Chapter 2

Aria welcomed me with the air of the Stewart hostess, inviting me to take a seat. It was as if she were Isaac's fiancée.

The dinner table was loaded with all kinds of fancy dishes. Most of these were things I never got to eat and couldn't even afford during those three years.

I didn't bother with manners and ate greedily.

Isaac's disdainful voice rang right in my ear. "Where on earth did your ladylike demeanor go?"

I choked, and the food in my mouth suddenly lost all its flavor, turning bitter.

The spoiled, graceful Emily everyone knew died three years ago.

Aria quickly stood up, flashing a smile to smooth things over. "Isaac, don't pick on Emily. Let her eat in peace."

She reached over and put some food in my plate, but I looked at her, refusing to touch it.

Aria's eyes were brimming with tears as she spoke, sounding hurt. "Emily, you still can't forgive me, can you?"

As she said this, she started to cry, wiping at her cheeks.

Isaac's temper snapped. "Emily, Aria's been nothing but considerate to you. Why are you putting on that sour face?"

My fingers tightened around the fork, but I couldn't bring myself to let go.

In the end, I gave in and was about to take the lobster Aria offered me.

Harper walked over with a dish, set it down, then hesitated. "Mr. Stewart, Ms. Lewis is allergic to seafood."

Isaac froze for a second.

Aria quickly put down her fork and apologized. "I'm sorry, Emily. I had no idea you were allergic to seafood."

How could I really blame her? Even Isaac, my childhood fiancé, forgot I was allergic to seafood.

"Aria, you don't need to apologize to her. It's not your fault," Isaac said.

Then he shot me a glare, his tone icy. "Emily, what? Are you a mute? Why didn't you say you were allergic to seafood?"

*****

Three years ago, all I did was slap Aria once.

Isaac said I was difficult, pampered, and reckless. He took away my wallet and phone, leaving me broke and stranded on the streets of a foreign country.

No matter what I said back then, he never believed me.

If I told him I was allergic to seafood just now, would he even believe me?

"Isaac, please don't blame Emily. It's all my fault. I wasn't careful enough. Don't argue because of me," Aria said softly.

Before she could finish, Isaac took her hand and led her away.

Aria turned back and flashed me a triumphant smile.

I was left alone in the spacious restaurant.

Isaac wasn't always like this. He used to treat me so well.

We'd have little spats sometimes, mostly because he always said his grandmother, Hannah Stewart, favored me over him.

He'd ignore me for ages.

But whenever someone cornered me and tried to bully me, Isaac would appear suddenly and give them a serious beating.

"If I ever catch you picking on Emily again, don't blame me if I get rough," he'd warn.

Those guys, faces bruised and swollen, protested. "Isaac, you don't like Emily, right? Why are you sticking up for her?"

Isaac turned back, with the sunlight behind him, and glanced at me, who was hugging my backpack. "Who told you I don't like Emily? Emily is part of the Stewart family. From now on, I've got her back."

He walked up to me and gently took my hand. "Let's go home."

Later, he confessed his love to me. After that, Hannah threw us an engagement party.

Isaac spun me around in his arms, repeating over and over, "Emily, you're my fiancée."

But everything changed when Aria came into the picture.

He'd always say I wasn't gentle enough, not as mature or thoughtful as Aria.

*****

I kept my head down, silently picking at the food on my plate, chewing each bite before swallowing.

But today, the food tasted a bit salty.

After dinner, Harper took me upstairs.

She told me my room had been turned into Aria's walk-in closet.

That was when I realized Isaac had let Aria move in while I was gone for three years.

But I had no right to be angry.

"Harper, please take me to the guest room," I said quietly.

As we neared the door, Harper let out a quiet sigh and said softly, "Ms. Lewis, after everything you've been through to finally come back, try not to upset Mr. Stewart again.

"These days, the person Mr. Stewart cares about most is Ms. Nelson. You should try to get along with her, and don't be like you were before."

I stopped in my tracks. "Harper, do you think I'm to blame as well?"

Harper hesitated for a moment, then added, "Sometimes, right and wrong don't really matter. I'm only saying this so things can be better for you.

"Ms. Lewis, I've watched you grow up. I never believed you were behind what happened back then. But Mr. Stewart calls the shots in the Stewart family now. If he's happy, your days will be a lot easier."

I listened to Harper, staring out at the night sky.

Inside, my emotions were all over the place, a jumble I couldn't even begin to untangle.

Suddenly, a splitting headache hit me, the room spun wildly, and my legs nearly gave out beneath me.

Before I could collapse, Harper moved fast and caught me, steadying me just in time. "Ms. Lewis, are you okay?"