Chapter 2

2.

I pulled a silver locket from my pocket, something I had kept hidden for years.

Inside was a photo of a fifteen-year-old girl with a bright, innocent smile.

Seeing her face took me back to that sunny afternoon in the music conservatory.

The sunlight had spilled through the windows, framing her at the piano.

She sat there, her fingers dancing across the keys, creating magic.

That was the day I met Shari York.

Our teacher had paired us up for a duet.

I was on the violin, and she was on the piano.

Shari―a name as beautiful and pure as the girl herself.

It was a young, clumsy love, but it was the most intense thing I had ever felt.

It was hidden in every glance we shared and every harmony we played.

On Valentine's Day, the school held a major concert.

I had planned to confess my love for her right after the performance.

But during the show, the heavy chandelier above the stage suddenly snapped.

The image of her lying in a pool of blood became a nightmare I could never escape.

I had suffered a fever for an entire week after that.

When I woke up, every single memory of Shari was gone.

But now, the fragments of my past had finally clicked back together.

I finally understood why I had fallen for Fiona Pendleton at first sight.

It was because her eyes and brows looked exactly like Shari's.

I had poured all the love I had for a dead girl onto this cruel substitute.

I had pampered her, protected her, and endured her every whim.

My hand trembled as I touched the photo, my heart feeling like it was being ripped apart.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Fiona stormed into the room without knocking.

I snapped the locket shut and slipped it back into my pocket.

She eyed me suspiciously. "What are you hiding? You're acting like a creep."

I looked at her coldly. "What do you want, Fiona?"

She looked offended by my tone. "What was that stunt in the living room?"

"Are you trying to embarrass me? Get out there and start cooking right now!"

"And when you're done, you're going to apologize to Silas!"

I stared at the face that looked so much like Shari's and let out a soft laugh.

Actually, looking closer, she didn't look that much like her at all.

My laughter made her even more furious. "What's so funny? Move it!"

She reached out to grab my arm and drag me.

I spoke up, my voice steady. "The East Side land deal hasn't been finalized yet."

"Are you sure you want to piss off the Montgomery family right now?"

She froze, her eyes widening in shock, and her grip loosened.

Just then, Silas's voice drifted in from the hallway. "Fiona? Are you in there?"

He opened the door and grabbed her arm, pouting like a child.

"Fiona, it's time to cut the cake. I want you there with me."

Fiona glared at me one last time before following Silas out.