Spoilers Saved My Life

The Truth Behind the Lies

"Why is Lucy wearing my bracelet?" I shoved my phone in Gideon's face, my voice trembling.

'Wendy, wake up. There's no point asking him. He's obviously going to lie.'

Gideon's expression changed for a split second before he forced himself to stay calm. "What bracelet? Lucy comes from money. She can wear whatever bracelet she wants."

'Wendy, stay calm. Don't corner him too hard. Protect yourself.'

He grabbed my shoulders, unable to meet my eyes. "You've got it wrong. It has to be a coincidence."

I shook his hands off hard.

Memories crashed over me like a tidal wave.

…

Fifteen years ago, in the orphanage, a skinny little boy had secretly pressed a piece of candy into my hand.

"Don't cry. I'll help you find your mom and dad."

He saved up six months of allowance to buy me medicine. When I had a fever, he stayed by my bedside all night without sleeping.

On my sixteenth birthday, he made me a scrapbook by hand. Page after page, it documented every important moment we had shared.

He had ruffled my hair and said, "When we turn 25, I'm going to marry you. You'll never have to be lonely again."

…

Then, reality came crashing back. My eyes filled with tears.

"Gideon… did you ever really love me?" I choked out, my heart twisting in agony.

He grabbed my hand in panic. "Of course I did. I still love you."

"This scumbag is still lying." The realization hit me like a lightning strike. "Think about that so-called accident three years ago."

…

Three years ago, I had been in a minor fender bender. Barely a scratch. But Gideon insisted I stay in the hospital for observation for two full weeks.

Not long after I was discharged, Lucy transferred into the School of Arts. And the bracelet on my wrist had vanished.

So, every coincidence had been part of a carefully planned trap.

"I need to go. Rehearsal is about to start." I wiped my tears and forced my voice steady.

"I'll come with you." He immediately fell into step beside me, clamping his hand around my wrist.

"Let go. I need to use the restroom first."

I yanked free with so much force that even I startled myself.

Gideon froze, clearly not expecting me to resist him like that.

Before he could react, I ran.

My heart slammed wildly against my ribs, like it might burst right out of my chest.

I heard his hurried footsteps behind me and ran even faster, diving into the crowd.

After turning a corner, I pressed myself against a wall, gasping for breath as I listened to Gideon's footsteps gradually fade.

The school auditorium blazed with light, glittering like fallen stars.

Keeping my head down, I slipped through the back entrance under cover of the crowd.

…

Onstage, Lucy was performing Chopin's Nocturne at the piano.

"She's amazing," a girl beside me whispered.

"Of course she is," a boy nearby replied. "I heard the York family hired internationally renowned instructors just for her. Supposedly, she's performing in Vienara next month."