I pulled up at Greeneries and took a deep breath, already dreading what was waiting for me inside.
Don't get me wrong — the place itself was beautiful. Modern, cozy, with lush greenery everywhere, sunlight streaming through the large windows, and an open, airy design that made it feel fresh.
But it wasn't the ambiance that had me on edge — it was the people I was about to meet.
With a final steadying breath, I stepped out of the car and headed in, preparing myself for whatever was coming. The staff led me to the private section, and sure enough, there was Sophia, seated elegantly at the table. And of course, Sophie was right next to her, like always.
The way Sophia doted on Sophie, treating her like she was the golden child, made me wonder how none of the family relatives ever questioned their relationship. It was obvious.
But then again, I didn't see it before either. So maybe I was an idiot too.
"Eve, good that you're here. Take a seat," Sophia said, her voice sharp and commanding.
Sophie was already comfortably settled next to her, eating like she owned the place — no pretense of modesty, no attempt to act like the maid she was supposed to be. But I guess, with no one else around, all the masks were off.
At least Cole wasn't here, or anyone else from the Fay family for that matter. I could stomach this much.
"I'm sorry I'm late!"
I spoke too soon.
A tall, slender woman walked in, her presence lighting up the room instantly. Her long, chestnut hair fell in soft waves, and her warm brown eyes sparkled with genuine delight. She smiled brightly, and the tension in the air seemed to lift for a moment.
Lina Fay.
Cole's twin sister.
My heart clenched painfully, and my stomach churned like I was going to be sick. Was Cole coming too? I wasn't ready for that. Not here. Not now.
"Sorry Cole couldn't make it, so I'm filling in for him," Lina said as she gracefully sat down next to me. Her smile widened when she saw me, her bubbly, friendly personality the complete opposite of her brother's.
"I'm so excited for your eighteenth birthday, Eve! I'm really sorry Cole couldn't be here today for this important meeting."
"Huh?" I blinked, confused. Meeting? What?
Sophia answered before I could process anything. "Nonsense, Lina. I'm the one who's sorry for calling Cole on such short notice. I just wanted to discuss the last dance. Eve's debut is only five months away, and she and Cole haven't practiced their final dance yet."
Oh, right. The last dance. In traditional debuts, the first dance was with the father, and the last was with the fiancé. So that's what they wanted to talk about?
This could've been handled back home, but no. They dragged me out here, likely hoping to see if I'd swoon over Cole or embarrass myself in front of them.
Too bad for them. Not even Sophia Rosette could summon Cole Fay on a whim. That man didn't clear his schedule for anyone, not even for one of the richest women in the world. If you wanted his time, you had to make an appointment and wait in line like everyone else.
Cole was finishing his business marketing degree and was a few years older than me, which meant he was probably very busy. And even if he wasn't, I was sure he wouldn't care to drop everything just for this.
Then again, who even was I? My entire existence felt like a lie these days. For all I knew, even my upcoming birthday was a fabrication. It was Sophie's real birthday.
I didn't even know when my real birthday was or who were my real parents.
Lina tried not to flinch at the mention of her brother skipping out on practice. She smiled, but the tension was there, just beneath the surface.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Rosette. I'll make sure to scold my brother for not practicing the dance," she said, clearly feeling the weight of Cole's absence.
Sophia, ever the tactician, gave Lina's hand a warm, reassuring squeeze. "Oh, don't be so formal, dear. Call me Auntie. After all, we'll be family soon, right?"
Lina forced a smile, while I quietly sipped my tea, watching the show. Lina was always the one covering for Cole. Every time.
She attended the important meetings Cole couldn't be bothered with, met the people he refused to meet, and showed up at parties he didn't care to attend. Lina spent her life keeping her brother's reputation intact, but honestly, I thought it was a waste of her time.
Cole didn't need saving. His arrogance and indifference were just part of the package. He was cold, calculating, and distant — just like his father, Cain Fay. And, as twisted as it was, that only seemed to elevate his status. The more unreachable he was, the more people wanted to be near him.
"I'm sorry, Eve," Lina said suddenly, her words snapping me out of my thoughts. She turned to me, her expression soft. "I'm sorry my brother hasn't been practicing with you for the dance."
I was taken aback. This meeting hadn't happened before so I really didn't know how to react. The usual line of the story slightly diverge to what I had known. This probably the product of what I had been doing the past days.
I have to be careful not to diverge too much or something might happen that was out of the story and slap me right on the face.
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|| A/N ||
Apologies for the delay in updates! I've been under the weather, and the storm hitting us right now has Wi-Fi playing hide and seek. But no worries — more chapters are on the way to make up for the lost time! Stay tuned!