1 The last time I confessed my feelings to Liam Blackwood, It ended in total humiliation. The private room was packed. But an eerie silence had fallen, not a single soul uttered a word. Minutes stretched, thick with unspoken tension. Then, Sierra Finch, who sat beside him, finally broke the spell with a forced laugh. "Alright, Liam, don't be like that. It's so awkward for Rory." "She's just a kid." From a dark corner, someone scoffed, "A twenty-one-year-old kid, huh." Scattered chuckles rippled through the room, then blended into a chorus of mocking laughter. I stood my ground, stubborn, refusing to flee in disgrace. Only, my vision of Liam blurred, tears welling. "Rory, how much harsher do I need to make this?" Liam flicked cigarette ash, then stood up. "I made it clear I wasn't interested the moment you turned sixteen." I choked back a sob. "But you were so angry when I had that crush back then." "That's because you were an adopted daughter of the Blackwood family." "One wrong step from you would only bring shame to the Blackwood name." "What about that kiss on my eighteenth birthday?" Liam’s eyes, as he looked at me, flashed with the faintest hint of distaste. "Rory, you were drunk that night, making a complete scene." "I just wanted to end the chaos as quickly as possible." A bitter laugh bubbled up. But as I laughed, the tears fell even harder. "Liam Blackwood, you've had four girlfriends." "But every single time, all I had to do was throw a fit, and you'd break up with them." "All these years, can you honestly say you didn't feel anything for me?" "That's because I hadn't met a woman I truly loved." Liam reached out, pulling Sierra into his embrace. "Rory, listen closely. I'm only saying this one last time." "I love Sierra. I'm going to marry her." "All your little tricks from before? They won't work this time. Not even a little." Sierra's face flushed with shy delight, her eyes adoringly fixed on him. "Liam…" Without a moment's hesitation, Liam lowered his head and kissed her. Sierra wrapped her arms around his neck, rising on her tiptoes to meet him. They kissed, long and passionate, completely oblivious to anyone else. But in that instant, my mind replayed the kiss from my eighteenth birthday. Just as entangled, just as lingering. A dream I’d lived in for four years, unable to wake up. Foolishly believing that deep down, he actually liked me. Liam moved out of the Blackwood family’s ancestral home. He moved in with Sierra. The day he moved, I was at school, buried in my final thesis defense. Choosing that specific day was probably his way of keeping me from making a scene. But this time, I didn't react like before. I didn't immediately rush to Liam, crying and causing a fuss. After a faint ripple in my heart, I shook my head, immediately pushing it all out of my mind. That evening, I had a graduation dinner with a few close friends. On my way to the restroom, I bumped into Sierra. "Rory, Liam's here too. Want to come over?" I shook my head. "I made plans with classmates. I'll skip it." Sierra’s eyes suddenly welled up. "Rory, my family isn't well-off. Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood don't really like me." "Could you please stop speaking ill of me to them?" I was taken aback, shocked. "Ms. Finch, I've never once mentioned you to the elders." Sierra smiled sadly. "I know you've loved Liam for many years." "I understand it's hard for you to accept me and him together right now." "But Rory, we're both women. It's best to be kind in how we act, don't you think?" My temperament is like my mother’s—straightforward and incapable of deceit. Hearing her words, I immediately bristled. "Sierra, don't you dare slander me with your nonsense…" Before I could finish, Sierra’s legs buckled, and she fell directly to her knees. "Rory, I'm begging you." I jumped, startled, stepping forward to help her up. But before I could even touch her, she collapsed heavily to the ground. "Rory, what are you doing?!" Liam’s furious voice roared as A tremendous force slammed into me. I was violently shoved, my knee hitting the edge of a wall. The pain was excruciating. "Liam, don't misunderstand, Rory didn't mean to…" "You're still defending her!" "I’ve seen enough of her little tricks, ever since she was a child!" Liam bent down and scooped Sierra into his arms. He stared at me, his eyes blazing with fury. "Rory, apologize." "Liam Blackwood…" "Shut up. Apologize!" Sierra nestled in his arms, her sobs tiny, pitiable. My knee was bleeding. Bright red blood snaked down my calf to my ankle. Two stark, crimson lines. But Liam seemed to not see them at all. His gaze, fixed on me, made me feel like the most wicked person alive. Suddenly, I let out a self-deprecating laugh, unwilling to argue another word. "I apologize." Liam seemed to flinch slightly. But then his eyes darkened with even deeper fury. "Not enough." I straightened up, bowing deeply. "Is this sufficient?" Sierra looked at me, a faint smirk playing on her lips. But quickly, she turned, sniffling, to Liam, gently coaxing, "It's alright, Liam." "I don't deserve such a gesture." Liam's heart instantly swelled with tenderness. "Rory, I told you, Sierra is different from the others." "Bullying her won't make me break up with her." "It'll only make me care for her more and despise you more." He held Sierra close, turning and walking away. I stood there alone for a long, long time. The pain in my knee was throbbing, relentless. But my heart felt strangely empty, strangely light. I knew it. In that very moment, all those so-called obsessions, that infatuation, Had turned to dust. Vanished without a trace. That night, Sierra posted three times on social media. All of them were screen-shotted by busybodies in our circle and sent to me. Liam's replies, in particular, were heavily circled. I knew they secretly wanted to see me make a fool of myself. Usually, I’d just act on impulse and rush to Liam, crying and causing a scene. He’d be annoyed, but he’d always give in. This undoubtedly gave me the false impression that he cared. It also made me more persistent. But this time, I ignored it all. Instead, I dialed a number I’d called seven days ago. "Aunt Carol, it's Rory." "That matter you mentioned the other day, I've thought it over." My parents died in an accident when I was seven. Mr. Blackwood, who was good friends with my dad, stepped in and took me in. Aunt Carol was my mother's best friend when they were young. But later, she eloped with her lover and lost touch. By the time she’d wandered half her life and finally settled in San Francisco, My parents were no longer alive. Aunt Carol wanted me to live in San Francisco. She also wanted to fulfill the promise she and my mother made when they were young: For me to marry into the Vance family in San Francisco, to become her daughter-in-law. Seven days ago, I hadn't agreed. But I was afraid of hurting her feelings, so I just said I'd think about it. But tonight, I suddenly let go of years of obsession. One-sided love is so foolish, so laughable. I didn't want to be the joke of the social circle anymore. Six months ago, Liam had arranged for me to continue my studies in San Francisco. At the time, I was unwilling and cried bitterly several times. But he never relented. Now, though, I felt it was a good opportunity. Perhaps, in some mysterious way, it was destiny. On the other end of the phone, Aunt Carol's voice was full of joyous laughter: "Rory, your Ethan is just waiting for your 'yes'." "He's ready to fly to New York and propose to you." I clutched my phone, my cheeks inexplicably warm. But the joyful laughter in my ear left me feeling strangely dazed. Fifteen years of living together, seven years of loving him. To truly let go, it only took a mere seven days. Liam and Sierra’s engagement day. They specifically chose the day I left for San Francisco. Because of this, not many people came to see me off. When I landed, I turned on my phone. Messages poured in, non-stop. More than half were related to Liam and Sierra’s engagement. I brushed it off with a smile. And promptly deleted and blocked those few contacts. Before coming to San Francisco, I met with Ethan Vance. I didn't want to create any fuss, nor did I want to draw attention. Ethan respected my wishes. He proposed, and we exchanged rings. We got engaged quietly, without fanfare. Only, my account now had a hundred million dollars in dowry. And on my middle finger, a simple band. As I prepared to get into the Vance family car that came to pick me up, my phone suddenly rang. It was Liam’s cousin, Cassidy Blackwood. "Rory, my cousin's engagement ceremony is about to start. Where are you?" "I just got to San Francisco." "Then hurry back! If you leave now, you can still make it!" "Go back for what?" I asked calmly. Cassidy paused. "Rory, have you gone crazy with grief?" "If you don't come back and make a scene, my cousin will really be someone else's." "Why would I go back and make a scene? Isn't this your cousin's happy occasion?" "Rory?" Cassidy’s voice suddenly rose. "Are you out of your mind?" I was about to hang up, but the voice on the other end switched to Sierra’s. "Rory, aren't you coming to my and Liam's engagement party?" "After all, Liam sees you as a sister, so I'll be your sister-in-law. I'd really love to have your blessing." I glanced at Ethan, who was standing not far away. He stood by the car, tall and elegant, his eyes gentle. My heart suddenly felt calm. "Alright then, I wish you both a lifetime of happiness, tied together forever." Liam stood in the garden smoking with a few friends. Occasionally, he would glance at Cassidy and the others not far away. He knew they were tipping Rory off again. Just like countless times before. Whenever a woman appeared by his side, Those women would immediately tell Rory. Then Rory would come running to him, crying and making a fuss. He hated women acting like that; he found it annoying. So, he would simply ditch those companions. This time, it would probably be the same. That's why he specifically chose the day Rory left for San Francisco. It was just unlucky that the auspicious time for the engagement ceremony was calculated to be six in the evening. Liam was quite frustrated. After all, if Rory got the news, she could just take a plane back. She’d arrive just in time for the start of the engagement. "Liam, what if Rory comes back and makes a scene?" "Yeah, you're getting engaged to someone else. I bet she'll go crazy." "But she's been pretty quiet lately." "You and Sierra have been all over each other, and she hasn't made a peep." "If this were before, she'd have cried a river by now." The cigarette between Liam’s fingers had a long column of ash. He forgot to flick it. His mind was consumed by his friends’ last two remarks. Rory had indeed been quiet lately, unnervingly so. But based on his understanding of her, she was never this kind of person. Since childhood, he had rejected her countless times. But she always persevered, never considering backing down. Now that she was a bit older, she seemed to have more self-control than when she was a child. Liam suddenly thought of something. He scoffed lightly, pressing out his cigarette. "Just wait and see. She's not the type to stay quiet." "Liam, you mean Rory will come back and cause trouble?" Liam didn't answer. But in his heart, he was absolutely certain. The girl had been a hopeless romantic since she was little. She’d devoured romance novels during her teenage years. And those absurd tricks were constantly played out on him. He knew, of course. Her quietness these past few days was merely a strategic retreat. He’d bet anything that by the start of the engagement ceremony, at the latest, Rory would appear. "You guys tell security later, keep a close watch." Liam raised his wrist, checking the time. "Don't let any unauthorized people in to cause trouble." No sooner had he spoken than Cassidy Blackwood came running, pulling up her skirt. "Cousin, it's Rory! Rory's here! Her car just pulled up outside…" Liam’s heart inexplicably swelled with a strange joy, then his face darkened. "Nonsense! I knew she was incorrigible!" "Cousin, what do we do now? If she makes a scene, the Blackwood family will be humiliated." Liam’s face was cold and rigid. He turned and strode out. "I'll go see what tricks she's planning!" The entire group followed Liam out. But just as they left the garden, Sierra softly called out to him. "Liam." Sierra wore a beautiful, shimmering satin gown. Her hair was styled in an intricate braid, and her makeup was subtle. The engagement ceremony was at six o'clock. Still a few hours away. Sierra was anxious inside, but outwardly, she showed no hint of it. "What are you doing here?" Liam stopped. His gaze fell on Sierra’s face. Sierra was beautiful. It was the kind of beauty that easily made men feel protective and tender. Unlike Rory’s rebellious nature. Due to her humble background, Sierra’s personality was somewhat timid. She always spoke softly. Around the time he met Sierra, He was constantly annoyed by Rory's antics. He was easily drawn to Sierra's gentle calmness. Moreover, unlike his previous girlfriends who had actively pursued him, His acquaintance with Sierra stemmed from a classic damsel-in-distress scenario. Men always have that hero complex. So his feelings for Sierra were very different from the casual flings he’d had before. "I heard Rory's back…" Sierra’s words trailed off, her eyes already red-rimmed. "I'm a little worried." Sierra bit her lip, lowering her head. "Liam, will we… will we not be able to have our engagement ceremony today?" "What are you thinking?" Liam raised a hand and gently squeezed Sierra’s shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll go handle it now." But Sierra reached out, pulling on Liam's sleeve. "Liam, I'm scared." "I'm scared you'll leave with her…" Tears streamed down Sierra’s face. Fragile and delicate, she stood there, looking as if she might shatter. "How could that happen, Sierra? My cousin doesn't even like Rory." Cassidy’s eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction: "She's bossy and spoiled, always crying and throwing tantrums. My cousin is utterly sick of her. How could he possibly leave with her?" She genuinely disliked Rory. Ever since Rory was adopted by the Blackwood family, Her uncle and aunt, who had doted on her, started prioritizing Rory. Though they always said that Rory, being an adopted daughter, needed extra care for the sake of the Blackwood name and reputation, Cassidy still detested Rory. So, for years, her favorite thing to do was watch Rory humiliate herself, making a fool of herself. Now, Rory was sent off to study in San Francisco, and hardly anyone from the Blackwood family came to see her off. In fact, half a month ago, all her belongings were already packed and sent to San Francisco. As if they were afraid Rory would cling on and refuse to leave. Cassidy felt utterly delighted now. She’d support anyone as her cousin-in-law, as long as it wasn't Rory.
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