A thought too wild to believe flashed through Clara’s mind. She closed the box but was unable to recover from her shock.

Until Ian's sudden panicked voice sounded from the doorway. "Who gave you permission to touch my things?"

He hurriedly rushed in, snatched the box from her hand and, with a face dark with anger, scolded, "Did the Cumberland Family ever teach you to rummage through other people’s belongings?"

Clara jolted and finally came back to her senses. Her throat felt dry and she avoided his gaze and said in a low voice, "I was just looking for a pen to doodle with... I thought it might be in there."

Her explanation didn’t seem to convince him because Ian’s eyes narrowed with suspicion, his voice laced with urgency. "Did you open the box?" 

Seeing the tension thickened in the air as time passed, Clara quickly shook her head. "No."

Ian exhaled in relief and his expression softened just a little. However, when his gaze returned to her, it was as cold as ever. "Get out and from now on, stay out of my study unless I say otherwise."

"Alright. I’m sorry." With a lowered head, Clara blinked rapidly and went straight to the attic,

When she was back in her room, she threw herself onto the bed, her mind unable to escape the image of the small box’s contents. She was certain those were the trinkets she had given him over the years.

Then why were they still here? Why had he kept them? They even placed in his most valued space, no less? Was it just a coincidence? Or did Ian feel something for her after all?

Her thoughts swirled into chaos and eventually, exhaustion claimed her.

The next morning, she was awakened by a commotion downstairs. When she peered over the railing, she saw a crowd gathered below. It looked like some sort of celebration.

Then, in front of everyone, Ian knelt on one knee. He was holding up a small velvet box. It was the very same diamond ring she saw last night.

"Rea, will you marry me?" he asked. He gazed up at Rea with a tenderness that nearly overflowed from his eyes.

"So that’s why you didn’t answer my calls last night … you were planning this!" Rea gasped in surprise. She did not hide the happiness in her heart.

Ian smiled and his voice dripped with warmth. It was the same warmth he used to reserve for Clara. "You deserve this and more. Rea, I will take care of you for the rest of my life."

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" the crowd cheered.

Tears shimmered in her eyes, amid the crowd, Rea took the initiative to lean in and kiss him.

Upstairs, Clara stood frozen, her face drained of color. It seemed from start to finish she was nothing but a joke. Just last night, he had foolishly dared to wonder if Ian harbored feelings for her and today, she was watching him propose to another woman in front of the crowd.

A sharp "smack" echoed in the empty attic as she slapped herself.

"Stop being so delusional. He’s engaged now. How pathetic can you be?" With gritted teeth, she threw herself back onto the bed. Her cheek is red and swollen, 

Even though the door shut, she could clearly hear Ian’s joyful announcement drift up from below, "We’ll be holding the engagement banquet the day after tomorrow. I hope all of you can come and celebrate our happiness."

Clara was stunned. She covered her face as she silently cried. They had only known each other for a few months and yet he had already decided to marry Rea. He must really love her.

She directed her gaze on the ceiling in a daze and with a voice barely above a whisper, she murmured, "This is good. At least… at least you’ll be happy."

At the engagement banquet, Clara waited for the crowd, who wanted to give a congratulatory gift around Ian turned to leave, before stepping forward with a small gift in her hands.

She had rehearsed this moment in her mind countless times. However, now that she was standing before him, her throat felt dry and the words she had prepared to say felt logged in her throat.

She forced herself to meet his eyes, she managed to whisper, "Brother, I wish you both a lifetime of happiness."

"This is the first time you've called me 'brother' since my mom adopted you." Ian's voice carried a hint of surprise as he looked down at Clara, his dark eyes were unreadable.

Then he added, "You can save those words and say it for the wedding banquet."

A wedding banquet?

She probably wouldn’t even be around for that.

Clara lowered her gaze while staring at the tip of her shoes. She muttered a vague response before escaping as quickly as she could.

Ian did not seem to care. He simply turned back and wrapped an arm around Rea’s waist and introduced her thoughtfully to each guest bringing gifts for her.

Clara stood still in a daze. At some point, their figures had disappeared into the crowd.

The engagement party was filled with people who were all businessmen, who liked to socialize.

She recalled how, in the past, Ian had always found a way to sneak away with his date because he knew how much she disliked such social gatherings.

It looked like he still kept the habit.

Clara let out a slow breath and stepped away, seeking a quiet moment on the terrace. However, before she could walk there, she saw Ian and Rea who had hidden there before her.

"Ian, after we get married, can you set up an art studio for me at the Cumberland mansion?" Rea asked. "I want a space that gets lots of sunlight."

She shook Ian's arm in a flirtatious manner. Before long Ian's indulgent voice drifted to her ears, "You don’t have to wait until after the wedding. Tomorrow, I’ll have Clara move out of the attic. The lighting there is perfect, it’ll make a great studio for you."

"Won’t that be a little unfair? She is your sister, after all."

"A sister isn’t as important as a wife."

He said it so casually, without hesitation. Then, as if to further prove his point, he leaned in and kissed Rea.

This kind of intimacy made Rea blush even more. Though she wanted to hide her reddened face, Ian held the back of her head and deepened the kiss.

Looking at the hot scene inside, Clara put her hand on her chest in a daze. Initially, she felt she would be upset and heartbroken, but she did not feel anything. Maybe she had used to it by now or because she had died long ago. Now, Clara only felt unprecedented peace and relaxation.

She had no interest in being an uninvited spectator. Wandering aimlessly through the halls, she didn’t realize she had ended up in a quiet corner.

Then, a voice, smooth yet laced with malice, sliced through the silence. "You heard everything just now, didn’t you? Does it hurt?"

Clara turned her head around and saw Rea standing before her with smugness on her face.

"Ian had told me everything," she continued. "He said you have … those feelings, like a woman has for a man, for him. However, I suppose it makes sense. He’s outstanding and you were at that … impressionable age."

Her voice was filled with artificial pity for Clara and yet, she suddenly leaned in. Her eyes filled with malice and her tone turned sharp, "However, he said he's only taking you as his sister, yet you have that incestuous thought about him, isn't that too disgusting?”

Clara's body stiffened as if she was struck by lightning. She never thought Ian would tell Rea about this.

Her cheeks flushed from embarrassment and she felt she had just been slapped.

It was clear that Ian had already rejected her and she was dead and their lives would never intersect again. Then why did he feel the need to trample her dignity like this?

She lowered her head and pressed her lips together, unwilling to engage. However, Rea had no intention of stopping.

Arms crossed, she looked Clara up and down with condescension, her stance exuding dominance.

"Ian had made it clear that he doesn’t want you around. You should stop clinging to the past and leeching off the Cumberland Family."

"I’ll be the lady of this house soon and I don’t have the patience to watch a little girl sulk in the corner, playing pathetic games," she continued.

"You’re an adult now, aren’t you? The Cumberland Family has already done enough for you. If you have any self-respect, you’ll leave on your own. Spare us all the unnecessary drama."

Clara’s feet felt like they were nailed to the ground. She stood frozen for a moment before finally forcing out a dry response, "Don't worry. The day after tomorrow, I'll be gone."

She had lowered herself as much as possible, yet Rea still refused to let her go.

"Why the day after tomorrow? Can't you leave tomorrow?"

Clara's throat tightened. She didn’t know how to explain to her that the day after tomorrow wasn’t just the day she planned to move out of the Cumberland Family home, it was also the day she intended to leave this world entirely.

She remained silent, but Rea's expression turned even more displeased.

Just then, an unexpected accident occurred. On the second floor, a maid was cleaning the chandelier. No one knew what she had touched, but suddenly, the heavy fixture swayed dangerously before plummeting straight down and heading directly for Rea.

Clara stood frozen in shock and unable to react but a force from behind shoved her aside with incredible strength. It was Ian.

He rushed forward and caught Rea in his arms, his face tense with lingering fear.

"What happened?!"

Before Ian could even gather herself to speak, she saw Rea trembling in Ian’s embrace with tears welling up in her eyes.

"Don't blame Clara. It's my fault for upsetting her. Thankfully, I'm okay. She's still young, don’t be too harsh on her ..."

Her voice trembled as if she had been truly frightened, tears falling pitifully down her delicate face.

The surrounding guests looked at Clara with subtle glances. Especially Ian. His brows were furrowed and his eyes were filled with anger.

"I would never try to harm her! Even if I wanted to, how could I possibly make a chandelier fall …." Clara tried to explain, but then she caught sight of the slight smirk playing on Rea's lips. She understood instantly. This was a trap.

"Clara! There are witnesses and evidence. What more do you have to say for yourself?" Ian shouted at her.

"I used to think you were just childish and spoiled. However, now, you’re willing to drop a chandelier on someone? This is beyond immature … it's despicable!"

The words sliced into her like a knife.

Clara stared at him, unblinking. She was unable to believe what she was hearing. He knew that having no real family was her deepest wound. Yet now, for Rea’s sake, he had chosen to plunge the knife himself.

She just stood there, mumbling and trembling uncontrollably. However, Ian had no time to spare her another glance. He turned back to Rea, lifted her into his arms and carried her away to the hospital without hesitation.

The main characters had left so the engagement party could no longer continue. The guests quickly dispersed, leaving Clara sitting alone on the couch with hollow eyes.

She tried to call Ian to explain but each of her calls got declined.

It wasn’t until the first rays of dawn broke through the sky that Ian finally returned, looking tired as he walked in with Rea.

Clara hurried forward and greeted him, "Brother, I swear I didn’t do it."

However, Ian didn’t even lift his eyes. He simply pulled Rea along and kept walking. He did not even bother to acknowledge her.

Desperate, Clara ran to block their way. Her eyes were already wet with tears as she spoke. Her voice choked with emotion. “Can you believe me this one time? You used to say that you would always believe in me."

She spoke through quiet sobs, tears falling like scattered pearls.

From childhood until now, no matter what happened, Ian had always trusted her without question. She had once asked him why. 

Back then, he had simply smiled, ruffling her hair with a look of effortless warmth in his eyes and said, "Since I'm your brother, it's natural to trust you."

However now, Ian only stared at her coldly and said coldly, “Doing something wrong and still not admitting it is a disgrace. Now, kneel down and apologize to Rea right away,”

Clara's eyes widened. With bloodshot and swollen eyes, she looked up at him in despair.

This was Rea's plan all along.