From Their Stand-in to Center of His Universe

Though the ward was warm and bright, just the thought of what I'd been through sent my body shaking and seeping cold sweat.

There was a sudden commotion outside before Cole and Finn stepped in through the door.

From behind them, Zoey peeked out and said, "I never knew you were so afraid of the dark, and was this weak, Ms. Fletcher. If I'd known, I would never have dragged them into that bet.

"Now, I've arranged the best doctors for you and promise there won't be any complications!"

My body was still weak from the fever. My head felt heavy, and even speaking felt like too much effort, so I turned my face away. To them, it looked like I refused to forgive her.

Cole coldly said, "Don't throw a tantrum. Have you forgotten what I taught you?

"Zoey has sincerely apologized, yet you haven't said a single word. Don't forget your place."

What was my place, really? I'd almost frozen to death in that attic, and to him, it was nothing but me being difficult. Was this the same Cole I knew?

When I was a kid, Dad used to beat me up over the smallest things. When I was too exhausted to beg, he'd lock me in a pitch-black basement.

"Jinx! I haven't won a single bet ever since you were born! Should've beaten you to death along with that useless mom of yours!"

The basement was sealed tight, and an unbearable smell lingered in the air. Plus, there were always mice squeaking in the corners. With blood and tears mixed on my face, I'd curl up in the corner and wonder why I couldn't just bring him good luck or protect Mom.

I prayed over and over for him to let me out sooner, but no one heard me, not until Cole showed up.

That time, Dad had gotten drunk again and raised a stick at me in the street. Like always, I'd squatted down and covered my head, bracing myself for the pain. But it never came.

When I looked up, Cole's calm, refined face entered my sight. His bodyguards said something to Dad, who respectfully straightened up. Then, he walked away smiling with a bank card.

"Would you like to come with me? I'll take good care of you?" Cole asked.

As someone way above my league in school, he was well-dressed and born into wealth. His brown eyes held a steady look far older than his age.

I felt like I'd been under a spell when I nodded without hesitation. From that day onward, I had a new home. It was warm and bright, always smelling faintly of flowers and fresh pastries.

Cole treated me like his most precious treasure, and so did the Mitchells.

That was how I met Finn, Cole's closest buddy since childhood. The Archers were powerful and well-known in Vallermoore, too.

Unlike the quiet Cole, Finn was warm and bright like the summer sun. He knew I was scared of the dark, so he made me a cartoon bunny nightlamp by hand. He'd confessed his feelings the night he gave it to me, and when Cole walked in and saw it, anger flashed through the latter's usually calm, stoic face.

After that, he filled a whole wall of my room with all kinds of adorable nightlamps and forbade Finn from entering the Mitchell residence again.

Finn couldn't stand not seeing me, so he suggested that the three of us treat each other as siblings. That finally calmed Cole's anger.

Those were the happiest days I'd ever known. They took care of every single detail of my life and spoiled me like a real princess. I thought that life would last forever, until Zoey abruptly showed up.

A few months ago, she'd arrived unannounced and marched into the house. I stood frozen and watched as she directed the housekeepers to relocate my belongings to the guest room.

When she smashed my favorite bunny nightlamp on purpose, I couldn't hold back a fight, only to receive Cole's reprimand. "Zoey is our guest, Emma. Don't embarrass yourself."

Finn nodded along. "You have a whole wall of nightlamps, so what's wrong with giving Zoey a few? Don't be so petty."

I couldn't believe the words came from the same people who used to spoil me so much, just like how I couldn't bring myself to face the three of them now.

As Finn shielded Zoey behind him, he snapped, "Zoey got a little too carried away since she's just back. She had no idea the attic was so dark and cold, and you can't fault someone for what they don't know.

"So, drop the grudge, and don't start acting moody and silent like Cole."

When I was so speechless I couldn't reply, his patience snapped.

"You're perfectly fine now, Emma. Do you honestly have to be so relentlessly petty?"