Chapter 2

The very next afternoon, Nina actually moved into our home.

Ian had bought the three-story villa before our engagement. I had helped make it our home.

Even though Ian and I both stayed on the second floor, we had maintained separate bedrooms for a long time.

He often worked past midnight and claimed he didn't want to wake me when he got home.

So the second floor held my master suite, Ian's room, and his private home office.

The third floor only had two dusty guest rooms that hadn't been touched in ages.

When I saw Nina's designer luggage piled high across the foyer, I spoke up immediately:

"Why is she moving in here?"

Ian glanced at me, his tone smooth and practiced.

"Nina's health took a turn for the worse. It's unsafe for her to live alone right now."

"Besides, we've all known each other for years. Having more people around will cheer her up."

Of course, I knew the real reason she insisted on staying here.

To experience a "complete romance," playing house under the same roof was an absolute requirement.

That evening, Ian's parents and my own mother came over as well.

Mrs. Vance mentioned that Nina was having a good day with plenty of energy, and since the whole family was gathered, she had hired a professional photographer for a portrait.

"It'll be a wonderful keepsake for everyone to look back on later."

Everyone quickly shuffled into position in the living room.

Just as I moved toward Ian, Luke smoothly stepped in and took the spot directly to my right.

He was wearing the crisp black shirt Ian usually favored, complete with Ian's signature luxury watch gleaming on his wrist.

Meanwhile, the real Ian had already slid over to Nina's side, his arm gently supporting her fragile frame.

My mother even gave me an encouraging nudge from behind.

"Jade, what are you daydreaming for? Lean in closer to Ian."

She knew damn well the man beside me wasn't Ian.

Yet she said his name without batting an eye.

Playing along, I wrapped my arm snugly around Luke's bicep.

"Like this?"

My mother let out a visible sigh of relief.

"Yes! You two look so lovely together."

The photographer called for everyone to squeeze closer.

I lifted my gaze toward Nina. Her complexion was noticeably pale.

Ian's hand rested securely on her slim waist. When she leaned her head against his shoulder, he didn't pull away in the slightest.

My mind flashed back to the very first time Ian and I took a picture together. Back then, I had squinted at the print for ten whole minutes.

Eventually, I pointed at Luke and asked, "Is this you?"

Ian was so annoyed he playfully pinched my cheek until it was pink.

After that, every time a camera came out, he rigidly positioned himself on my right side.

"Lock this into your memory: whenever we take a photo, I will always stand on your right. You are never allowed to mix me up again!"

Now that I was beginning to recognize his face reliably, he chose to stand beside someone else.

Then again, the replacement beside me wasn't half bad.

"Say cheese!"

I smiled obediently at the lens and rested my cheek against Luke's broad shoulder.

We had a photo printer in the study, and the physical prints were ready within minutes.

My mother flipped through a few before tapping her finger against one.

"This one turned out the best."

In the shot, I was snuggled up against Luke, while the real Ian stood attentively by Nina.

Both families stood around us, everyone beaming with wide, picture-perfect smiles.

"What makes it the best?" I asked casually.

My mother beamed.

"Look how well-matched you and Ian are."

A faint smile touched my lips.

"We certainly make a striking couple."

Since every single person in this room was putting on their finest performance to deceive me, who was I to ruin the show?

Once the photos were done, I headed upstairs to change.

To my surprise, a maid was already inside my second-floor suite, packing my personal belongings into cardboard boxes.

My designer dresses were being stripped from the closet, and even the paperbacks on my nightstand were tossed into crates.

"What is going on here?"

My mother hurried up the stairs behind me.

"Sweetie, you'll stay on the third floor for the next couple of weeks. Nina's lungs are weak; climbing stairs takes too much out of her."

"The first floor is too noisy in the morning, and your room has a private en-suite bathroom, which makes things easier for her at night."

She explained it as if it were the most natural, selfless thing in the world.

"Ian's bedroom is on this floor, too," I pointed out evenly. "Is it really appropriate for her to sleep right next door to him?"

My mother's expression froze momentarily. My father happened to walk up the steps just then.

"Jade, it's only for a month or two. Why are you being so petty? The poor girl barely has any time left."

"The Vance family paid for your expensive neurological treatments and bought us a house in the city. You need to show some gratitude."

"Learn to appreciate your blessings."

I lowered my eyes, masking the chill in my expression.

"Fine. I'll move."

The maid began stripping the framed photos from the accent wall.

During the early stages of my therapy, Ian had painstakingly built that photo wall just for me to practice facial recognition.

Front angles, profiles, laughing, frowning...

Beneath every single photograph, the same name was handwritten in bold black ink: [Ian Vance.]

After hauling my remaining essentials up to the dusty third floor, Ian stepped into the room, his brows slightly knitted.

"You didn't throw a fit? You've been unusually reasonable lately."

"Nina is terminally ill. It's the least I can do."

He fell silent for a beat, then stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me.

"She's fragile. I'm just humoring her for a little while."

"Once things settle down and my schedule clears up, I'll take you to see the Northern Lights."

Chasing the aurora borealis was a promise we made when we first started dating.

For years, I had held that dream close to my heart.

His phone was resting face-up on the desk beside us. The screen suddenly lit up.

While resting in his embrace, my eyes caught the pop-up calendar notification clearly:

[Friday: Submit Iceland visa paperwork with Nina.]

I stared at the glowing letters for two seconds, and miraculously, the dull ache in my chest completely vanished.

Even the future he used to pacify me with had already been handed over to Nina.

"Do you still want to go? Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Of course I want to."

It didn't matter anyway. That promise would never need to be fulfilled.