The party ended quickly, and people started to leave.

The main hall, all lit up, looked as cold and opulent as ever.

The servants were busy doing their jobs. I fixed my dress, limped over, and carefully turned around, holding the necklace.

As someone walked by me, we bumped into each other, and the necklace flew out of my hand.

The shiny diamonds scattered all over the floor.

Before I knew it, Dominic rushed over and pushed me hard, his eyes red.

"Bitch, I knew you were up to no good!"

My shoulder hit the corner of a table, and it really hurt.

"Dominic, I..."

I tried to explain, but Dominic had stormed off in a huff.

In the past, I would have run after him to explain and comfort him.

But this time, I was too tired, and it didn't seem worth it anymore.

The moonlight was soft and chilly. I hobbled along the gravel path, biting back the pain in my foot, and slowly made my way back to the side building.

After seven years, I still wasn't allowed to live in the main house.

I was a stand-in sent by the Moore family to take my dead sister's place.

Karina Moore—that was the name my mom gave me, hoping I'd live free as the wind.

But I couldn't.

Seven years ago, my mom was sick in bed back in the countryside. I went to the Moore family and traded my freedom for the money to pay for her expensive medicine.

A black Maybach pulled up beside me.

The window rolled down, and there Wyatt Carlson was, sharp, cold, and distant.

Dominic had the same good looks as his dad Wyatt.

They both ignored me like I didn't even exist.

"Go change that dress. It's dirty." Wyatt frowned slightly, like he was doing me a favor by saying it.

I guessed he had heard what happened from the butler Mason on the way back.

I gave a wry smile and nodded.

He didn't ask why, so I didn't bother explaining.

"Wyatt, why did you stop?"

Suddenly, a pretty and gentle face popped out from the shadows.

For a second, I couldn't breathe.

In a daze, I thought my sister had come back.

"Nothing. Let's go."

I had never seen Wyatt look that soft before.

The window rolled up slowly. The car glided past me, kicked up a bit of dust, and drove toward the main house.

When I got back to my room, the door was ajar.

Someone was inside, like they were cleaning or something.

I pushed the door and walked in. The room was a mess—furniture all over the place, pillows and blankets on the floor.

In the corner, there were some torn pieces of cloth.

My heart dropped. I hurried over and picked up the scattered pieces.

My mom used to be the best seamstress in Houston.

This was the first handkerchief she made for me when I was born.

"Bitch, you ruined my mom's favorite necklace, so I ruined your favorite thing too!"

A childish voice came from behind me.

I held back my tears and turned around.

Dominic arched an eyebrow, smirking at me with his arms crossed.

I brought this on myself.

I used to tell him secrets to make him happy.

I told him this was the thing I loved the most.

Now it had turned into a dagger stabbing me in the heart.

I clutched the torn pieces of cloth to my chest.

It hurt so bad, and blood was dripping down.

So, this was what it felt like.

Then, out of nowhere, a tall man started walking up the stairs slowly.

"Dominic, it's late. Go back to your room."

Wyatt fixed his cuffs, looking as bossy as ever.

Mason came over and took Dominic back to the main house.

The servants cleaned the room quickly, and everything looked like before.

But the handkerchief I was holding tight in my hand was gone forever.

Wyatt walked past me, and I smelled his cologne mixed with a little bit of alcohol.

"Dominic is still young. Don't mind him."

What mother would ever resent the child she raised herself?

I gave a bitter smile. I was not Dominic's real mom.

It was my sister Whitney Moore, the lady of this house.

I was like this handkerchief, easy to forget.

Wyatt saw the tears in my eyes, and his voice got gentler.

"Today's your birthday. Don't cry.

"Go check out your gift."

The gift box was sitting there on the table, fancy and expensive-looking.

Wyatt was lounging on the sofa, not planning to get up anytime soon.

Even though he was giving the gift, he acted like he was doing me a huge favor.

It was like he was tossing me a bone.

I knew what the gift was, and I didn't want to open it.

Seven years ago, I opened the medicine box my dad handed me.

It was like opening Pandora's box. I got sucked in and couldn't get out.

Day after day, I thought I was giving and getting love in return.

But I didn't realize it was just a pretty dream I made for myself.

Now, it was time to wake up.

"Thanks for the gift, but I don't need it."

The air got thick all of a sudden. Wyatt stood up and wrapped his lean arms around my waist.

His warm breath was on my earlobe, a spot so private and sensitive.

"Cut it out; be good," he said, planting a bunch of kisses on my shoulder.

After seven years, Wyatt knew very well how to get a reaction out of me.

But in those same seven years, I figured out that sex and love could be totally different things.

I had to keep up with his non-stop cravings.

But I didn't need to step into the spot that was already taken in his heart.

That place would always belong to Whitney.

The last kiss hit right where it hurt, and I shivered a little.

I leaned forward enough to get out of Wyatt's arms.

Turning around, I looked him straight in the eye.

"What if I say I don't like the girl in your car?"

The desire in Wyatt's eyes went away, and he looked annoyed.

"Karina, don't think you're that important."

I squeezed the torn cloth in my hand and asked, "What am I then? Your plaything, or a fake mom for Dominic?"

As soon as I finished speaking, I felt a tight grip around my neck, making it hard to breathe.

I looked straight into Wyatt's furious eyes.

In the Carlson family, no one dared to mention this or bring up Whitney around Wyatt.

Whitney was like a curse in this house, a shackle around my life.

"Do you have a death wish?"

I could barely breathe, but I managed to push away the hand that was choking me.

Wyatt stumbled back half a step.

Fresh air rushed in, and I took big, greedy breaths.

I decided to break free from this shackle with my own hands.

"Wyatt, it's been seven years. Time to clear the debt I owe."

Wyatt looked puzzled for a second, then sneered, "Clear the debt?

"Don't you want to save your mom?"

It felt like my chest was full of pain. I laughed, but it was a silly, empty laugh.

So, Wyatt didn't know that my mom passed away a month ago.

At that time, he was traveling with Dominic.

I went back to Houston from my dreams.

As she was dying, my mom, with tears in her eyes, gently touched my hand.

"Karina, I'm sorry for what I've done to you.

"I hope you find happiness."

The wind should be free.

How could it be trapped in one place, locked up tight?

I pushed my thoughts aside and wiped away the tears from my eyes.

I straightened up and looked at Wyatt again, my voice flat.

"Forget it, my mom's already gone."

Wyatt's eyes shifted. "What do you mean? Why didn't you tell me..."

Just then, there was a rapid knocking on the door, cutting him off.

Mason's voice came through.

"Mr. Carlson, Miss Quinn has fainted. Do you want to go see her?"

Wyatt hesitated, then held back his words.

He hurried off with Mason, leaving behind a short, cold remark.

"You should calm down on your own.

"We'll talk about your mom when I get back."

I didn't say anything because I wasn't going to wait for him to come back.

As I had agreed with the Moore family, I stayed here to take care of Dominic to pay for my mom's medical bills.

But now, none of that was necessary anymore.

I looked around the room I had lived in for seven years.

There wasn't much I needed to take with me.

I opened the closet. It was packed with gorgeous clothes, but there were a few plain T-shirts in the corner.

I didn't expect that all that was really mine wouldn't even fill a small suitcase.

I sat on the couch, waiting for the night to turn into morning.

When the first light of dawn came, I dragged my suitcase and opened the door.

I wanted to take one last look at Dominic from a distance.

Walking down this winding path for the last time, I felt my steps getting lighter.

Then I saw a pair of leather shoes.

Looking up, I saw my dad, Stephen Deleon.

He was wiping sweat off his forehead, rushing towards me.

"Karina, look at what you did!

"Your brother Nicholas just got a new job and he's working on a big deal with the Carlson Group.

"Are you trying to ruin the whole Moore family?"

Watching Stephen yap away, I suddenly felt sick of it.

"Dad, I didn't mess up that deal. How is this my fault?"

Stephen didn't expect that I, who usually took things lying down, would talk back like this. He was taken aback.

He got mad and said, "If you leave the Carlson family, I'll stop your mom's medicine!"

I let out a little laugh and said quietly, "My mom passed away last month."

Stephen froze. Hit hard by the news, he stammered for a while.

I sighed, "I don't owe any of you anything anymore.

"Deal with Nicholas' problem yourself."

"What about Dominic? You raised him. Can you just leave him behind? And what about Whitney? Didn't she treat you well?"

I stopped in my tracks.

"I'm your daughter too. How could you leave my mom and me in the countryside and then marry into the Moore family?

"As for Whitney, I've done enough after seven years."

Back then, Stephen schemed his way in. When the girl from the Moore family got pregnant, he finally got what he wanted.

My mom was kept in the dark. Stephen wanted both her and his new love.

Ever since I could remember, my dad was always optional.

It wasn't until my mom got sick that Stephen brought me back to the Moore family.

Whitney was the only one in this family who was kind to me.

At that time, I was touched by Whitney's love for me, not knowing that all the gifts of fate came with a hidden price tag.

I had to sell out Karina Finley and become Karina Moore.

I had to replace Whitney, protect the Moore family's honor, and raise her son.

Now, I thought the Carlson family didn't need me anymore.

I turned around and saw Dominic far away, holding a girl's hand, his young face full of joy.

Stephen muttered in disbelief behind me, "Whitney, Whitney."

The girl took Dominic's hand and walked up to me with a big smile.

"Hello, Ms. Moore, I'm Daphne Quinn."

Daphne looked so much like Whitney.

Suddenly, I got it—she was the perfect "stand-in" heroine from those romance novels.

And I wasn't even a stand-in.

Daphne was young and full of energy in everything she did.

Stephen stepped forward and grabbed Daphne, trying to see her more clearly.

Scared, Daphne shook off his hand and accidentally fell on the cobblestone path.

"Back off! Don't touch my mom!"

Dominic angrily pushed Stephen hard.

Stephen lost his balance and stumbled backward a few steps.

I wasn't expecting it and bumped into him. My foot still hurt, and I couldn't stay on my feet either, so I ended up falling to the ground too.

"Mom, does it hurt? I'll blow on it for you."

Seeing how worried Dominic looked, I was kind of dazed.

This kid in front of me felt so unfamiliar.

When Dominic was learning to walk, he used to fall all the time.

No matter how many times he fell, I'd gently pick him up and blow the dust off his knee.

When Dominic was over a year old, he always giggled and mumbled something like "I love you, Karina."

He never called me "Mommy."

I did everything a mom would do, and even more.

I thought if I kept waiting, we'd get to the happy ending of our story.

But I never thought that just one face that looked like someone from the past could erase all the effort I put in over seven years in a second.

"If it weren't for you, that damn man wouldn't have got in here!

"You really make me sick!"

Dominic turned around, his disgust and annoyance written all over his face.

I sighed softly and didn't bother to explain anymore.

I was about to leave with my suitcase when Wyatt came out of the main house.

Seeing Daphne on the ground, he winced a little.

"Wyatt, it hurts."

Daphne looked up with tears in her eyes.

Dominic immediately pointed at me.

"Dad, it's all her fault! If it weren't for her, my mom wouldn't have fallen!"

Wyatt glared at me without saying anything.

He strode over and scooped Daphne up in his arms, then shot me a chilly look.

"Karina, have I been too easy on you lately?

"Go back and think it through. When you figure it out, then come talk to me."

No matter how shocked Stephen was by Daphne's looks, he knew he had to fix things with Wyatt.

Otherwise, all his scheming would be for nothing.

"Wyatt... No, Mr. Carlson, for Whitney's sake, please don't be mad at Karina.

"Karina, what's your problem? Mr. Carlson gives you the best of everything. What else do you want?"

Stephen was holding onto me tight, not willing to let go.

The Carlson family had lots of servants. More and more of them were hiding in the shadows or plain sight, watching the drama unfold.

Sarcastic and mean voices came with the wind, drowning me like a tidal wave.

"Look at that loser from the Moore family. When Mr. Carlson said he didn't want his daughter, he freaked out."

"Yeah, he used to act so high and mighty. Back when Ms. Whitney was still around, everyone gave him respect."

"He sent Karina over as a stand-in, and she's always putting on airs. Come on, who even cares about her? She can't even get into the main house."

"Hey, did you hear? Miss Quinn stayed in the main house last night."

I shuddered and took a deep breath.

I was about to push Stephen away when something yanked me around.

Then, a sharp pain hit my stomach.