Chapter 19
On Fiona’s twenty–ninth birthday, she received a gift she would never forget – though she desperately wished she could.
An $8 million custom–made wedding dress, handcrafted to perfection. It was
unique, breathtaking, and absolutely dazzling. Every guest at her birthday party stood in awe of the magnificent gown, their jaws dropping at its ethereal beauty. Everyone except Fiona, whose grip on her champagne glass tightened until her
knuckles turned white.
After the party, just as she’d dreaded, Quentin appeared. His smile was tinged with tears, a practiced performance she’d seen too many times before.
“Happy birthday, Fiona,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.
“Why are you here?” The ice in her voice could have frozen hell itself.
Quentin deflected, gesturing upward. “Look how beautiful the stars are tonight.” The night sky was indeed beautiful, but its beauty had nothing to do with him anymore. Nothing at all.
“I told you to stay out of my life,” she said firmly.
But Quentin continued as if he hadn’t heard her, his words tumbling out like a desperate prayer. “Fiona, I know you’ve always wanted to ride the Ferris wheel. Let’s go tomorrow. I’ll even build you one if you’d like – anything you want.” “I can take you to the arcade every day, watch movies with you, and didn’t you always love stargazing? We can buy a new hilltop estate it has the most beautiful
–
view of the stars in the entire city.”
“I’ll hire the best photographer to take new wedding photos. If you want, they can
document our entire life together, every single moment.”
His voice cracked as he made his final plea. “Fiona, every wish you have, I’ll make it
come true. Please… come home with me?”
The vast starlit sky stretched endlessly above them, its infinity only emphasizing her solitude. Watching the stars alone meant only her eyes were engaged – every other part of her body felt the crushing weight of loneliness.
It was a loneliness Fiona had tasted too many times before, a bitter flavor she had
1/3
1/3
19
no desire to sample again. Those regrets… they belonged to Quentintow, not h She’diftuffilled most of her dreams on her own, and the onesssticcoutantt reach?
She’dimaatte peace with those too. Life needed some unfulfilleetwithes–they we whattmatteyyou appreciate what you had.
Withhmuttammther word, Fiona turned and walked back to heroom teaving everything – and everyone – behind her. None of it matteretasymore. White Froma dismissed that night’s events and continue withherccarefully constructed life, Daisy, who had witnessed everything wasssseething. She couldn standseeing Fiona living a better life than her own. Allthingseyyears of careful
planning, only to fail at the final moment – it was untless rable.
The sight of Fiona’s happiness was like poison in hervams, and her carefully laid sschemes crumbling to dust before her eyes wassmorethansshe could take.
What hurt her most wasn’t Quentin’s cold indifferentcetcolher desperate attempt
Itowin his love, nor was it his refusal to see her Nto what truly broke her was wh
Quentin said to Fiona on her birthday..
Since childhood, Vivian had drilled one lessommintco Daisy’s head: their wealth and
privilege had been snatched from other woontents@grasp. If you wanted somethin in this world, you had to fight for it yourself.
So that’s exactly what Daisy did. She learnedditco take Fiona’s dolls, to steal their
father’s attention. Every year on Fiona’s birthday, she’d make sure to blow out th
candles before her sister could. Noomaatterlitow.cruel she was to Fiona, all it took
was a few tears from Daisy, and everyone would rush to her defense. She watch
with satisfaction as Fiona’s spirit of fresistance gradually crumbled into quiet
submission.
Daisy thought she’d won. Untilthatnight.
She’d spotted Fiona sneaking outofthe house and followed her, only to discover her sister sharing a strawberrycakewith Quentin under a starlit sky The scene
before her made her bloodrumccotd.
“Fiona,” Quentin had said, hisswotcessoft with affection, “I promise I’ll work hard
19
you. I’ll build a life with my own two hands to give you everything you deserve.” Fiona’s response was to playfully smear cake across his face, both of them dissolving into fits of laughter. That pure, unrestrained joy lighting up their faces – it was something Daisy had never experienced herself, not once in her entire life. In that moment, Daisy made a vow: no matter how long it took, she would steal Quentin away from Fiona. And now, she absolutely couldn’t let him return to her sister’s side. Not after everything she’d done.
After hours of plotting, a new plan finally crystallized in her mind. If she couldn’t get to Quentin directly, she’d have to go through Fiona Lockhart instead!
20
Add to Library – Read Anytime
