Chapter 3

This was the first time I had seen Sybilla Pruitt in person, yet I recognized her at a glance.

She looked like me, and she didn't.

She had the delicate features of a Southern beauty, and the illness gave her a fragile, ailing sort of softness.

I, on the other hand, had the plain, sturdy look of someone from the North.

"Sonia, you're back."

Rod stood up, a little awkward.

"Sybilla doesn't have any family or friends out here, and living in a hotel isn't good for her recovery, so I brought her home."

Sybilla came toward me with a frail little smile.

"You must be Sonia. Rod talks about you all the time. Thank you for keeping him company these past few years."

The words sounded like gratitude, but they were all showing off and provocation.

"Sonia, Sybilla's a sick woman. Try to be considerate of her."

Rod stood across from me with his arm around Sybilla, as if I were the outsider here.

"And how exactly would you like me to be considerate?"

Rod pulled me aside, his tone earnest.

"The master bedroom is more spacious, and the light's better. It's good for Sybilla's recovery. You're generous, Sonia. You won't make a fuss over this, will you?"

I looked at Rod and gave a small laugh, then turned and gathered my things and moved into the guest room.

Late that night, I opened the notes app on my phone.

【Sybilla Pruitt is Rod's first love. She's sick, and he has to take care of her.】

I thought my forbearance would at least let me get through the days before I went abroad in peace. I never expected this was only the beginning.

I can't eat anything spicy. But Sybilla was from the South, and she couldn't stand a meal without heat.

So every day Rod cooked heavy, spicy Southern food.

Every day I had to eat at the restaurant downstairs before coming home.

A few days later, Sybilla sneezed in the living room and turned to Rod with reddened eyes.

"Rod, I think I'm allergic to pollen. It's awful."

Rod tensed up at once and turned to look at me.

"Sonia, could you close down that flower shop of yours for now? Sybilla's body can't take even the smallest strain right now."

In that moment, I could hardly believe my ears.

Owning a flower shop had been my dream since I was a child, and I had only just gotten it off the ground. Now Rod, over a single sentence from Sybilla, wanted me to tear it down with my own hands.

"There's no need to close the shop."

I looked at him calmly.

"I'll move out."

Rod froze for a second. The guilt in his eyes flickered and vanished, replaced by relief.

"That works too. Stay somewhere else for a few days, and once Sybilla's feeling better, I'll bring you home."

The day I moved out, Sybilla leaned close to my ear and spoke softly.

"Sonia Swanson, Rod can only be mine. You're the stand-in. Time for you to get lost."

I froze, staring at the woman in front of me, her eyes cold and vicious now, without a trace of that softness or sickliness.

"You never had cancer at all, did you? You're faking it."

Sybilla raised an eyebrow, not bothering to hide her smugness.

"So what if I am?"

"Aren't you afraid I'll tell Rod?"

"Do you think Rod will believe you, or me?"

Sybilla suddenly gave an eerie little smile, then let herself fall backward, crashing hard onto the floor.

At the same moment, Rod walked out of the room.

The sight of it drained the color from his face. He rushed over and scooped Sybilla up.

"Sybilla! What happened?!"