Chapter 3

Julian and Cassie were having a furious argument.

Julian stormed out, and Cassie collapsed weakly on the balcony, crying.

The next second, Cassie spotted me, peeking from outside the door.

Cassie wiped away her tears and waved me over with a bright smile.

I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t refuse Cassie; after all, she was the beautiful senior I admired most.

I eventually walked over and sat with Cassie on the balcony.

Cassie was crying so beautifully, her face streaked with tears, it took my breath away.

But even someone like her worried about love.

Cassie raised her hand and touched my face, a self-deprecating smile playing on her lips.

“They all say you look a lot like me, seven or eight parts, actually. At first, I didn’t believe it. Now it seems, you really do look a bit like my non-biological sister.”

“When you went to study abroad, I threw his phone away so he couldn’t contact you. I’d fallen in love with him long before. For someone like me to become his friend, it was fate’s blessing.”

I wasn’t sure what I was saying.

Cassie had already pulled my hand to her stomach.

“Sera, do you know? I got this child by drugging Julian; he doesn’t love me at all. I know what I did was wrong to you, but if I didn’t do it, I would never have been able to marry Julian. You know what happened to me, you’ll understand me, right?”

Cassie bared her arm, holding it up to me.

I looked at the shocking scars, my expression complex.

Cassie’s ex-boyfriend, resentful that she broke up with him, had called a few thugs to assault her after they split.

I knew, because I was the one who called Julian afterward, and we went to the police station together to report it.

But because of that, Cassie and Julian had crossed paths.

Cassie leaned weakly against the cold wall, her eyes vacant.

“Last night, after he walked me to my room, he went out drinking. He came back late at night, climbed into my bed, and, hazy with alcohol, started kissing me and taking off my clothes. I was even a little happy, thinking he had feelings for me, but the name he kept mumbling was always someone else’s, even on our first night.”

At this, Cassie’s eyes turned hateful as she looked at me.

Seeing me still silent, showing no reaction, Cassie’s breathing grew rapid, a hint of desperation in her eyes.

She suddenly sat up, gripping my hand.

“Sera, you won’t steal him from me, will you? I’m already carrying his child. The baby is innocent and can’t be without a father.”

Feeling Cassie’s hopeful gaze, I said blandly,

“I don’t like Julian anymore. You don’t need to worry.”

I didn’t know what Julian’s feelings for me were.

I only knew that in my past life, when I had cried and screamed, refusing Julian’s marriage to Cassie, Cassie had broken down and died.

From that moment, Julian had lost his soul, becoming like a puppet on strings.

Later, when I was hemorrhaging during childbirth, clinging to life, he had unhesitatingly abandoned both my life and our child's.

This life, no matter what, I didn't want to repeat that tragedy.

When the two of them came out, Julian was leaning against the car, smoking thoughtfully.

Today he wore a black shirt and dress pants, his sleeves rolled up, revealing toned muscles and the sexy lines of his veins.

My breath hitched involuntarily.

As if remembering I disliked the smell of smoke, or perhaps seeing Cassie was pregnant, Julian put out his cigarette.

He pulled a diamond necklace worth millions from his pocket and fastened it around Cassie’s neck.

He glanced at me, then leaned down to whisper in Cassie’s ear.

“Baby, I’m sorry. I promise I won’t raise my voice at you again. Can you forgive me?”

Cassie nodded, seemingly surprised that Julian would apologize proactively.

Julian smiled, satisfied, and kissed Cassie’s brow.

“Pick any wedding dress today, darling. Husband’s paying.”

He leaned in to kiss Cassie’s lips, but she pushed him away.

“Mmm, didn’t you get enough last night? Sera’s still here.”

Julian seemed to notice me then, his brows furrowed, annoyed at being interrupted.

“It’s fine. I just have to learn to accept the fact that I’m an outsider.”

Yes, I was an outsider.

The person closest to me in this world was gone.

Julian coldly ordered me into the car.

I obediently sat in the backseat.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of the two outside the car, kissing passionately, as if deliberately demonstrating their affection. This time, Julian kissed her much longer than usual.

Ten minutes later, the car door opened.

Julian, while helping Cassie buckle her seatbelt, stole another kiss.

Cassie’s face instantly flushed, and she playfully accused Julian of being insatiable.

Julian, however, was unfazed. He looked up at me in the rearview mirror.

“Cassie will be marrying into the family next week. You need to get used to our dynamic. Remember, *I* am the lady of this house.”

I seriously watched the scenery passing by outside the window, my face expressionless.

“I understand, Uncle.”

Julian heard the answer he wanted, but he wasn’t as happy as he’d expected.

Instead, the words sounded incredibly grating, stirring an inexplicable irritation within him.

Cassie softly chastised Julian.

“Don’t be so serious with Sera. If she hadn’t talked to me so much just now, I wouldn’t have forgiven you so quickly.”

Julian dotingly stroked Cassie’s head.

“Whatever you say.”

Throughout the ride, I maintained my role as an “outsider,” not disturbing their romantic discussion of wedding plans.

The car soon arrived at the bridal shop, and I, relieved, was the first to get out.

Cassie, however, tugged at me, insisting on getting ice cream from across the street.