Chapter 3
The moment Ethan saw me, his smile vanished. His eyes filled with naked contempt.
“You actually followed me here? God, you’re like a damn shadow I can’t shake.”
His voice dripped with mockery. “What, you think if you hover around, I’ll suddenly soften toward
you? Dream on.”
“Sophia?!”
Lily’s delighted voice cut him off. She ran toward me, her princess dress swishing with each step.
“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it! To see you here after the orphanage–it’s such a surprise!”
Her eyes drifted past me to the sleek car waiting nearby. “Wait… was that car here for you?”
The moment she asked, her expression changed, going pale in an instant.
“No way–you were really adopted by the Smiths?”
I was about to reply when my eyes landed on the key–shaped pendant around her neck. My breath hitched.
Lily noticed my stare, and her hand snapped up to cover the charm.
I pretended I hadn’t seen anything and nodded lightly. “Yes. The Smiths.”
“So now your name is Sophia Smith, huh?”
I glanced at Ethan, whose face had turned stiff with discomfort, as if he realized he’d misunderstood something.
“Mm–hm.”
“Are the Smiths as terrifying as people say?” Lily leaned in, her voice low and conspiratorial. “I heard their son is sick, maybe even mute. Is that true?”
She gestured vaguely toward the Smith estate, her eyes wide with curiosity.
My frown deepened, but before I could answer, she gasped again. “Sophia, are you learning shooting now?” Her gaze swept over my riding–and–archery uniform.
“Yes. I’ve got something else to do-”
Chapter 3
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Ethan cut in harshly. “Lily, don’t waste time on her. Let’s go.”
“Oh… okay.” Lily pouted, then shot me a mischievous look, sticking out her tongue. “Don’t mind him. Ethan’s usually so sweet. I don’t know what’s wrong with him today.”
“Ethan, wait for me!” She gathered up her skirts and ran after Ethan.
I stood still for a moment, then turned away.
Behind me, the wind carried their voices straight into my ears.
“Ethan, isn’t it awful? Sophia’s our age, but she spends all day taking classes. I saw bruises on her
arms–poor thing.”
“Hmph. What’s the point? Some people just aren’t meant to enjoy life. You, Lily–you’re our princess. All you need to do is stay pretty and happy. You’ll never suffer like that.”
“Mm–hm, Daddy and Mommy and you–you’re the best!”
Effort? They called it suffering?
I let out a dry laugh.
In my past life, the Walkers had smothered me with affection, true but they had never once
encouraged me to grow.
When I wanted to learn equestrian skills, they refused: “What if you fall and scar yourself? How will
you ever marry well?”
When I wanted to learn self–defense after being followed, they dismissed it: “What kind of proper young lady fights? You have bodyguards. That’s enough.”
Even when I wanted to study finance, they scoffed: “Why bother? You have your brother. That’s
enough.”
It had all looked like indulgence–but in reality, it had trapped me, raised me into a dependent vine that could only cling to someone else for survival.
Mrs. Smith, however, had said something entirely different:
“In the Smith family, you learn everything. You fight for everything.”
