[5 years ago]
The epitome of perfection. She twirled around in the mirror another time and admired herself. She knew her mother graced the runways and magazines when she was young, and would have been proud of her if she were alive.
Though no mementos were left of her mother as her grandparents had destroyed them all. Only her nanny secretly telling her what her mother used to be like.
She said her mother looks like her. Jadeite like skin, raven black hair, as if Alana Yu was immortalized with her. That when her mother was alive and young, it was the liveliest and busiest there ever was in the Yu residence.
As parties were held from one to another, people coming in and out bringing something, currying favor to the elders to ask for her mother's hand.
It was said that her mother was spoiled rotten by the elders as she was the only child.
Until her mother came home pregnant without a man with her. It broke the elders' hearts. Not wanting a scandal to break out, they hid Alana from the public until she gave birth to her. Sadly, Alana died that same day.
She never celebrated her birthday, not once in 19 years. As she is afraid to hurt her grandparents knowing it is also her mother's death anniversary. During those days, she spend the whole day in her mother's grave. Talking to the woman she had never set eyes on.
She didn't even gave a chance to those people recruiting her for the runways. She love her grandparents so much. There's no point hurting them by following her mother's path.
One day, when she was only 10 years old, the nanny told her what Grandfather Yu wanted of her late mother. And that was to marry his friend's son, Andrew Liu. Since then, she always find a way to get closer to Andrew Liu's son, Alex.
But 9 years after, to her disappointment, he never had any interest with her.
She shrugged that thought.
'I like him and I will marry him. There's just no better man.'
She smiled at her reflection again pleased with herself. That night, she was fitting inside a designer's boutique. Carefully choosing her dress for a charity dinner she is invited to in two nights time. Too bad, if she was as famous as her mom, these designers would personally come to the villa and beg her to wear their creation. As she approached the sales assistant to wrap the dress up, she noticed two women choosing clothes behind her.
Her eyes widened in shock!
Thank God she was facing a mirrored wall, and the two women who were discussing among themselves are unaware of her.
She almost fainted as she thought she saw a doppelganger of herself! With a quick thinking she reached for the mask in her purse and wear it hiding her face away.
She hushed the sales assistant who also noticed the other two and gestured for her to finish the sale.
Coming closer to the two women, she heard the other say,
"Lara, this is your first performance. A nice dress will make you confident up on stage!"
"But Jenny, this a very expensive store okay? I won't have enough allowance for the next months if we choose one here!"
"Then, stay with me, I'll feed you!" The woman called "Jenny" laughed at the other.
"Look, Auntie Lana would love to watch you play wearing a beautiful dress. It's your first time. If she was here..."
Then both girls got misty eyed.
Lara? Auntie Lana? Her heart was beating so loud against her chest. What is going on? What is this feeling?
In the end, she waited for them to make a purchase and went out of the store. As soon as they were out of sight, she approached the sales assistant and asked for the name of the girl with the brown hair. She saw her give her card to the assistant earlier.
Lara Lee.
Who is she?