how kindhearted Lucy is. If I hadn't arrived in time, Reily would've cut her tendons and ended her career!"

Carl turned a cold gaze on me.

"You really did all this? When did you become so vicious?"

The disgust on his face was unmistakable. So was the distrust. I gave a bitter laugh. "Then tell me, Carl, who was it that had my tendons severed and destroyed my career?"

His expression froze. But when he spoke, his tone gave nothing away.

"You think it was me? Or Lucy? Seems I've spoiled you too much. Look what kind of person you've become."

Then he turned to Reese. "I'll take Lucy to the hospital. As for Reily, take her home. Don't let her leave the house. I'll deal with her when I get back."

After he left, Reese's face contorted.

He grabbed my neck with one hand and pulled out a knife with the other, pressing it to my cheek.

"You've got guts. Can't believe Carl actually went easy on you. Don't worry, I won't touch your hands or eyes. Men care about faces most, don't they? I'll ruin yours. Let's see how you compete with Lucy then."

I struggled and fought, but I couldn't break free.

The blade sliced across my left cheek in a clean X. The skin split open. Blood poured.

I passed out from the blood loss.

When I woke again, my left cheek was tightly wrapped in thick gauze.

The room they'd locked me in sat just across an artificial lake from Carl's villa.

From the window, I could see him on the far side, walking a dog with Lucy. The two of them laughed, playfully tugging at the leash. They looked happy.

I'd begged him so many times to let me get a dog. Every time, he said no. Claimed he was allergic. Claimed he hated dogs.

But now, he looked like he loved them more than anyone else. Well, to be precise, he loved the one holding the leash.

I wiped away the tears at the corner of my eyes, turned, and pulled out two things I'd prepared in advance: the divorce papers and the protective charm I had once given him when I saved his life.