While fleeing the fire, I came across a young boy on the verge of losing consciousness. His left arm had been badly burned, and he was in grave danger.
I couldn't bear to leave him behind, so I summoned all my strength and carried him out on my back.
To calm his fear, I removed the protective charm my grandmother had given me and gently fastened it around his neck.
"Don't be scared," I whispered. "With this charm, nothing bad will happen."
…
Now that I think about it, Carl does have a burn scar on his left arm. Though time has faded it, the mark is still there.
Back when Lucy and I hadn't yet become enemies, I once mentioned the incident to her in passing.
Later, we became rivals in the piano competition, and our relationship gradually deteriorated.
All I knew after that was her family suddenly grew unusually close to the Manos family.
Looking at it now, it's clear that Carl had mistaken Lucy for the girl who saved his life in that fire.
A cold laugh escaped my lips. So I'd spent all this time paving the way for someone else's glory.
…
After uncovering the full truth, I contacted a covert organization and dialed their number.
"Do you take on jobs that involve staging a death and helping someone disappear?"
"As long as the money's good, anything's possible."
"Money isn't a problem. I just need you to get me out."
The call must've roused Carl. He stirred in bed and stared at me for several seconds before speaking in a hoarse voice.
"Reily, who are you talking to at this hour?"
I slipped my phone away and turned to him calmly. "No one important. Just an old friend overseas."
He didn't press further.
The next morning, Carl took me to a piano gallery to pick out a new instrument.
While I was testing the tone of a grand piano, he stepped out to take a call. When he returned, his face was tight with urgency.
"Reily, something urgent came up at the company. I need to go handle it." He kissed my forehead with gentle reassurance. "When your hands fully recover, I'll host a one-of-a-kind concert just for you."
I nodded, my voice flat as I said, "I understand. Go take care of it."
After I finished testing the piano and stepped out of the shop, a car suddenly sped up beside me. Two men jumped out, grabbed me, and shoved me inside. A knife pressed against my neck as they ordered me to stay silent.
I didn't know how long we drove, but eventually they brought me to an abandoned warehouse.
The man behind the kidnapping was Reese, Lucy's younger brother.
He tossed a stack of photographs at my face, scattering them across the floor. "Take a good look."
I stared at the images. Every one of them showed Carl and Lucy—arms linked, smiling, eyes brimming with affection. The intimacy between them was unmistakable.
Seeing me fall silent, Reese sneered with satisfaction. "How do those photos make you feel?"
I steadied my emotions, lifting my gaze to meet his coldly. "So you kidnapped me just to show me this? Cut the drama. What do you really want?"
Before he could reply, a venomous female voice rang out.
"To make you suffer, of course! I want you to live a life worse than death."
Lucy stepped forward, hatred burning in her eyes as they fixed on my hands.
"Reily, you hid it well. Your hands have healed, and you didn't even bother telling me. Still hoping to compete with me again?"
My heart skipped, but I kept my expression neutral. "How did you find out my hands have recovered?"
Lucy gave a triumphant, twisted smile. Her gaze stayed locked on me, full of resentment.
"You live under constant surveillance in the Manos household. You think you could hide something like that? Reily, you brought this on yourself. Why were you always first, and I always second? Why did I have to live in your shadow?!
"Well, now, things are different. Carl thinks I'm his savior. And you? You're nothing. In fact, I should thank you. If you hadn't rushed into that fire to save Carl all those years ago, I wouldn't have the life I do today.
"He's willing to do anything for me, even hiring someone to sever your tendons. Last time, it was him. This time, it'll be me."
