Chapter 3

When Carter came home with Chloe, I was making Christmas cookies with his relatives.

His aunt glanced at Chloe, hesitating before speaking.

"Serena, you two should get married this year, right? Marriage and a baby will stabilize the relationship."

Carter's mother came over with a bowl of cookie dough, smiling.

"That's what I keep telling her. Serena was running that bakery studio before, and those ovens give off so much radiation."

"This year she finally listened and sold the business. We'll have the wedding in the spring, and I'll probably be holding my grandson by fall."

Everyone could see how close Carter was with Chloe, but they all thought the problem was me.

I glanced at Carter. He acted like he hadn't heard a word.

Familiar music suddenly played, and the kids rushed to the TV.

"It's Mason!"

I looked up sharply. That familiar face appeared on the screen.

At the Christmas Eve live concert venue, he was holding a vinyl record and signing it.

He waved at the camera with a warm smile.

The host asked, "Mason, this is your first time performing on Christmas Eve, right? How are you planning to spend tonight?"

"Of course with my most important family. As soon as the show ends, I'm going to see my family."

The host continued, "Let's see what Mason wrote on that vinyl!"

He playfully held it up to the camera.

On the record sleeve, the dedication read: "To new beginnings and bright futures - with Serena."

I stared at my name, my heart pounding.

Carter's mother couldn't help but comment, "These young male celebrities are so handsome nowadays."

Chloe immediately jumped in. "Mrs. Harrington, he's this year's hottest pop star. I've been dying to see his concert, but I can never get tickets."

Everyone chatted and laughed, but all I could think about was the word "family" he'd said.

Once upon a time, Carter had also said I was his family forever.

The winter I turned eight, my mom died after a long illness.

My dad was in a daze for months, sometimes sitting at home in silence for entire days. He barely had the energy to take care of me.

That year, we had to write an essay called "My Mother" for class. I turned in a blank page.

The teacher made me stand at the front of the class. A classmate said, "Serena's mom is dead. Of course she can't write it."

Carter threw that kid's book on the floor and threatened to beat anyone who said that again.

After school, he walked me home. When we got to my building, he flicked my forehead.

He said, "Serena, be brave. Don't let anyone bully you."

From then on, he always walked me home after school.

When my dad couldn't take care of me, Carter would bring me to his house for dinner.

I hated the holidays, so every year Carter made sure to include me in his family's celebrations.

He said he was my family. Forever.

Later, my dad got transferred to Silverpine for work. After college, I stayed in this city because of Carter.

But last Christmas, he broke that promise.

On Christmas Eve, the pipes in Chloe's dorm burst, and the water was shut off.

He got the call and rushed out without even finishing dinner, frantically helping her find a place to stay. After he found her a hotel room, he took her out to dinner to comfort her.

I waited until after midnight for him to come home.

That was the first time we ever fought.

From then on, the friction between us only grew.

He kept telling me, "Chloe's had it so rough. Do you know how hard it is to get out of poverty and make it to college? We need to help her."

"Stop being so jealous. If you had even an ounce of compassion, you wouldn't go after her like this."

But then I found bikini selfies Chloe had sent him in his messages.

He deleted them right in front of me and said coldly, "She's just a kid messing around. Don't take it seriously."

Maybe he just loved being pursued.

But I was done living like this.

My phone buzzed, pulling me back to reality.

Someone in our college group chat had posted a screenshot, asking if the person in the photo was me.

I opened it. It was a post Mason had just made on Twitter.

He'd written just four words: [My family.]

Attached was a photo from a volunteer event at a children's shelter. I was standing right next to Mason. In front of us were kids learning to decorate gingerbread cookies.

Before I could respond, Carter replied in the group chat.

[No way. Just someone who looks like her.]

[How the hell would Serena know a pop star? Absolutely impossible.]

Seeing him panic like that, I almost found it funny.

After he finished typing, he slammed his phone down on the coffee table, accidentally knocking over a glass of juice that spilled onto his pants.

Chloe immediately grabbed several napkins and, without thinking, knelt down and started gently wiping his thigh.

Carter cleared his throat awkwardly, and only then did she stop.

I laughed softly. "You two look way more like a couple."