Chapter 2

2

The assistant kindly led me to the main hall, explaining each exhibit.

The hall was filled with various designs the studio had produced over the years. Most of them were Harrison's personal work.

They were inanimate objects, but they felt alive because they carried his passion and hard work.

I walked past them one by one, quietly feeling the unique charm of his art.

Suddenly, I saw the giant dragonfly sculpture.

That was the only time I had been lucky enough to watch Harrison create a piece by hand.

I remembered the dragonfly's wings resting in his palm while the studio hummed with the sound of machinery.

He was so focused that he didn't even notice I was standing behind him.

It wasn't until he turned to grab a blade that he saw me.

I thought he would let me stay and keep him company.

But a flash of disgust crossed his face. He immediately shut the studio door in my face.

I stood there like a fool, my heart full of unspoken hurt.

I just wanted to spend my birthday with him.

For that day, I had worked like a machine for three days and nights to finish my research project.

I didn't even rest when I got home. I rushed to bake a birthday cake and decorated it with his favorite figures.

If he had looked at me for even one second, he would have seen the cake in my hands.

The assistant saw me staring at the dragonfly and thought I loved it. He started to tell me the story behind its creation.

I waved him off. As I turned to leave, a familiar voice rang out behind me.

"Oh my god, Kinsley? What are you doing here?"

Janie Sinclair's voice was loud and sharp. Many people in the hall turned to look at us.

Janie immediately put on a fake look of embarrassment. She whispered, "I didn't mean to shout. I'm just surprised. Would someone like you even understand Harrison's art?"

Harrison's mother stood beside her, looking at me with contempt. She laughed. "A stray mutt really wants to act like a purebred, doesn't it? An ugly duckling only becomes a swan if it was a swan to begin with. Look at yourself."

Mrs. Thorne was right. Things that don't belong to you have to be thrown away eventually.

Everything Janie had today was built on my family's kindness.

She used to be my childhood friend.

After her parents divorced, she lived with her grandmother. Our families were close back then.

My parents felt sorry for her and treated her like a second daughter. Whatever I had, she had a version of it too.

When her grandmother passed away, my parents took her in to live with us.

From then on, she followed me like a shadow.

But after moving into the Vance house, Janie was consumed by the wealthy lifestyle and her own greed. She became unrecognizable.

If she hadn't constantly slandered me to Mrs. Thorne, I wouldn't be so hated. She stole every chance I had to explain myself.

But today was an important day for Harrison. I didn't want to argue with them and ruin the studio's image.

Even if Harrison didn't love me, I wouldn't be so classless as to sabotage his career.

I smiled faintly and said calmly, "I just came to drop off a gift. I'm leaving now."

"Good!" Mrs. Thorne huffed. "Kinsley, don't come back. This isn't a place for trash like you."

I maintained the last bit of respect for my elder and suppressed my anger.

As I turned, I saw Harrison standing not far away.

He didn't say a word. He walked right past me to his mother and Janie, escorting them to the second floor.

I knew he heard everything. But as usual, he chose to say nothing, as if it had nothing to do with him.

Before leaving, Janie caught my eye when the others weren't looking. She gave me a mocking, triumphant smirk.