The pain crept in slowly.

I could've shrugged off a friend's betrayal, but Shane had crossed that line, blurring the boundaries between friendship and something more. That made the cut deeper.

The day we agreed to transfer, he dragged me to a bar to celebrate our escape. The dim neon lights cast a hazy glow, and I couldn't tear my eyes off the guy I'd loved in secret for years. My heart raced, wild and untamed.

When he leaned in to kiss me, I didn't pull away. Years of bottled-up feelings surged, overwhelming me like a tidal wave.

Unable to hold back, I asked, "Shane, what are we now?"

He dropped a tender kiss on my forehead. "What else, silly?"

The bar exploded with cheers, mirroring the spark in my heart. But just two days later, his words shattered that fragile hope.

I laughed through my tears, the sound bitter. It looked like that flirty, vague answer was just another trick to shove me aside and make way for Esther.

The wind chimes in my bedroom clinked, the breeze drying my tears bit by bit. My broken heart began to mend.

Shane was wrong about us from the very beginning. He was just the Page family's illegitimate son, while I was the sole heiress to the Wiley empire.

We were never meant to be tethered together. We belonged to different worlds.

The transfer form in my hand was a wreck, the ink smudged by my tears, but it didn't matter.

I'd print a new one. The Wile family always had a backup plan.

I filled out a new form, pausing at the section for the new school. Then I called Pauline Wiley. "Mom, what's the elite school you mentioned before? Yeah, I'm going alone."

The wind chimes rang out, crisp and joyful, like they were cheering me on. I closed my eyes, and for the first time in years, Shane's face didn't haunt me.

Instead, I saw a guy who looked a little like him. Sharper and more striking, he flashed a cocky grin, just like he did two years ago. "Mark my words, Alice. You'll ditch Shane for me."

Back then, I thought he was just messing around. Now I was done with Shane.

I finished the form and heaved a deep sigh of relief. My heart was finally at peace.

Then came a knock on the door, startling me. I lived alone in this house, and except for me, only one person knew the passcode.

I opened the door, and there stood Shane, his voice as warm as ever. "You didn't show up to say goodbye to our friends. I was worried."

I kept my tone even. "My stomach's acting up, so I'm staying in."

As I moved to close the door, I caught a glimpse of someone behind him.

Esther, small and fragile, flinched when our eyes met. Shane noticed her reaction and pulled her close, his arm a protective shield. "Alice, you're scaring her."

There she went again, acting so timid, like I was some monster when I hadn't done a thing.

My expression hardened. "I told you, I don't want strangers in my house."

Shane's brow furrowed. "Esther's not a stranger. She came because she cares about you."

Before I could respond, Esther's eyes welled up with tears. "Alice, I'm sorry. I know you've always looked down on me, but I swear I shower every day."

She sniffled, all pitiful. "I won't mess up your house."

Shane glared at me. "Her family is not rich, but she's not what you think. You're really letting me down here."

Esther tugged at his sleeve, playing the bigger person. "It's okay, Shane. Don't fight with her over me."

She forced a teary smile. "She said you two go way back. How could I ever compare?"

"Don't say that," Shane murmured, cupping her face gently. "You're one of a kind."

Then he turned to me, his expression cold as ice. "Esther is upset. I'm taking her home. Reflect on your behavior. And don't forget to get your transfer form stamped."

He was right about one thing. I did need to reflect, but on my blindness.

I changed the passcode without hesitation. The knot in my chest loosened, like I'd finally exhaled a breath I'd been holding for years.

The next morning, I took my new transfer form to school.

As the secretary stamped the seal, a pang of emptiness hit me. I stared blankly at the ink until someone blocked my path.

Shane's brows creased. "You changed the passcode on your house? I went back to check on you after dropping Esther off, but I couldn't get in."

I cut him off. "Yeah, I changed it."

He swallowed his displeasure, slipping back into that familiar, warm tone. "What's the new code? So, I can swing by and look after you."

"No need," I said flatly. "I'm moving out after the transfer."

He glanced at the folded form in my hand and facepalmed. "Oh, right, I forgot about that. Don't worry, I'll get mine stamped tomorrow."

Walking and talking with him felt like a faint echo of our past. Ever since Esther entered the picture, these moments had all but vanished.

I closed my eyes, letting nostalgia tug at me one last time. Then I tested him. "After all we've been through, you don't need to worry about me."

He was silent for a moment. "Actually, I..."

Esther suddenly appeared behind him, clutching a stack of notebooks. Her voice was sugary and whiny. "Shane, you promised to help me study. Where did you run off to?"

She shoved the notes at him, batting her lashes. "I saw your tutoring plan goes two months out, so I prepared some study materials. You're not mad I snooped, right?"

"Not at all," Shane responded with a forced smile, shooting me a quick, guilty glance.

When I didn't react, his eyes dimmed a little.

I knew what was going on. While he was pushing me away, he'd been planning a future with Esther—one that didn't include me.

I kept my expression neutral, but inside, bitterness spread like a slow-burning whiskey. I dug my nails into my palm to stay grounded. "I'll leave you to it."

Esther gasped, acting like she'd just noticed me. "A-Alice? Are you upset because I'm studying with Shane? I don't have the money or connections like you do, so..."

Her voice cracked, and she started sobbing.

Unimpressed, I said, "Get out of my way."

Shane's guilt vanished at my blunt words. He grabbed my wrist, his voice hot with anger. "What's with that attitude?"

He yanked me toward Esther and barked, "Apologize to her!"

The last shred of longing in my heart crumbled. My hand flew up, slapping him across the face. "You're the one who owes an apology. Not to Esther, but to me."

Back home, I sifted through the keepsakes Shane had given me over the years.

The silver necklace, my eighteenth birthday gift, gleamed under the light. I'd worn it to school once, proud as anything, until I saw an identical one around Esther's neck.

She'd blushed, saying, "Shane promised I'd have everything you have."

The limited-edition Teddy Bear was just an empty box now.

Shane had taken it, claiming he loved the perfume I'd sprayed on it, but the very next day, it was sitting on Esther's desk.

Then there were the strappy heels from my coming-of-age party, the indigo-scented oil... Everything I thought was mine alone had been handed out like cheap trinkets.

Worse, it wasn't even equal.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips as I recalled Shane's endless doting on Esther, always taking her side. If that was how he wanted it, these relics could go straight to the dumpster.

I booked a flight for the next day, ready to spend my last night in quiet reflection.

At 2 a.m., my phone blared, jolting me from a hazy dream. I answered groggily, but the line was silent.

Just as I was about to hang up, Shane's voice came through, heavy and low. "Alice, I'm sorry."

My brain snapped awake. 'Is he finally coming clean?'

But then, he said, "Esther hurt herself. I can't leave her alone, so I'm delaying the transfer."

That spark of hope crashed and burned, leaving me feeling like a fool. I wanted to scream at him and demand answers to the pain I suffered from his fake bullying.

Oblivious, he continued, "Just say sorry."

I was stunned. "What?"

He doubled down, his tone firm. "You need to apologize to Esther. She hurt herself because of you."

I was speechless, but then it all made sense. With Esther around, every word I said was wrong.

Shane's voice turned colder than a winter storm. "You're so disappointing. If you say sorry, we can pretend this never happened. In two months, I'll join you at the new school. Are you really going to throw away our years of friendship over this?"

His words carried a sharp threat, but I felt no pain or reluctance. There was only annoyance.

I hung up, blocked his number, and deleted it from my phone. I couldn't wait to board that plane.

The world abroad felt vibrant, like a fresh canvas.

Someone grabbed my suitcase, and I looked up into Stanley Rossi's eyes. He grinned, "Alice, long time no see."

I shook his hand, a genuine smile breaking through. "Good to see you, Stanley."

My phone buzzed, cutting through the moment. It was one of Shane's friends.

When I answered, Shane's voice came through, laced with panic. "Alice, which class did you transfer to? Why is everyone saying they haven't seen you?"