Chapter 3

The next morning was Saturday.

I woke up early, took Lily by the hand, and went downstairs.

The weather was nice, and many neighbors from the apartment complex were hanging out in the courtyard, chatting.

I led Lily right toward the crowd.

Just as we walked out, we saw Mia coming down the stairs.

She was wearing a delicate, hand-embroidered silk pajama set—one of my prized possessions that I had kept stored away in the new apartment's closet.

I had barely worn it myself.

Several older ladies in the courtyard were already whispering, their eyes scanning Mia up and down.

"Oh, is that Carter's cousin who's staying with them? She looks so delicate."

"Right? Look at that silk fabric. That must have cost a fortune."

Hearing the whispers, Mia puffed out her chest and patted her hair, acting like she owned the place.

Suddenly, Lily broke free from my hand and ran toward her like a little bird.

"Mia!"

Mia flinched. Seeing it was Lily, a flash of disgust crossed her face, but she quickly masked it with a fake smile for the neighbors.

"Oh, Lily. What are you doing here?"

Lily looked up, her dark eyes locked onto the silk pajamas.

She asked loudly, "Mia, why are you wearing my mommy's clothes?"

Mia froze, her smile cracking completely.

"Lily, don't talk nonsense. This isn't your mom's. This... your dad bought this for me."

Mia scrambled for an excuse to avoid being called a thief.

But she didn't realize how lethal her lie was.

The surrounding neighbors gasped, and the whispering turned into an intense buzz.

Lily looked troubled, counting on her fingers.

"But Daddy only has a fifty-dollar allowance every month. How could he afford such expensive silk?"

"And look, there's a little flower hand-embroidered on the collar. My mommy made that. Didn't you see it, Mia?"

Several sharp-eyed neighbors stepped closer. Sure enough, right on the collar of the pajamas was my signature, delicate embroidery.

Instantly, the neighbors' gazes turned icy and judgmental.

"Wow, that really is Chloe’s handiwork. I knew it looked familiar."

"Even if she's his cousin, why is he buying her expensive clothes? And why is she wearing his wife's personal pajamas? That's just inappropriate."

"Cousin? Please. I heard she’s his mistress..."

Mia’s face burned red as the neighbors stared at her like a clown.

I stepped forward, letting out a heavy sigh.

"Mia, if you liked the pajamas, you could have just asked me. I would have given them to you."

"But Carter shouldn't have taken my clothes to give to you behind my back."

"If people see this, they might get the wrong idea about the two of you."

With me confirming the story, the gossip flared up like wildfire.

Mia's tears started flowing instantly.

"Chloe, I'm sorry... I just thought it was pretty and wanted to try it on."

"I'll go take it off and return it right now."

She covered her face and turned to run back up the stairs.

Lily watched her retreating back and chirped innocently, "Walk slowly, Mia! Be careful not to let the baby brother fall out of your tummy!"

Thud!

Mia tripped over her own feet and tumbled right onto the stairs.

It was a pathetic sight.