Chapter 2

Chloe clearly wasn't going to let me brush her off so easily.

Her gaze drifted down to my clutch, and she gasped with exaggerated theatricality:

"Wait, did you buy this clutch too?"

"Lucas gave me one yesterday, but why did you end up with the promotional gift version? Yours is just studded with cheap rhinestones. It's totally worthless."

I froze for a second, glancing between hers and the one in my lap.

One was high-end art; the other was a tacky, low-grade freebie.

Night and day.

The buzzing in my ears seemed to spike, and I answered softly:

"I didn't buy it. Lucas gave it to me as a makeup gift."

Seeing the light fade from my eyes, Chloe smirked with satisfaction.

Just then, Lucas returned carrying a warm cup.

Chloe immediately turned to tease him:

"Lucas, honestly, what are you doing?"

"How come you gave me the real luxury bag, but handed Autumn the promotional freebie? Look, the rhinestones are practically falling off. It makes her look so cheap."

Lucas handed me the drink, his smile turning awkward and strained.

"I... I didn't overthink it back then. I just thought this style suited her better. Autumn, you're not mad, are you? If you want, I can take you to buy a brand-new one right now."

"No wonder I rarely saw you carry it. You didn't like it, did you?"

I took the warm drink.

Glancing down at the clutch, I shook my head:

"I love it."

"In fact, I love it so much that I couldn't bear to wear it out."

"Lucas, this is the very first gift I've ever received in my entire life."

With that, I looked up and gave him a gentle smile.

Lucas froze instantly, looking as though the quiet sorrow in my eyes had stabbed him straight in the chest.

A long, heavy silence hung between us.

Finally, he reached down to take my hand, murmuring an apology:

"I'm sorry, Autumn. I'll get you way more gifts in the future, better ones, I swear."

I had stopped caring a long time ago.

Instead, I played the understanding fiancée, soothing him gently:

"It's fine. I'm already grateful."

Chloe's smile vanished. She hadn't expected the moment to turn tender.

Even Ethan's face darkened beside them, his eyes boring holes into our intertwined hands.

Suddenly, Ethan spoke up:

"Lucas, didn't you buy that ring too big?"

"I remember Autumn's middle finger is a size 6."

"That size looks more like... Chloe's."

Before I could even react, Chloe grabbed my hand.

She eagerly slid the ring off my finger and slipped it onto her own.

A perfect fit.

The ring was clearly bought for her in the first place.

Chloe beamed triumphantly, practically gloating:

"Lucas, I'm obsessed with this!"

"And it's crazy that it's my exact size. Why don't you talk to Autumn for me? Ask her to just give it to me."

It was a blatant, shameless slap in the face.

Even Ethan cast a sidelong glance at Chloe, as if finding the demand a bit over the top.

Yet he didn't stop her.

Lucas looked torn. "Chloe, I'll buy you the exact same one later."

"This is the engagement ring for Autumn."

Chloe's eyes flared with anger, throwing a childish tantrum:

"But I want this one!"

"I don't care! If you don't get this ring for me, I'm never talking to you again! Are you just looking down on me because I'm adopted? You won't even give me a stupid ring!"

Lucas had always spoiled Chloe rotten.

Hearing her whine, he turned to coax me instead:

"Autumn, I know you're always the mature one. Can you just let Chloe have it this once..."

Such a familiar script.

Lucas, Ethan, and even my biological parents had repeated those exact words a thousand times.

"Autumn, you're the sensible one. Just yield to Chloe."

"Be a good girl, Autumn. Let your sister have it first, and Mom and Dad will buy you a new one next time."

"Autumn, of course we love you. You're both our daughters, but Chloe has a delicate temper. Just put up with it for her sake."

...

Halfway through his sentence, the screeching tinnitus in my ears completely drowned out Lucas's voice.

My skull felt like it was splitting open.

Lucas's mouth kept moving, opening and closing, but I couldn't hear a single word.

I just let out a quiet sigh.

Voluntarily, I said:

"If she likes it, she can keep it."

"Excuse me, I'm not feeling well. I'm heading home to rest."