Love Turned to Dust, a Final Farewell

: Sister

"Chase, who is she?"

Raina Rhodes's voice was sickeningly sweet, with a hint of grievance.

Chase Quinn's icy expression thawed. He reached past me and affectionately wrapped his arm around Raina Rhodes's shoulder.

"She's the younger sister I've mentioned to you so often, Jasmine Hollis."

'Sister.'

That word, coming from Chase Quinn's lips, rolled through my heart, scalding me until my eyes turned red.

I bit down hard on my lip, the metallic taste of blood on my tongue helping me barely restrain the torrent of emotions.

But Raina Rhodes, seemingly oblivious to the strange atmosphere, just giggled coquettishly and gently swayed Chase Quinn's arm.

"Oh, so it's little sister Jasmine. You should stay for dinner then. Chase is going to cook himself today, you know."

My eyes flew wide open.

Last week, I had a high fever. I pleaded with Chase Quinn to make me a bowl of congee, but he refused, saying he didn't know how to cook. In the end, I was the one who had to drag my sick body out of bed to cook for him.

'So he *does* know how to cook. He just won't cook for me.'

Chase Quinn seemed to recall that day as well. A flicker of guilt crossed his face before he composed himself and chimed in.

"Since Raina asked you to stay, you might as well eat with us."

I nodded mechanically, my mind elsewhere.

The memories of my time with Chase Quinn were like the aroma of food wafting from the kitchen—lingering in my heart, but impossible to grasp.

"Jasmine, do you have a sweetheart?"

Raina Rhodes's question pulled me back to the present.

Following her gaze, I looked down and saw the dense cluster of hickeys on my neck.

I instinctively buttoned the top button of my shirt.

Raina Rhodes put on the air of someone experienced, covering her mouth as she chuckled.

"Oh, Jasmine, we're all adults here. What's there to be embarrassed about?"

"But Chase is different from you. He says only wanton women lose their virginity before marriage, which is why he can't bear to touch me."

My face burned as if I'd been slapped out of nowhere.

I opened my mouth, but no rebuttal came.

'Was there anything wrong with what Raina Rhodes said?'

'I've been with Chase Quinn for three years without any official title. Isn't that wanton?'

Just then, Chase Quinn emerged from the kitchen carrying a platter.

In less than half an hour, he had prepared a three-course meal.

'So this is the "I don't know how to cook" he always tells me.'

I said nothing more, simply picking up a piece of food with my chopsticks.

It tasted wonderful, but all I could taste was bitterness.

Raina Rhodes's gaze swept over Chase Quinn and me, her eyes smiling.

"Chase, did you know Jasmine has a sweetheart? I wonder when she'll bring him over for us to meet."

I pressed my lips together, my eyes instinctively darting to Chase Quinn. His expression was normal as he said:

"Raina is right. If you have a sweetheart, you should bring him here for me to see. As your brother and sister-in-law, we should vet him for you."

My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. I just nodded haphazardly in agreement.

But Raina Rhodes wouldn't let me off the hook. She went on to recount the story of how she and Chase Quinn met and fell in love.

They had fallen in love at first sight in college and were the perfect couple, envied by everyone at school.

Later, Raina Rhodes went abroad to study. Although they broke up, they could never get over each other.

When Raina Rhodes returned to the country a short while ago, Chase Quinn wasted no time going to the Rhodes Family to propose marriage. They were finally getting their happy ending.

I did the math. The time Chase Quinn came to me to discuss my college choices was right when Raina Rhodes had gone abroad.

'Then what was I? Raina Rhodes's replacement?'

'So from the very beginning, I was just a toy for Chase Quinn to pass the time with.'

The meal tasted like ash in my mouth.

When the meal finally ended, I stood up to leave, but Raina Rhodes insisted on giving me a ride.

I couldn't refuse, so I got into her car.

The moment I got in, Raina Rhodes's expression changed. She let out a sudden, cold laugh.

"Jasmine Hollis, your sweetheart is Chase, isn't he."