Chapter 3: The Gala, the Ghost, and the Real Heroine

The next morning, the floating comments were back:

[The female lead is finally back in the States—the male lead will meet her at tonight’s gala.]

[He’ll feel like she’s familiar, and start to suspect she’s his real savior. But the side chick butts in, making the misunderstanding worse.]

[Classic amnesia plot—when will they finally get together and be sweet?]

I shot out of bed and ran to Carter’s room.

He wasn’t there.

Tonight’s gala was for the Wei family’s daughter, Julia Wei, who’d finally returned to the States. When we arrived, a girl in an elegant gown was playing the piano in the hall—her features delicate and refined. I didn’t need the floating comments to tell me: judging by Carter’s reaction, she had to be his real savior—the novel’s female lead, Julia Wei.

The ballroom was all crystal chandeliers and hushed voices. Julia Wei’s music floated through the air.

Carter stared at the stage, brows furrowed, lost in thought.

Floating comments:

[The male lead recognized the song—it’s what the female lead hummed when she saved him.]

[He’s totally entranced—sometimes your heart recognizes someone before your mind does.]

[But there’s still more angst ahead. He promised to repay the female lead, but ended up with the side chick. The female lead is definitely going to cry in secret.]

I glanced at Carter, my heart sinking. He looked like he’d seen a ghost.

When the song ended, Carter was still staring at the stage. Julia Wei stepped down.

I needed air, needed space. The noise and lights pressed in.

Through the floor-to-ceiling glass, I watched as Julia Wei approached Carter. They looked perfect together.

Floating comments kept rolling:

[The female lead looks so tiny next to him—such a cute pairing!]

[Is it weird that I feel a little sorry for the side chick now?]

[True, she hasn’t really done anything evil yet. If she changes her ways, maybe her ending won’t be so bad.]

Reading the comments, the sourness in my chest faded, replaced by relief. It was the first time I’d seen something that wasn’t an insult directed at me.

For a moment, I let myself hope.

Maybe there was still a chance.

I crouched in the grass by the koi pond, watching the two of them inside. Suddenly, someone kicked me right on my butt.

The shock jolted me out of my thoughts. I spun around, heart in my throat.