Chapter 17: The Gift

Later that Night:

Lina had made herself at home in Cole's room, as she often did. While her twin brother sat glued to his computer, typing away in silence, she sprawled comfortably across his king-sized bed in her pajamas, babbling on without a care.

"I had the most exhausting day today!" Lina exclaimed, rolling onto her stomach and propping her chin up with her hands. "I got to take your place, you know? It was so tiresome!" She grinned, nudging him. "I think you owe me some compensation for covering your spot."

Cole didn't even glance at her, his fingers clacking away at the keys like she wasn't there.

Unbothered by his indifference, Lina sighed, flipping onto her back again. "Oh, by the way, did you know that Eve is really small? I mean, I'm at least a head taller than her! That totally surprised me."

"We're just tall," Cole muttered flatly, eyes fixed on the screen.

Lina's lips curled into a sly smile. "Oh? Are you defending her now?"

Cole's brows furrowed, the tension in his forehead almost comical as his lips pressed into a tighter line.

Lina only giggled more. "I don't get why you don't like her, brother. She's beautiful, and I think those rumors about her are totally bogus. At the dance, I expected her to be clingy, always bothering me about you, but she doesn't even mention you! It's kinda . . . refreshing." Because everyone was asking Cole to her like she was his personal caretaker.

Still, Cole remained silent, as if the conversation was beneath him.

"Then again," Lina continued, her tone shifting to one of contemplation, "you don't like any women besides Mother and me. Are you sure you even want to go through with this engagement to Eve?"

"I don't care who it is. I just want to get it over with," Cole replied, not missing a beat in his typing.

Lina rolled her eyes dramatically. "If you said you didn't want to, Father and Mother would probably call off the whole thing."

"What's the point? It'll happen eventually. No sense in fighting the inevitable."

Lina let out a deep breath, staring at the ceiling. "I guess. I mean, in our family, marriage is more of a business deal than anything else. It makes sense. You already know Eve, and she's been in love with you since forever."

She paused, her expression growing more serious. "But . . . are you okay with it? I mean, she's really in love with you, but you don't feel the same way, do you? Isn't it cruel to tie her to a loveless marriage?"

Cole's fingers froze over the keyboard for a moment, a small sign that her words had gotten through, even if just a little.

"At least for old time's sake," Lina added softly, "you could save her from that kind of life. She's always loved you, but all she'll get in return is . . . this. A cold, distant husband. Isn't that a cruel fate?"

Cole sighed, finally turning his chair around to face her.

Lina blinked, momentarily stunned by his intense gaze. He was the spitting image of their father, Cain Fay, but ten times more intimidating with that brooding demeanor and sharp, indifferent tone. Cain had softened over the years, thanks to Lina's mother, Leana, but Cole? He had inherited his father's former ruthlessness, and now, he wore it like armor.

"Since when do you care about her feelings?" he asked, crossing his arms.

Lina pursed her lips, thinking. "Since just now, I guess. I didn't like her before — she was always chasing after you, and it got on my nerves. But now . . . she seemed . . . different. She doesn't even light up when she talks about you anymore. It's like she's forcing herself just to say your name. If I didn't know any better, I'd think she hated you. Did something happen between you two?"

Cole didn't answer, his gaze hardening as he turned back to his screen. "I'm busy. Can you leave now? You have your own room."

Lina laughed, rolling around the bed again. "But I like it here. Besides, it's lonely in my room. At least here, I've got you."

"Stop being a child," Cole said, though the reprimand lacked any real heat.

Their playful bickering was interrupted by a knock on the door. One of the housemaids entered, bowing slightly.

"Miss Lina, you have a package."

Lina perked up immediately, excitement bubbling in her voice. "Who's it from?"

"Miss Eve Rosette," the maid replied.

"Oh?" Lina's curiosity was piqued as she retrieved the package. As soon as the door closed behind the maid, she eagerly ripped it open, finding a small card resting on top. It read: Dear Lina, an apology for before, Eve.

"Apology? For what?" Lina muttered, tilting her head in confusion. "Oh . . . must be because of that incident with her maid."

Setting the card aside, Lina pulled out the gift beneath it. Her eyes widened in shock. It was a beautifully hand-drawn watercolor portrait of her and Dylan dancing earlier that day. The figures were captured mid-spin, almost animated in how lifelike they seemed. The delicate brushstrokes and vibrant colors gave the entire piece an ethereal glow.

It was . . . beautiful.

And Lina loved it.

"What's that?" Cole's voice cut through her awe as he glanced over his shoulder, noticing her excitement.

Lina quickly hid the card behind her back, cheeks flushing. "N-nothing!"

She didn't want her brother to know she'd received something so personal from Eve.

Of all the expensive jewelry, limited edition handbags, and lavish clothes she had ever received, this simple watercolor card was the most meaningful. It was clear Eve had drawn it herself, especially since her signature was neatly scrawled at the bottom like an artist's stamp of approval.

Lina had never known that Eve could draw, but then again, she didn't really know much about her at all. She had always dismissed her as just another lovesick girl chasing after Cole, but this . . . this was different.

Lina suddenly felt a pang of guilt. She had misjudged Eve, lumping her in with the others without ever giving her a chance.

Perhaps it was time to change that.

She clutched the card tightly, her mind racing. She would prepare a gift of her own in return.

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Chapter 18: That Day in the Field

"Today, as you step into the world beyond these walls, remember that success isn't defined by the destination, but by the courage to chase your dreams, the strength to rise after failure, and the heart to keep moving forward, no matter the challenge."

I stood at the back of the sprawling field, listening to Cole's valedictorian speech as the sun dipped low, casting a golden hue over the ceremony.

He graduated at the top of his class, and I couldn't have been prouder. In that moment, I felt like a proud mom — cheering and hollering for him from the back. I didn't care if all eyes turned my way. Let them stare.

Beside me, Sophie couldn't resist adding her two cents. "Too bad Cole's graduating just as you're about to enter high school, young lady," she said, her voice filled with that familiar mocking edge.

I crossed my arms, smirking confidently. "It's fine," I shot back, tossing my hair over my shoulder. "He's mine in the end anyway. We'll be getting married as soon as I turn eighteen. It won't be long now."

I felt a rush of excitement as I clutched the small gift in my hands — along with the love letter I had rewritten a hundred times over. This was it, the moment I had imagined for years. As Cole's speech neared its conclusion, my heart raced with anticipation.

He was up there on that stage, looking perfect, commanding the attention of everyone, like he always did. The crowd hung on his every word, but all I could think about was how soon he'd be mine. My fingers tightened around the gift, my secret offering for him. This was my moment too — the one I had been waiting for.

Sophie glanced at me, clearly enjoying my deperation, but I didn't care. All I knew was that after tonight, things were going to change.

When everything ended, I waited patiently on the sidelines.

As always, there was a crowd gathered around Cole. He had that magnetic presence, the kind that drew people in without even trying. Girls hovered around him, offering him gifts, but he brushed them all off.

I stood there, watching, feeling a surge of pride swell inside me. In a few years, he would be mine. Everyone practically knew by now that he was my boyfriend, or so I thought.

I bided my time, slowly making my way toward him. My eyes never left his face. Nothing else mattered. I didn't notice the crowd parting to let me through, nor did I hear the whispers that followed me. It was just me and Cole.

When our eyes finally met, a shiver ran through me. My stomach fluttered with familiar excitement as I drew closer, each step bringing me closer to the moment I had been waiting for. Everything else faded.

The crowd, the noise, the world — it was just Cole.

"Cole," I whispered, my voice soft, vulnerable. "I love you."

I waited for his reaction, hope filling every inch of me. But his expression didn't change. His eyes stayed cold, distant. When he spoke, his voice was deep, commanding, and heartbreakingly indifferent.

"Stop bothering me."

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. His voice echoed across the field, amplified by the microphone clip on his toga. I hadn't even noticed it was on.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I don't have feelings for you? Stop bothering me," he repeated, the words cutting deeper than any rejection before.

My heart shattered. I was used to his rejections, his indifference. I always smiled through them, laughed them off, made jokes to hide the sting. But this—this was different. The entire field had heard.

Suddenly, I felt all eyes on me. The whispers grew louder, turning into snickers, then outright laughter. My face burned with humiliation. I didn't know where to look, where to hide. And Cole? He just walked away, completely unaffected, as if none of it mattered.

"C-Cole . . ." I called out weakly, my voice trembling. I was used to his coldness, his harsh words, but today, the weight of the mockery was too much. The laughter from the crowd, their cruel smiles — it made me feel sick.

My stomach turned, and before I knew it, I was on my knees, retching. The world around me spun as the tears I refused to let fall burned behind my eyes.

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