Blurb：
For three years, I pursued Declan Vance, the spoiled heir of the Vance family, repeating “I want to be family with you” like a mantra. He mocked my devotion, but I endured it all for Evelyn Vance, his mother who mirrored my late mom. As scandals rocked the Vance dynasty—Evelyn’s divorce from David Vance and Declan’s mistress Lily fleeing to Oceancrest City—I stood by, obediently packing Declan’s luggage while he chased after Lily. His promises of marriage and the title of Mrs Vance felt hollow, but my desire to be close to Evelyn kept me grounded. Now, with Declan gone, I focus on caring for Evelyn, navigating family drama, and uncovering hidden truths in this emotional saga of love, betrayal, and the bonds that define us.
Content：
I chased the spoiled Vance heir for three years.
The thing I said most was,
I want to be family with you.
He bragged to his friends about how devoted I was, looked down on me for having no self-respect, and how I acted like an obedient dog around him.
I never paid it any mind.
Because his mother looked exactly like my mom who had passed away.
I wanted to stay with her.
Before my marriage with Declan, two major scandals hit the Vance family.
First, Evelyn Vance wanted a divorce from David Vance.
Declan’s flirtatious ways were inherited from his father, who changed his mistresses almost every year.
David’s mistress this year was only twenty, young and fresh-faced, and she went to flaunt herself right in front of Evelyn.
Evelyn had a fiery temper and exploded instantly.
After slapping the young mistress, she stormed into the Vance family company, demanding a divorce.
This family disgrace quickly became public knowledge.
Second, Declan’s kept woman ran away.
That girl was named Lily, pure and lovely, yet with a stubborn look in her eyes.
She found out that Declan and I had set a wedding date. Heartbroken, she immediately left for Oceancrest City.
Declan was very fond of Lily, so he decided to go after her first.
Before leaving, he irritably asked me to go persuade his parents, who were now acting like enemies.
“Isn’t it normal for men to have some fun outside? Dad told me he’d never have any other children out there — isn’t that enough?”
I didn’t say anything, just quietly packed his luggage for him.
Suddenly, Declan wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder.
His tone turned tender,
“Nina, why are you always so well-behaved, so understanding? You’re not like anyone else.”
I paused what I was doing.
His scent enveloped me — a strong, somewhat overpowering cologne.
His lips were close to my ear, his words sticky and warm,
“I promise you, once I’m back, we’ll get married. The title of Mrs Vance will always be yours. I’ll give you anything you want.”
I held his hand, my tone growing more eager,
“Okay. I want to be family with you.”
I’d told him countless lies in the past.
Only this one was true.
After Declan left, I made my way to Evelyn’s villa.
Rather than calling her Mrs Vance, I preferred to think of her as Evelyn.
Evelyn was beautiful, with dignified, elegant features, which were incredibly the same as my dead mom.
The traces time had left on her face couldn’t hide the stunning beauty she’d been in her youth.
Back in the day, Mr Vance had fallen for her at first sight because of her breathtaking looks and insisted on marrying her.
But her temper didn’t match her appearance — she was a powder keg, easily set off.
People in their circles called Evelyn sharp-tongued, unreasonable, quick-tempered, vain, and self-centered.
Honestly, they weren’t wrong.
But I didn’t care.
Evelyn answered the door while sunbathing.
The backyard was bathed in bright sunlight, and she glanced lazily at me,
“You’re here?”
She didn’t look worn out, which relieved me.
Setting down the pastries I’d queued up to buy for her, I asked with concern,
“Mom, are you okay? How’s the divorce going? Do you need any help?”
“…What help could you possibly offer? Grown-up matters are none of your business,” Evelyn said impatiently.
“That old bastard — just watch me ruin him.”
I wasn’t concerned about what happened to the “old bastard” Mr Vance.
I only cared about Evelyn.
Winter had arrived, and Evelyn had poor circulation — her hands and feet were always cold.
“Let me stay here and take care of you these next few days, Mom,” I said obediently.
“I’ll cook for you. You’ve lost weight recently.”
“I’m on a diet, what do you know?”
Evelyn widened her eyes, tapping my forehead with her slender finger, frustrated.
“You’re always running over here. The wedding’s soon, the groom is out fooling around, and you’re not even worried.”
Her tap felt warm, making me want to lean into her embrace and fall asleep without a care.
I smiled, feeling happy.
What did it matter that Declan had run off with someone?
The farther away he stayed, the better — so he wouldn’t disturb the time Mom and I spent together.
I didn’t care about him. He could drop dead for all I cared.
But Declan was Evelyn’s biological son.
Even though their relationship was distant, they were still connected by blood.
That fact often made me burn with jealousy.
I was about to say, as I usually did, “Declan isn’t a bad person, he’s just a bit playful,” when Evelyn softly sighed.
“Nina,” she said, “I’m leaving this family.”
My expression froze.
“David and I lost whatever feelings we had a long time ago.”
“All these years, I wanted a divorce, but he wouldn’t allow it, worried it would affect the company.”
“Now that this is out in the open, I can finally go.”
Evelyn looked more relaxed than I’d ever seen her.
“There’s a foreign gentleman who’s been pursuing me. I find him quite charming.”
“We’ve agreed to travel abroad together. Who knows—maybe I’ll be married again when I come back.”
My lips parted. I wanted to ask something, but in the end, no words came out.
I wasn’t her biological daughter. I had no right to an opinion.
But I felt a sense of relief.
Evelyn’s happiness meant more to me than anything.
Now, she had the freedom she’d always dreamed of.
I would offer her my most sincere blessings.
I said earnestly, “Whoever Mom thinks is good is good.”
Evelyn looked at me quietly.
The fine lines at the corners of her eyes were like vines winding around a branch.
When she smiled, it was like thousands of flowers blooming.
“You think just because I’m older, I can’t see it?” she said, “Nina, aren’t you silly? Even if I leave, I can still be your mom.”
Evelyn paused, her tone unusually gentle.
“Sweetheart, come away with me.”
The first time I met Declan Vance was at a charity gala.
I was a volunteer representative from my university.
He arrived in a flashy sports car, with a streak of silver-dyed hair, handsome and rebellious.
I struck up a conversation with him and pursued him relentlessly ever since.
Everyone thought I’d fallen for him at first sight or was drawn to his wealth and status.
But that wasn’t it.
That day, Declan was there representing his mother.
A photo of Evelyn was displayed at the venue.
I stared at her, incredulous, lost, and greedy.
Evelyn looked ninety percent identical to my birth mother.
Only their auras were completely different.
The mother I remembered was gentle and refined, while Evelyn was bold and vibrant.
My mother spoke softly and kindly. Evelyn was assertive and direct.
My mother always dressed simply and modestly. Evelyn was elegant and luxurious.
But my mother had no siblings, and neither did Evelyn.
I secretly compared my DNA with Evelyn’s. We weren’t biologically related.
Anyway, I believed I’d found the other half of my mother.
I was just a poor student.
No matter how good my grades were or how bright my future seemed, in the city of Seattle, I had no roots.
I couldn’t get close to Evelyn.
But that was okay — I could get close to Declan.
He was flirtatious and obsessed with beauty.
And I happened to have a striking face, sharp acting skills, and a quick mind.
I doted on him, unwavering in my devotion.
No matter how he played around outside, I didn’t care.
After graduation, I used my connections and borrowed resources to quickly build a team.
Now, “Lumina Corp” was a rising star in the business world, qualified to partner with Vance Holdings.
So I was no longer just a “fling” he could play with — I had reached a status and height that made him take me seriously.
Declan and I got engaged.
That day, I finally got what I wanted.
I called Evelyn “Mom” for the first time.
At first, Evelyn was wary.
“Why are you trying to please me? Even if you two get married, I won’t live with you.”
Later, she softened and we got close. She even advised me to break up.
“What do you see in Declan? A girl like you could have anyone. Why stick with a piece of trash?”
Now, she was inviting me to leave the Vance family with her.
Evelyn and I boarded a flight abroad.
She probably had some leverage over Mr Vance because he gave in quickly. She’d moved all her things out with lightning speed.
Yesterday, a blogger posted a video of Declan and Lily dancing romantically on the beach, sharing a sweet kiss.
His scandal trended again.
Declan probably saw it and took a break from his busy schedule with Lily to send me a message:
“Nina, the wedding is still on. I’ll be back in time.”
I didn’t reply.
These past few days, I’d been busy helping Evelyn with the severance. I only just remembered I still had him on my contacts.
I blocked Declan and all his friends right before boarding the flight.
What wedding? Since Evelyn wouldn’t be there, I wasn’t going either.
The flight was bumpy, but I felt calm and happy.
As long as I was with Evelyn, I’d go anywhere.
Right after we landed, someone came to greet us.
A handsome, blond man held up a large sign, his eyes lighting up as he rushed over.
He took our luggage, flashing a bright smile, speaking fluent but slightly exaggerated English.
“My dear sweetheart Evelyn, I’ve been waiting for you like waiting for the stars and the moon! Finally, you’re here!”
Evelyn took off her sunglasses and gracefully allowed him to kiss her cheek.
I’d looked into this father and son before coming.
Carlo Cassido’s previous wife was American. She passed away from illness thirteen years ago.
He had a son named Galento Cassido, who also had a American name, James Johnson.
Five years ago, Carlo fell for Evelyn at first sight.
He was a gentleman. Knowing Evelyn was married, he never overstepped.
He just wrote to her occasionally and sometimes sent gifts.
He was devoted, waiting for Evelyn all these five years.
I could tell Evelyn liked him a lot — her eyes were full of smiles.
Just like how she’d loved David Vance in the past.
Evelyn was like that — when she loved, she held nothing back, passionate and fierce.
Even as she grew older, even after being hurt by love, she’d bravely embrace the next relationship.
“And this must be your precious Nina!”
Carlo looked at me, exclaiming in admiration.
“So adorable! A thousand times cuter than Galento! Evelyn, can we have a little doll like this too?”
Evelyn glared at him, giving him a sharp pinch.
“James is right here. What nonsense are you spouting?”
Behind Carlo, a stunningly handsome black-haired young man nodded politely to Evelyn.
“Ma’am, it’s been a while.”
Then, he reached out to me.
“Miss Grant, nice to meet you.”
He was mixed-race, with deep-set features but inheriting his mother’s delicate elegance.
His eyes were perfectly shaped, like top-quality gem.
I paused for a few seconds.
If my judgment was correct, Evelyn would marry Carlo.
James would soon be her new son.
Without the connection through Declan, Evelyn and I were just familiar strangers.
Even if she accepted me by her side for now, things could change later.
I wanted to rightfully stay by Evelyn’s side and call her Mom for the rest of my life.
I couldn’t accept any changes.
I wanted real, documented familial ties that couldn’t be severed, no matter what.
I wanted to marry James.
What kind of girls did he like?
How should I win his favor?
These thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant.
I smiled at James, reaching out.
“Mr Johnson, nice to meet you too.”
He looked at me quietly for a few seconds.
Then, suddenly, he smiled — like ice melting.
A bit awkwardly, he patted my head.
“Nina, since you’re Ma’am’s daughter, I’m your brother. Just call me James.”
I stood there, stunned and confused.
Maybe it was because his eyes were clear and gentle, without any hidden or ambiguous emotions.
His gaze was open and kind, affectionate but appropriately distant.
Unlike Declan, whose every look was filled with possessive desire.
I frowned, not believing there existed a man who’d willingly be a pretty girl’s “brother.”
But since he said it, I played along, “James.”
Anyway, figuring out people’s preferences and winning their favor — that was second nature to me by now.
Evelyn and I vacationed for over two weeks.
Carlo and James were excellent guides, carrying bags, paying bills, planning itineraries, and picking restaurants.
James was great at photography. He carried that expensive camera, directing Evelyn and me on poses.
And his photo-editing skills were top-notch — every strand of hair in the sunlight was perfectly retouched.
His output rivaled that of top fan club photographers.
Carlo might not have been good at photography, but he was excellent at providing emotional support. He’d exclaim in awe beside James’s camera.
“Oh god! Evelyn, you’re a masterpiece by God!”
“So beautiful! I can hardly breathe!”
Though exaggerated, his eyes sparkled, seeming utterly sincere.
I was sure Evelyn liked Carlo because she always laughed happily then.
Her eyes and smile were more vibrant than I’d ever seen back home.
Actually, I thought this big, bearded man who sang while cooking us steak in an apron was more reliable than David Vance.
At least he remembered Evelyn never ate salad dressing.
Unlike David, who always ordered her a garden salad when they went out, saying she should eat light as she aged.
Every morning and late at night, we’d run into each other by the study door, laptops in hand.
Then, we’d share a knowing smile.
The first time we met like that, Carlo scratched his head awkwardly.
“Hah, playing hooky on vacation is tempting, but my employees probably don’t think so.”
I said sincerely,
“I get it. My business partner already wants to fly here and kill me.”
By the seventh time, we could high-five each other for encouragement.
I found it silly, but Carlo loved it.
He said he learned it from an anime James liked.
James, bringing us orange juice and coffee, said helplessly,
“That was an anime I liked when I was five.”
Carlo’s company and mine were in the same industry.
I’d ask Carlo for management advice, and he’d sometimes discuss strategies for entering the American market with me.
During a video call, my partner Serena remarked,
“I thought you were slacking off by dumping everything on me, but now it seems like you’re here for training.”
As my business partner, she was always ambitious and driven.
She hadn’t been home for Christmas two years in a row, though she explained she wasn’t important in that family and had no one there worth visiting.
But I was different.
My career mattered a lot to me, but not more than Mom.
Only Serena knew.
So even though I spent a lot of time with Mom, as long as I handled work every night, she didn’t mind me not showing up at the office.
She said, “Others have love on the brain. You have mom on the brain.”
I just smiled without replying.
She also mentioned Declan.
“Your runaway bride act is big news. Everyone’s saying you left angrily because of that other woman, Lily, and that they’re laughing at Declan.”
Declan always used me as a bragging tool.
In others’ eyes, I was beautiful, gentle, capable at work, had high social status, but was still family-oriented.
In Declan’s eyes, I came to see Evelyn every day, took care of her when she was sick, and fulfilled his family duties without complaint.
Not only that, I could help him career-wise, never embarrassed him in public, and didn’t mind his mistress.
But sometimes, he felt insecure because my career advanced too fast, making him look incompetent.
Once, drunk, he laughed in front of others about how the CEO of Lumina Corp acted like an obedient dog around him at home.
I stood outside listening, then calmly walked in to take him home amid everyone’s awkward stares.
Truthfully, I didn’t care much about his attitude.
We were engaged then. Him belittling me only made him a laughingstock.
But Evelyn found out later and slapped Declan.
She urged me to call off the engagement, her eyes filled with genuine concern.
She didn’t know I stayed with Declan just for the warmth of her palm.
Other wealthy guys envied Declan for landing a wife like me.
Now that I’d run away, him being laughed at was only natural.
Serena continued, “Declan and Lily broke up. That girl attempted suicide and was hospitalized, but he didn’t even visit.”
I frowned slightly, “She didn’t die, right?”
“No, who’d actually die over a man? She cut her wrist, but it wasn’t deep.”
“But Declan is truly scum — the day before, he was kissing her on trending news, and he never visited her in the hospital.”
I wasn’t surprised, “Well, being scared once might teach her not to gamble with her life again.”
Serena nodded in agreement,
“Declan’s been searching for you like crazy, turning half the city upside down.”
“When he came to Lumina last time, I was shocked…”
“He used to be good-looking, but now he looks like a worn-out forty-year-old. Men’s prime is short.”
I replied seriously,
“If he looked more like Evelyn, he wouldn’t have aged poorly.”
Serena chuckled,
“He’s been acting insane, asking me where you are, why you blocked him…”
“I ignored him. Had security blacklist him from Lumina.”
That was that.
Neither Serena nor I cared much about Declan.
“By the way, that Italian hottie in your social feed — is he your future stepdad’s son?” Serena asked, “What’s your plan? Gonna go for him?”
She’d once asked me why I used such methods to get close to Evelyn.
In her view, it wasn’t much different from sacrificing myself.
I didn’t give her an answer, just smiled.
The reason we worked so well together was because we didn’t interfere in each other’s lives.
She wouldn’t judge my personal matters.
I didn’t answer, just lowered my gaze slightly.
Of course, that’s what I’d thought initially. I felt there needed to be a bridge tying Evelyn and me together.
The first bridge was Declan.
The next bridge would be James.
But facing James, after all this time, I felt somewhat lost.
When I approached Declan, I barely needed to act — he believed wholeheartedly that I was into him.
Back then, he looked down on me, his gaze teasing and dismissive, always with a faint, knowing smile.
I knew what he was thinking:
Gold diggers like her always cling to guys like me for money and status. How boring.
But a pretty student throwing herself at me — why not give her a try?
I understood that mentality perfectly because, in my experience, 99% of men were like that.
But James seemed to be the 1%.
He’d wait in long lines to buy trendy snacks at tourist spots, then quietly throw away the trash after I finished.
He’d cut steak for us at restaurants, just like Carlo, each piece perfectly shaped because we wanted photos.
He’d make breakfast for me every morning, remembering what I liked after seeing it once.
But he did the same for Carlo and Evelyn.
He said we were family.
When we walked together, he always kept a polite distance — close but not intimate.
Once, when it suddenly poured, he tilted the umbrella toward me, letting his own shoulder get soaked.
I knocked on his door lightly dressed, asking why the shower in my room wasn’t working.
His first reaction was to hand me a new coat, then check the shower in another guest room.
After confirming it was fine, he told me to use that one while he got a toolkit and a maid to fix mine.
I didn’t get it.
Shouldn’t he have let me shower in his room, creating a naturally arousing atmosphere?
But James wouldn’t do that.
So when he brought breakfast to my door another morning, I casually said, “Thanks, James.”
It was the coffee cake I’d mentioned wanting the night before.
James just smiled, gently patting my head.
“No need to thank your brother. We’re family.”
Really?
We were family?
I could become family without giving anything in return?
That doubt was probably written all over my face.
But I felt uncertain.
So much so that I couldn’t even answer Serena right then.
After relaxing enough, Evelyn and I prepared to return home.
She and Carlo had grown closer quickly, but neither mentioned marriage outright.
After all, there was such distance between them.
Evelyn didn’t want to emigrate, and Carlo and James had their careers abroad — a long-distance relationship seemed inevitable.
But before returning, Carlo mysteriously invited us camping.
The suburban sky was clear, the stars bright.
We raised glasses under the moonlight when Carlo suddenly knelt down and proposed to Evelyn.
Under the ring was what looked like a job transfer letter.
He’d applied for a director position at the overseas branch, meaning he’d be responsible for the American market from now on.
Carlo had been preparing this for a long time.
It wasn’t a lateral move — it was a demotion.
And a voluntary one.
He flashed a bright smile, asking Evelyn with tearful eyes,
“Evelyn, is the American visa easy to get? Galento and I don’t want to be illegal immigrants.”
Evelyn didn’t speak, just leaned down to hug him.
The tall man’s eyes lit up, immediately lifting her and spinning around.
He cheered, wanting to share his joy with the world,
“I did it!”
I asked James, “Did you know about this?”
“Yeah.” James smiled faintly, speaking casually, “I’m ahead of Carlo — I already got an offer in America.”
When taking group photos, we set up the camera. Carlo ruffled my hair, grinning at James.
“Galento, now I have a daughter too!”
Both he and James liked patting my head.
Their touches were gentle and affectionate, their eyes filled with pure fondness.
It was the kind of love for family, devoid of any desire.
Evelyn held me close. As the camera clicked, I curved my lips into a smile.
But when I heard them discussing marriage certificates, my smile faded bit by bit.
They were the real family.
Distractedly, I thought: If I want Evelyn to be my mom, I must…
My thoughts were messy, no answer in sight, when James handed me a skewer of grilled pineapple.
In the firelight, he said gently,
“Once we’re there, you’ll have to be my tour guide, Nina.”
Evelyn raised an eyebrow,
“Then you better pay my daughter wages.”
Carlo declared, “We’ll pay! We have Nina’s bank details. Her brother can transfer her money every month!”
James skillfully grilled me a honey-glazed chicken wing,
“I’d do that even if you didn’t say so.”
They joked and laughed while I lowered my head, slowly taking a bite of the now-cool pineapple.
It was sweet but also somewhat bitter.
As we prepared to leave, Evelyn asked me,
“What’s on your mind? You’ve been spacing out.”
I held her slightly cool hand.
“Nothing. Just thinking winter here is too cold. I don’t like it.”
I was thinking why winter here was so cold, making Mom’s hands icy.
I was thinking why it wasn’t cold enough to freeze this amber-like time.
Only if there were a temperature so low that could freeze the moment.
After returning to America, we moved into the villa that Evelyn had newly purchased.
Carlo was busy with his new job, overwhelmed every day.
Evelyn couldn’t stand it and went to the company to help him — of course, she demanded a salary.
James, as a designer, could basically work from home, so he seemed particularly free.
Occasionally, he would go out, and whenever he did, I would keep my promise to be his tour guide.
I gave him a gift.
It was a set of porcelain I had fired in my spare time.
James placed it in the largest glass display cabinet in his room, with all the trophies he had won from design competitions over the years positioned beneath it.
The next day, when we went out together, he suddenly asked me,
“Nina, your birthday is coming up. What do you want?”
What do I want?
Since childhood, I have obtained everything I wanted through my own efforts — except for one thing.
Only this one thing.
I looked at him, “I want to be family with you.”
—Bang!
The sound of something heavy hitting the ground suddenly rang out.
Someone had slammed their fist hard against the car door beside us.
Declan, whom I hadn’t seen in days, stood behind us, blood dripping from his fist, his face as dark as a storm.
The door of his flashy sports car was wide open, the engine even still running.
“Be family with him?”
He couldn’t hold back a cold laugh, nodding as he repeated those familiar words. “Good, very good… Nina, you’re something else!”
James frowned slightly and stepped in front of me, shielding me.
I looked at Declan calmly.
The city wasn’t that big, and besides, Lumina Corp was still here.
It was impossible for me to disappear completely.
If he was determined to find me, it was only a matter of time before we crossed paths.
When Evelyn and I left together initially, I didn’t hide my whereabouts.
I occasionally posted travel photos, and Serena’s suddenly cold attitude toward him…
Declan wasn’t a fool, after all.
This period of time had been enough for him to piece everything together.
We were once intimate lovers.
But he was stupid, and I had secret motives.
Neither of us was a good person, and the genuine feelings between us were pitifully few.
In my heart, he was completely insignificant.
Especially after Evelyn expressed that she might as well have never had this son, I had even less patience to deal with him.
I had no intention of explaining myself either.
I just stood there, looking at him with the same cold indifference.
But Declan seemed to calm down.
“Nina,” he said, “come back with me. Let’s have the wedding. I’ll let bygones be bygones.”
What he said was so absurd that I couldn’t help but let out a light laugh.
If it weren’t for Evelyn, I wouldn’t have given someone like him a second glance.
I didn’t even bother to reply. I simply said to James, “Let’s go.”
“Nina Grant!” The veins on Declan’s forehead bulged as he rushed toward me.
“How could you do this to me?! I sent out so many invitations!”
“Do you have any idea how much of a laughingstock I became when the bride didn’t show up on the wedding day?!”
“But I’m not holding it against you. Just come back to me, and I’ll pretend none of this ever happened—”
His eyes were bloodshot, his emotions raging. But just before he could reach me, James stopped him.
James had been silent until then.
But now, his sapphire-blue eyes were icy cold, his tone severe,
“Yelling at a lady like this, sir, is truly disgraceful.”
“And who the hell are you? Her new backup plan?” Declan spat out recklessly.
“Do you know how long we were together? Do you know how she acted around me? Do you know how many times I’ve slept with—”
Before he could finish, James threw a punch.
James grew up abroad. He was gentle, sincere, and always a polite gentleman.
But he was also into fitness, far stronger than a dissipated playboy like Declan.
So, it was a one-sided beating.
I had never seen James so angry before.
If I hadn’t stopped him, I have no doubt he would have beaten Declan to death.
“James,” I shook my head, “that’s enough.”
Only then did James stop throwing punches.
I looked at Declan, who had been beaten to the ground and took a long time to get up, and said expressionlessly,
“That video of you kissing another woman was trending for two days, and it happened just three days before our wedding.”
“Marrying someone like you would have made me the real laughingstock.”
It’s just that I didn’t care back then.
As long as I could become Evelyn’s daughter, what did it matter if I became a laughingstock?
“You still care about me, don’t you? You left because of Lily, after all…”
Declan’s eyes suddenly lit up.
“Nina, I’ve cut ties with her. I’ll never again…”
“I don’t love you,” I cut him off.
“I don’t care about you. I don’t want to marry you, and I don’t want anything to do with you in the future.”
“How many women you fool around with outside has nothing to do with me.”
“You don’t love me? You don’t want to marry me…” He stood there stunned, his questioning voice growing louder.
“Impossible! I don’t believe it! How could you change your mind so quickly? Nina, could it be that all along you were…”
He couldn’t finish.
The slight, tangled clues, the feigned sincerity, the occasional glimpses of indifference…
Piece by piece, it all pointed less to tolerant, generous love and more to simple indifference.
His body swayed unsteadily, his face gradually turning deathly pale, as if struck by lightning.
He had finally realized I had been “performing.”
The devastated Declan looked up dazedly,
“Why?”
I didn’t answer.
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