Chapter 4

At the celebration party, everyone wore polite smiles.

Lily, in a white cocktail dress, was surrounded by the crowd, like a true princess.

And I, with my ankle bandaged, sat in a corner sofa, like an outsider.

The air was thick with expensive perfume and the aroma of food, which made me feel a little nauseous.

My dad, Robert, walked over with a glass of wine, looking down at me.

"Clara, what did the doctor say?"

"Minor issue, rest for a month," I replied indifferently.

He nodded, his face expressionless, a true businessman.

"That's good then."

He paused, his tone brooking no argument.

"From now on, you should stop dancing. Stay behind the scenes, help your sister."

Those words were exactly the same as in my previous life.

Back then, I felt like I was plunged into an ice bath, almost collapsing.

Now, I simply looked up calmly.

"Dad, do you mean for me to be Lily's backdrop?"

Robert frowned, seemingly displeased by my directness.

"What backdrop? Shouldn't sisters help each other? You've seen Lily's talent, she has a brighter future than you."

My mom, Eleanor, also walked over, linking her arm through his, her face full of self-righteousness.

"Clara, your dad is right. I also retired due to injury when I was young; it's fate. Now Lily can fulfill Mom's dream, you should be happy for her."

"That's right, Clara," Julian interjected smoothly, crouching before me and taking my hand.

"You're not well right now, so don't push yourself. I'll take care of you, and you can just be my wife and support Lily's career. Isn't that better?"

The three of them spoke in perfect, choreographed unison.

Lightly arranging my life, clear as day.

In my previous life, I cried, asking why they were doing this to me.

Julian just coldly shook off my hand.

"Clara, can't you be more mature? What I need is a partner who can stand beside me in business, not a burden I need to take care of."

That sentence, like a knife, cut into my heart, aching day and night.

This time, I looked into his seemingly earnest eyes and suddenly smiled.

"Alright."

I answered too quickly, too readily.

All three of them were stunned.

I gently pulled my hand from Julian's grasp and slowly picked up a glass of juice from the nearby table.

"I agree."

"From now on, I'll be my sister's assistant, her practice partner, the stepping stone on her path to success."

My smile grew even brighter, my gaze sweeping past them to Lily, who was surrounded by the crowd.

She seemed to sense my stare and looked over.

Our eyes met, and a flicker of triumph and satisfaction crossed her eyes.

I raised my glass to her, then tipped my head back, draining the juice in one gulp.

My parents and Julian visibly relaxed, their faces showing satisfaction.

In their eyes, my 'sensible' decision saved them a lot of trouble.

I pushed myself up from the sofa, limping towards Lily.

The crowd automatically parted to create a path for me.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on me, carrying sympathy, pity, and a hint of schadenfreude, as if watching a good show.

Lily watched me approach, her smile stiffening, and she instinctively took half a step back.

She was afraid of me.

Good.

I stopped in front of her.

The surroundings instantly grew quiet.

I reached out, intimately brushing a stray lock of hair from her temple, my actions as gentle as the most loving older sister.

"Congratulations, Lily."

"How does it feel to take my talent?"

Lily's body instantly tensed, her pupils contracting sharply.

I kept smiling, leaning in closer, and whispered in her ear, in a voice only we two could hear:

"But, Lily, my things aren't that easy to take."

"You'll have to… really bear the consequences it brings."

I drew out the word "consequences" softly and slowly, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

Lily's face, in an instant, drained of all color.

I straightened up, pleased with her reaction, then raised my voice so those around could hear.

"Lily, from now on, I'll support you wholeheartedly. You absolutely must not disappoint everyone."

With that, I patted her shoulder, turned, and walked step by step out of this opulent cage, under the complex gazes of the onlookers.

Behind me, Lily stood frozen in place.

In the reflection of the banquet hall's glass, I clearly saw.

The hand holding her champagne glass was trembling uncontrollably, golden liquid spilling out, dampening her pure white dress.

I knew.

The nightmare had only just begun.