The Trip

When I arrived home, my dad, Thomas, glanced behind me, his expression darkening. "Weren't you on a trip with Winnie? Where is she?"

I forced a smile and slipped my arm through his, acting spoiled. "I suddenly missed you, so I came back early. Let her have fun on her own."

"Oh, Amy." His expression softened a little, but his tone stayed firm. "Winnie is still our nanny's daughter.

"We supported Winnie all the way through college so that her mother could look after you like one of her own. I don't mind removing her allowance if she can't do that."

The smile faded from my face, and it felt like something sharp stabbed into my chest.

…

Winnie was only seven when her mother brought her to join the Whites. I still remember how thin and fragile Winnie looked, standing there timidly like a stray kitten.

When I found out her biological father abused her—and that she sometimes went days without a proper meal—I, an only child, took her in as if she were my own sister.

She had been a part of almost my entire life—even when I started to sense Elias' feelings for me drifting…

…

I still found it hard to believe that she would betray me.

I quickly looked away from my dad, panic flashing in my eyes, and bent down to set my bag aside to cover it up. "Yeah, I got it. I'm starving!"

"We'll meet the Brandises' son." My father's voice followed behind me. "We can start planning the wedding if everything works out."

That left me stiff, and it took me ages before I responded, "Okay, sure."

…

I agreed to meet Timothy Brandis at a stylish cafe, so while waiting for him, I scrolled through my phone, bored out of my mind.

Winnie continuously updated her social media. First, she went to Luna Lake to feed seagulls, followed by a stop at the Shrine of St. Anne's to offer prayers.

Her next stop? Cobalt Ridge.

The places she went were the exact itinerary I had spent a whole month carefully planning. I had been so excited for this trip, yet it all went to waste.

Just as I felt bitter, Winnie got in touch with me via video call. She excitedly showed me how Emerald Rise was while heaping praises on Elias.

"I'm checking him out for you, honey. He's ticking all the boxes so far. He carries me when I am tired.

"A cold drink appears in front of me the second I pout. He even holds an umbrella above me to keep me from getting sunburned…"

My forced smile disappears as I zoom in on her neck. Those faint red marks—like knives—stabbed straight into my eyes.

Noticing something off about my expression, she awkwardly tugged at her collar. "I mean… it's rather windy today."

Before she could finish, someone rushed into frame and wrapped his arms around her. "I warned you not to sleep naked with the air conditioner on last night. See, you're catching a cold. Tonight? No more—"

Winnie panicked, and the video cut off.

I had heard enough, though. 'That voice? It's Elias.'

My mind went completely blank. My hand froze midair, not knowing where to go.

I frantically called Elias, over and over—but he didn't pick up.

…

By the time I was drenched in sweat and slowly returned to my senses, he finally returned my video call. His eyes were full of tenderness like normal. "I was picking out a gift for you. My phone was in my pocket—I didn't hear it. Miss me already? We'll be back in a few days…"

Yet, I could see Winnie standing not far behind him.

She was wearing a jacket—the very one I had dragged her along to help me pick out for Elias for Valentine's Day.

It felt like someone had slammed a fist straight into my chest.

My face went pale, and I struggled to breathe.

I hung up the call in a panic, only for a glass of water to be placed in front of me.

It was Timothy.

I forced a smile that looked worse than crying. "There's nothing to discuss since it's a political marriage. Let's just go ahead and plan the wedding if you're on board."

The Truth

I spent the entire afternoon completely out of it.

I made up an excuse that I wasn't feeling well and left in a hurry.

…

On the way back, I stared at their profile pictures. Only then did I realize—somehow, they looked like a couple's matching avatars.

My hand felt like it weighed a ton.

After hesitating for ages, I finally blocked them and deleted their contacts, but I never expected that Elias and Winnie would show up at my doorstep, showing clear signs of a rushed journey.

With a dark expression, Elias scolded me. "Winnie was afraid that you'd misunderstand us and rushed back overnight. This is all because you blocked us.

"Why throw such tantrums like blocking us? You're an adult!"

I looked at his familiar yet suddenly unfamiliar face, momentarily dazed. For the four years we spent in college, he had never once raised his voice at me.

I used to joke that he was too mature for his age.

Only now did I understand—he only ever lost control of his emotions in front of Winnie, who carefully stepped forward and took my hand.

"Did you misunderstand something, Amy?" she asked. "Elias and I are innocent."

My gaze fell to her wrist. She was wearing the bracelet that he had recently asked me to help him pick out with so much care.

I had thought, full of anticipation, that he was finally starting to care. Now? It only felt like a cruel joke.

Then, my gaze drifted to the fading marks on her neck, and I let out a cold laugh. "So, you were 'checking him out for me,' huh? Did you run a full physical at the same time?"

Winnie paled and instinctively released my hand, only for Elias to support her immediately. "Amelia White, when did you become so bitter and sharp-tongued?"

"What do you want from me then?" I finally lost control of my anger. "Am I supposed to be a fool and smile after seeing my boyfriend and best friend together? Why can't you just admit that you cheated behind me?"

Elias stepped forward, his chin up as he admitted the truth head-on. "Yeah, Winnie and I have been together behind your back for the past two years."

That caused Winnie to panic as she tried to cover his mouth. "Hush. Amy won't be able to take it."

He grabbed her hand tightly and looked straight at me, eyes burning. "Amelia, you're dull, average-looking, overly sensitive, and paranoid. I would have called it quits with you ages ago, if it weren't for Winnie being afraid of hurting you and you clinging to me like a koala."

His words cut through me like a blade.

I remembered the first time we met.

…

I had fallen into a man-made lake while trying to save a stray cat, slipping in myself—and he was the one who jumped in and pulled me out.

Under the starlight, his eyes had shone as he smiled at me. "How can there be such a clumsy girl? You're kind of interesting."

…

A surge of rage and heartbreak rose in my chest.

I pointed toward the door and screamed, "Get the fuck out of my house!"

Elias was not angry. Rather, he laughed coldly, folding his arms as he looked at me. "Your house? Please, this place is Winnie's. You should be the one leaving."

"What did he just say?" I froze and looked at Winnie, who avoided my gaze.

She stepped between us, her voice trembling as she pleaded, "Amy…"

"Why don't you calm down for a bit in the nanny's room?" He pulled her into his arms, frowning. "You're just too kind. She's just the nanny's daughter. Why are you, the Whites' heiress, acting so submissive toward her?"

Suddenly, something clicked in my mind—and I laughed. "Mrs. Romger!"

The Lies

The moment I asked her mother to come out, Winnie immediately panicked.

Mrs. Romger stepped outside, her gaze flickering suspiciously between the two of us before finally settling on me.

She approached respectfully. Then, I turned to Elias and let out a cold laugh, demanding, "Tell him who the real Whites' heiress is."

Without any hesitation, she replied, "Of course it's you…"

Yet, before Mrs. Romger could finish, Winnie suddenly cut her off, her voice rising sharply. She dropped to her knees with a thud, her face already streaked with tears. "We grew up together—why do you have to make this so ugly?

"Is it my fault that Elias and I fell in love with each other? I'm even begging you now, so what more do you want?"

Mrs. Romger furrowed her brows tightly, her hands clenching.

Before I could react, she suddenly made me beg. "Of course she is. How dare you make the heiress kneel!"

I looked at her in disbelief, but the sharp pain in my knees told me this was real.

Winnie quietly let out a breath of relief.

"Amelia, just because you are a White doesn't mean you are the heiress." Elias chuckled coldly. "Winnie is the Whites' only daughter. She's even treated you like a sister all these years and paid for your education. Learn how to be grateful."

He walked over and crouched in front of me, lowering his voice.

"I received a job offer from White Group a few days ago. Winnie arranged it for me, so if you stop making a scene, I can promise you this.

"I'll still take care of you as a mistress after I marry her. I can give you everything—except the position of being my wife."

I forced myself to look up at him through the pain. 'Is this really the man I have loved for years? Geez, I still remember how he held me when we first became a couple and swore that he'd work and provide us with a beautiful future.

'Yet, for this fake heiress, he's willing to discard me without hesitation.'

I slapped him hard across the face. "In your dreams."

Elias' expression darkened instantly. Seeing himself as part of the Whites, he turned to Mrs. Romger, demanding, "You're Mrs. Romger, right? You still can't blur the lines between a nanny and an employer, even though Winnie and Amelia grew up together."

"She'll just keep bullying Winnie if you don't teach her a lesson," he added.

Winnie hesitated, grabbing his arm. "You're taking things too far."

He gently patted her hand, soothing her. "Once the White family is yours, you'll need to learn how to run things. You're too kind—I'm just helping you."

Watching the two of them put on this act made me feel sick.

"Keep playing the role long enough, and you'll forget it's all an act," I warned. "You know the truth best, Winnie."

The hesitation in her eyes vanished, replaced by venomous resentment. She barked at Mrs. Romger, "What are you waiting for? Drag her into the courtyard. Make her beg. She is not to be allowed to stand until she apologizes."

Mrs. Romger looked like she wanted to object, but her expression darkened as she finally called over the servants.

Under her authority, the servants hesitantly pushed me down onto the hard courtyard floor.

Winnie walked over and patted my face, her eyes holding a calculating coldness I had never seen before. "Amelia, see this? I'm in charge of the Whites now. Tell me something.

"If I were to kill you now and here, given our history, do you think Mr. White would take me in as his goddaughter? Wouldn't that make me the real heiress of the family?

The scorching sun burned my skin, and my knees felt like they were kneeling on hot coals.

I glared at her furiously. "Oh, you wouldn't dare, Winnie."

"I'm sick of being beneath you." She slapped me hard across the face. "We're both humans—what makes you better than me except a powerful father? I won't accept it. No, I won't!"

She struck me again and again, almost feral, as if she wanted to beat me to death right there.

…

"What the hell is going on here?"

As my vision blurred, I thought I heard Timothy's voice, only for Winnie to scream.