Chapter 3

[Mad about what? Emma was the homewrecker anyway. If it weren't for her, Lucas and Sienna would've been together ages ago.]

My finger scrolling through the screen paused.

In the frame, Sienna leaned over to straighten his tie.

The comments exploded again.

[Can someone explain what actually happened?]

[In college they were inseparable, okay! Everyone thought they were a couple.]

[Then Emma appeared. Who knows what tricks she used, always clinging to Lucas.]

[I was in Emma's class. She was so poor back then, always eating the cheapest cafeteria food, clothes washed until they were faded. Lucas probably just felt sorry for her, then got caught.]

[Isn't this the classic rags-to-riches story? Look at that wedding dress she's wearing—millions in custom design. She couldn't afford it without latching onto the Harpers.]

My nails dug into my palms.

The camera suddenly swept across the main table.

Some society wife was praising the jade bracelet on Sienna's hand.

Mrs. Harper held her hand, saying something with a smile.

Comments cheered.

[This is clearly the mother-in-law's approval!]

I closed my eyes.

Thinking back to last month, that afternoon when Mrs. Harper personally handed me the bracelet.

"Emma dear, this bracelet is a Harper family heirloom. By rights it should go to the daughter-in-law."

"But you're young, and gentle-natured. I don't know if jade suits your taste?"

I thought Mrs. Harper was being considerate of me.

Turns out she already had a more suitable candidate in mind.

The comments were all praising how good they looked together, saying Lucas and Sienna were a match made in heaven.

A match made in heaven?

I laughed out loud, the sound jarring in the empty dressing room.

My phone buzzed again—a message from my college roommate.

[Emma, did you see the livestream? Don't listen to those people talking nonsense! Lucas was the one who pursued you back then!]

Yes.

Lucas was the one who pursued me.

Sophomore year, I was noticed by a sculpture professor who wanted me to switch majors, but I refused.

The old professor was so angry his beard bristled. He made me clean the sculpture studio as punishment.

Lucas was hiding from a girl who kept confessing to him. He ducked into the sculpture studio and locked the door.

I was so startled I dropped the rag in my hand into the bucket.

He froze, then walked over.

"Cleaning all alone on such a cold day?"

I ignored him and kept moving the heavy plaster blocks.

He watched me for a while, then took the broom from my hands.

"Let me do it. You rest."

After that he kept appearing around me.

He would say:

"Emma, why do you always eat alone? Join me."

"Your hands are so skilled. Whatever you make must be beautiful."

"The moment I saw this necklace, I thought it would suit you perfectly. It's yours."

I rejected him many times.

But he never minded.

"Emma, I won't give up. You're the first girl I've ever liked."

The phone screen dimmed, then lit up again.

Someone posted photos from my college days.

Wearing a plain white shirt, expression cold.

[Look at how shabby she was.]

[I heard her parents died young. She was raised by her grandfather. Marrying into the Harpers is her rags-to-riches moment.]

[Would the Harper parents even agree? They're from completely different worlds.]