Chapter 4

I wasn't just being delusional.

Victor and I grew up together. For as long as I could remember, Mrs. Miller had treated me like her own daughter.

She used to hold me in her arms and brag to the neighbors:

"Look at our Kate. Gorgeous, isn't she? She’s ours. When she grows up, she’s going to marry Victor."

"And Victor absolutely adores her!"

When I turned eighteen, boys at school started asking me out.

When Mrs. Miller found out, she immediately wanted to set up an official engagement.

Though my parents politely declined, saying we were too young, she went out and bought a delicate gold chain with a heart pendant.

"It's just a small token for now. I'll get you a bigger, proper diamond later. Don't feel pressured, just wear it for fun."

It was an expensive piece of jewelry, and I felt uncomfortable accepting it. I tried to hand it back.

But Victor had smiled and gently clasped it around my neck. "It looks beautiful on you, Kate. Right?"

Later, I bought Mrs. Miller a gift of equal value to make things even.

But that moment had rooted itself deeply in my heart.

Now, it felt like a cruel joke. I was the only one who had taken it seriously.