Chapter 1
After my family went bankrupt, my mother entrusted me to Daniel Wilson, the son of her best friend.
I spent four years by his side, cherished and doted on by him. We even became intimate.
The day I received a message from my father telling me to come home and get married, I was still lying in Daniel's arms.
He gently brushed the sweat from my forehead, smiling as he said, "I was the one who suggested to your father that you marry my cousin. It's time for you to go back and get married.
"From now on, you'll be my cousin-in-law. Let's forget everything that happened between us."
*****
Daniel Wilson reached for the clothes nearby and gently draped them over me.
However, his words made me feel even colder all over.
He said, "You're 22 now. It's not appropriate for you to remain by my side."
He paused, then continued, "Besides, if Sofia sees us, she will be unhappy."
At the mention of Sofia White, Daniel's first love, profound tenderness instantly spread across his face.
I tightly pressed my lips together, unable to utter a single word.
In the eyes of others, Daniel was a gentle, refined, and reserved talented pianist.
Yet he had held me tightly in his arms countless times, filling me with affection.
I once naively thought we would always stay together.
But today, he said we weren't right for each other.
Tears instantly welled up in my eyes. I could only hold them back, nodding frantically.
I said, "Yes, you're right. It was my fault from the start."
I quickly wiped my tears and ran out of the room.
Back in my bedroom, I took out my phone and called my father. "Dad, I'll do as you say. I'll go home and get married."
*****
At lunchtime, I skipped the dining room and wandered aimlessly in the courtyard alone.
The Wilson's residence's courtyard wasn't particularly large, but it was filled with memories of my last four years.
Four years ago, when my mother passed away, she entrusted me to the Wilson family because Daniel's mother, Ann, was my mother's closest friend.
I met Daniel for the first time at the Wilsons' residence.
He was eight years older than me and always looked after me like an elder.
To everyone, Daniel was noble and refined, but cold and indifferent.
However, he would cook for me and patiently teach me how to solve difficult problems.
He would hold me in his arms and gently comfort me whenever I had nightmares.
I naively thought Daniel and I would continue peacefully like this forever, but that changed two years ago.
Daniel had gotten drunk, mistook me for someone else, and we became intimate.
Since then, I could no longer control my feelings for him.
I had assumed he had feelings for me too, but after he sobered up, he slapped me.
He said, "How could we do this? How can I face your father and your deceased mother after this?"
That was the first time I saw him so angry.
He wanted to send me back to the Miller family, but when he saw me tearing up, his gaze softened again.
Eventually, he sighed and let me stay.
From then on, I became increasingly bolder.
As for him, he seemed to start to give in to our messy and odd relationship.
Consequently, we made out in every corner of the entire Wilsons' residence.
Sometimes, when we were passionately intertwined, he would call my name repeatedly.
It wasn't until now that I realized that despite our intimacy, he never truly loved me.
After walking in the courtyard for some time, I received a message from Daniel. [I'll give you a surprise later. Stop making a fuss. We still need to go see your father tonight.]
I looked at the phone screen, my fingers trembling slightly, and simply replied, [Okay.]
I turned and walked towards the underground parking garage.
Just as I was about to open the passenger door, the car window slowly lowered, revealing a face somewhat similar to mine.
I froze instantly.
No wonder Daniel had mistook me for someone else that night.
Sofia and I looked truly alike.
This was my first time meeting Sofia. She was indeed, as Daniel had said, gentler and more elegant than me, as well as much more captivating.