Sue had seen the dress before on Irwin’s computer.
Back then, she naïvely thought it was a gift for her—but clearly, she had mistaken it.
Dressed simply and casually, she moved through the crowd, drawing sneers and sarcastic remarks.
It wasn’t until Irwin stood beside her that people finally recognized her identity.
“So she’s his wife… I thought she was a maid or something.”
“I also thought the dress President Bondi bid on at last month’s auction was for his wife. Who knew it would end up on Ava instead? Tsk, tsk.”
Irwin looked uneasy. He quickly took Sue’s hand and explained, “Sue, that dress was meant for you, but… you’re too thin. You wouldn’t have been able to pull it off, so I gave it to Ava instead.”
Sue’s heart sank. Forcing a stiff smile, she muttered, “It’s fine. I understand.”
But before she could even process her disappointment, Ava spoke up, ruining the moment.
“Oh, Irwin, I love the dress you gave me! Thank you for getting it just for me!”
She turned to Sue, smiling sweetly. Next to her, Sue looked dull and worn-out like a dusty shadow of a person.
“Sue, did you know? This was Irwin’s birthday gift to me.”
Ava tilted her head, eyes full of feigned curiosity. “What about you? What are you getting me for my birthday?”
Sue remained silent, and Ava pouted, her voice turning aggrieved.
“Sue, are you still mad about me marrying Jerwin? But he tricked me! I was a victim too…”
She even started crying pitifully, looking so fragile and innocent that Lucia’s heart ached.
“That’s enough, Sue!” the old lady snapped. “I already allowed you to marry into my family, so why are you still targeting Ava?
“If anything, it’s your fault for trusting the wrong guy and letting Ava fall into Jerwin’s trap. But they’re divorced now—what more do you want?!”
She was firm, righteous even. This time, even Irwin didn’t speak up for Sue.
He just looked at her in disappointment. “Sue, stop making trouble, okay? Ava didn’t do it on purpose. We grew up together—just let it go.”
Sue’s eyes burned red, but she had nothing left to say.
Between the two of them, Ava felt more like the real mistress.
“Crying like this—what a disgrace! Go to your room and reflect on yourself instead of embarrassing us all!”
Under countless mocking gazes, Sue dragged her heavy steps upstairs.
Standing on the third-floor balcony, she could see the courtyard bursting with flowers, alive with spring’s vibrance.
But her heart ached.
She had grown up with Irwin and Ava, the three of them as close as siblings.
Sue had always been blunt, often offending people. Ava, with her sweet words, would smooth things over. And when things got really bad, Irwin would step in to clean up their messes.
She didn’t know when things changed.
At some point, Ava started competing with her over everything.
And Sue had tolerated it all—maybe because Ava was just that dazzling, that talented.
If their roles were reversed, maybe she would have been jealous too.
But then Ava had brazenly gone after Sue’s then-fiancé.
Then Ava had conspired with Irwin, leading to Sue’s mom’s tragic death.
It took Sue until then to realize—whatever bond they once had was long gone.
She thought of her mom’s helpless, worried face on the operating table.
Silent tears slid down her cheeks.
The love she once had for Irwin was now buried beneath an ocean of hatred.
