Chapter 3

Elroy walked toward me holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Morgana, surprise! Bet you thought I forgot your birthday, didn't you?"

He tapped my head with an affectionate tone, "Silly girl, how could I forget? I bought you these flowers. Happy birthday."

Looking at this bouquet of red roses I'd dreamed about for ten years, this time I just said flatly, "Thanks."

Elroy was surprised by my cold attitude, then sighed and tried to coax me, "Come on, I know you're still mad, but didn't I rush over right after work to set everything up for you? Don't be angry anymore."

"Yeah." Catarina walked over, "Elroy specially prepared this birthday party for you."

She deliberately emphasized the word "specially." Following her gaze, I noticed there were traces of something torn off behind my name.

Turns out, this was the welcome party Elroy had originally prepared for Catarina.

He just tore off her name and stuck mine on instead.

I sneered inwardly and turned to leave.

Suddenly there was commotion outside, someone shouting, "Oh no! Fire!"

A wave of heat hit us, and everyone rushed toward the exit.

I instinctively ran out with the crowd but got knocked down. People trampled over me, their feet stepping on my body. The pain made me break out in cold sweat.

I looked up and instinctively called out Elroy's name, only to see him tightly protecting Catarina as they ran out, not even glancing my way.

Just as more and more people were about to step on me, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me up.

The person was incredibly strong, protecting me as we ran out together.

Once we got outside, I was about to thank him when I realized it was someone I knew.

"Claire? What are you doing here?!"

Claire looked a bit disheveled from protecting me, but he immediately checked me over carefully. Only after finding just some redness and swelling on my hands did he relax and breathe a sigh of relief.

"The professor said you agreed to go work as an assistant. I was worried about you, so I came to pick you up."

Claire was my college classmate. All these years he'd been working abroad with our professor on archaeological projects.

Hearing his words, warmth flowed through my heart.

But when I turned my head, I saw Elroy, who always had a thing about cleanliness, kneeling on the ground, using his sleeve to wipe dirt off Catarina's shoes.

I suddenly remembered the first year we were together. I'd been injured and couldn't bend down, so I asked Elroy to help me put on my shoes.

He'd said with disgust, "Morgana, you forgot again—I'm a germaphobe. How about I have the maid help you with your shoes instead?"

But now, he was willing to kneel and clean someone else's shoes.

Memories came flooding back. I remembered countless times when Elroy treated me and Catarina so differently.

He wouldn't eat food I'd touched, yet he could naturally take a bite of cake Catarina had already eaten from.

Every time I rode in his car, he'd have it deep cleaned, yet he could let Catarina eat crumbly cookies and all kinds of snacks in there.

Turns out everything had been so obvious all along.

I was just too stupid.

I smiled, then felt a sharp pain in my waist where I'd been trampled.

I looked at Claire helplessly, "Let's not talk about this now. Can you take me to the hospital first? I think my waist is injured."

Claire's eyes flashed with obvious worry.

He immediately picked me up and put me in the car, his words full of concern, "Morgana, is this the love you wanted?"