The Montgomery family always cared about reputation and rules. I learned that early.
When Argus’s grandfather found out his feelings for Celine weren’t normal, he sent her abroad without even discussing it. Just like that. Gone.
After that, he kept arranging blind dates for Argus, one after another.
And somehow, Argus noticed me.
Not because of who I was.
Just because I looked like her.
That night still felt like a blur I couldn’t wash away. My drink tasted strange, my head got heavy, and everything spun. I remembered his hands, his voice, the way I couldn’t even push him away properly.
One person needed love.
The other needed money.
So it became… this.
Something ugly. Something I could never name out loud.
...
The car stopped, and I snapped back to reality.
The old house stood in front of me, quiet and imposing.
The moment the door opened, Celine ran straight into Argus’s arms. “Argus, I missed you so much,” she said, clinging to him like she belonged there.
His expression changed instantly.
Soft. Gentle.
Like I had never seen before.
He reached out and pinched her nose lightly. “Why aren’t you wearing shoes again? What if you get sick? Do you even take care of yourself?”
She laughed, leaning into him. “If I get sick, then you’ll have to stay with me all the time, right?”
They kept talking, teasing each other as if nothing else existed.
Like they were the only two people in the world.
I stood there, watching.
What was I, then?
The butler stepped closer and lowered his voice. “Sir, the master hasn’t been well lately. You should be more careful.”
I knew what he meant.
The last time Argus came here, he fought with his grandfather over Celine. It got so bad the old man had to be rushed to the hospital overnight.
Argus frowned, clearly annoyed. “Why does Grandpa suddenly want to see Dahlia? What is it this time? More gossip?”
Before anyone could answer, a voice came from upstairs.
“Is there something I’m not allowed to hear?”
I looked up.
Grandpa slowly walked down, leaning on his cane but still steady.
My chest tightened.
Without thinking, I stepped forward to support him. “Careful, Grandpa,” I said softly.
He looked at me and nodded, his expression warming just a little.
Out of everyone here… he was the only one who ever treated me like family.
But the moment his gaze shifted to Argus and Celine still standing too close, something in his eyes changed.
Anger.
“What kind of behavior is this?” he snapped. “An uncle and his step niece acting like this in front of everyone? Have you lost all sense of shame?”
Argus’s face turned cold instantly, and he let go of Celine’s hand, though not willingly.
“Why did you call us back?” he asked flatly. “What do you want with me and Dahlia?”
Grandpa let out a cold breath. “Of course it’s about your marriage.”
My heart skipped.
“You’ve been together for five years,” he continued, his voice firm. “It’s time to make it official.”
I froze.
Marriage?
“With everything arranged,” he went on, tapping his cane against the floor, “one month from now, you and Dahlia will register your marriage and hold the wedding. No more delays.”
The room went silent. Celine’s face turned pale instantly, like all the color drained out of her.
I couldn’t even process what I was hearing.
Marriage? After everything? Did he really think this could fix anything?
“No,” Argus said suddenly, his voice sharp and decisive. “I don’t agree.”
The word hit like a slap. And somehow… It still hurts.
Grandpa didn’t hold back.
His cane came down hard against Argus’s back. “You ungrateful child!" he snapped, voice shaking with anger. “You were the one who insisted on being with Dahlia back then. You stood in front of your parents’ graves and promised you’d give her a good life. So what is this now?”
I lowered my eyes.
“You dragged this out year after year,” he continued, breathing heavier. “Five years. Five whole years. How much longer are you planning to waste her life?”
Five years.
I stood there quietly, but memories still came back whether I wanted them or not.
There was a time… when things weren’t like this.
Even someone like Argus, cold and ruthless, used to hesitate because of me. He used to ask what I thought before making decisions.
Once, I told him to stop hurting people. Just casually, just because I didn’t like it. And he actually let go of someone who tried to kill him. After that, everyone knew he had a weakness.
Me.
When I had a high fever for days, barely conscious, he went up into the mountains himself just to pray for me. I didn’t even know until later.
And when I mentioned I liked white roses… he filled the entire villa garden with them.
I thought those things meant something.
But later… those same flowers were renamed after Celine.
Just like everything else.
Now, Celine’s eyes were red, like she was about to cry, and Argus looked at her like the whole world could burn and he wouldn’t care.
“I’m not marrying Dahlia,” he said firmly, “She’s not the one I want.”
Not the one.
The words landed, but I didn’t react.
He grabbed Celine’s hand, tight, almost desperate, his eyes carrying that same reckless madness I had seen before. “The person I love is Celine. It’s always been her. I won’t marry anyone else in this life.”
The room felt colder.
“I can announce Dahlia as my fiancée if that’s what you want,” he added, “but I won’t marry her.”
Then, without warning, he dropped to his knees.
The sound echoed.
Celine followed immediately, kneeling beside him, her voice trembling but stubborn. “Grandpa… please. Let us be together. I’m begging you.”
Grandpa looked like he couldn’t breathe for a second, his chest rising and falling too fast.
“Get out!" he said finally, his voice shaking with rage. “Both of you. Go to the prayer hall and kneel. Don’t come out until I say so.”
And just like that, in front of everyone, they stood up, still holding hands, and walked away together.
Like nothing else mattered.
Like I didn’t exist.
I watched everything without expression.
Was I supposed to cry?
Or laugh?
I didn’t even know anymore.
Slowly, I took out a small wooden box from my bag. Inside was a family heirloom… an expensive sapphire pendant Grandpa had once given me.
He froze when he saw it. “Dahlia… what are you doing?”
I stepped back and bowed deeply.
“Grandpa, thank you,” I said softly. “For taking care of me these past five years. I won’t forget it. But… I can’t stay by his side anymore.”
He frowned, trying to say something, trying to stop me. But I had already decided. I placed the pendant down and turned to leave. No hesitation. No looking back.
As I passed by the prayer room, I heard something. Heavy breathing. Low voices.
My steps slowed for just a second.
Through the small gap in the door… I saw them.
Too close. Too intimate. Like the whole world didn’t exist outside that room. Like they were proving something to everyone, even to the people who came before them.
My chest tightened. Then I looked away.
What was the point of staying?
I walked out of the Montgomery house without stopping.
