Chapter 2

The maids were busy tidying up the place.

I stepped into the main hall.

It was like magic, overnight, the house had been scrubbed spotless.

All that was left was a world of black and white.

The cute bunny chair I loved had been pushed to the doorway.

Even my bunny slippers had disappeared.

The pink rug was tossed into the trash.

The pink roses I'd spent so long nurturing, finally showing tiny buds, were thrown on the floor, their buds stomped to mush.

At the party, everyone said roses meant love.

I didn't get it.

But Charlie told me that if I could make the pink roses bloom this season, he'd marry me.

Now they were completely dead.

I dropped to my knees, gathering the broken roses in my hands.

My heart ached so much that tears wouldn't stop falling.

Charlie came downstairs at some point, I hadn't even noticed.

He looked at me and said, "It's just some roses. Why are you getting all teary again?"

"If you want more, ask someone to buy them."

"It's not the same," I replied.

Before Mom passed away, she told me to marry Charlie, stay with him, and live happily together.

Otherwise, even after she's gone, she'd still be worried about me.

I really tried to listen to Mom.

Now it's ruined, Charlie won't marry me anymore.

"Stop crying," Charlie said, irritation flickering in his eyes.

He hates it when I cry.

I forced myself not to cry, but I still felt miserable.

Just then, the pretty girl came down the stairs.

She said, "Sorry, Lily Shaw, I didn't know these were yours.

"I mentioned I didn't like pink, and Charlie changed everything. Did I make things difficult for you?"

I swallowed hard, trying not to cry.

"But this is my home with Charlie," I said.

Charlie always said I could have whatever I wanted.

Why is everything different now?

Charlie looked at me, his brows furrowed.

"Hotels aren't convenient for her, so she'll be staying here for a bit," he said.

"Lily, don't make a fuss," he told me.

I didn't even know what "making a fuss" meant.

I only knew one thing.

All of a sudden, this place didn't feel like my home anymore.

I was so mad that I stormed upstairs, like I always did when I wanted to hide in my room.

But when I pushed open the door, even my room had changed.

All my bunny plushies were gone.

Some of them were blue, the color I hated most. I took a frightened step back.

Charlie steadied me, grabbing my arm. "She wants to be closer to me.

"Your room will be downstairs.

"It's just for two months. Be a good girl, and after that, I'll get you all the dolls you want."

I looked up at him, my eyes red. "Why does it have to be here?"

Charlie owns so many houses, so why does it have to be this one?

Questions swirled in my head, so many things I couldn't figure out, and yet, deep down, I kind of understood.

Charlie didn't come to pick me up last night.

Instead, he spent the whole night clearing out my things so the pretty girl could stay here.

He didn't come for me because he was afraid I'd throw a tantrum.

At that moment, I shoved Charlie away. "You're so bad."

I holed up in the little room downstairs, with all my things scattered everywhere.

I sat on a cardboard box, clutching my giant bunny plushie, crying so much I was sweating all over.

But no matter how hard I searched, I couldn't find the white bunny Mom gave me, or the ceramic doll Dad made for me.

These two precious things were packed into a box.

I went upstairs and knocked on the door.

Charlie opened the door and stepped out.

I was really worried. "Charlie, Mom and Dad's things are missing.

"Can I go in and look for them?"

Charlie blocked my way.

"You can't barge into someone else's room. Don't you know that?" he asked.

I looked at him, confused.

How come they can just walk into my room whenever they feel like it?

He stood there, his tall frame blocking the doorway. "Tell me I'm the best, and I'll let you in."

I stared blankly and muttered, "You're the best, Charlie."

Charlie's frown eased, and he was about to let me in.

But then, the sound of something shattering echoed from inside.

I saw the black wooden box had been thrown to the floor.

Every single adorable ceramic doll inside was smashed to pieces.