Chapter 2

Minerva stopped in her tracks. Her voice was steady, completely devoid of emotion. "It's nothing." Seeing that Minerva still hadn't left, Yolanda draped herself over Frederick's shoulder and pouted. "Frederick, standing is exhausting. Will you carry me to bed?" Frederick hadn't really caught what Minerva said to begin with. Now, with Yolanda clinging to him like this, he didn't spare Minerva another glance. He quickly scooped Yolanda up without hesitation and headed for the bedroom, tossing a final sentence over his shoulder. "Make sure you shut the door on your way out." Minerva did as he asked. She closed the door behind her and walked away. By the time she returned to the Davison residence, her things had already been moved in. Algernon and Maxine were waiting. They brought her upstairs to see her new bedroom, asking if she needed anything else added. She glanced around the room, then shook her head. "No. Actually, I'd rather throw a few things out. The photo albums on the desk, the figurines and stuffed animals in the cabinets, and those dozen or so boxes of gifts—get rid of them." Every single item she named had been a gift from Frederick. "From now on, Frederick is my brother. Keeping those around would be inappropriate. I don't want his girlfriend to misunderstand." Algernon and Maxine exchanged a look and sighed deeply. After a few more gentle reminders, they left her alone. That night, Minerva slept soundly for the first time in months. When she woke the next morning, she found dozens of missed calls on her phone. She stared at the screen, puzzled. She had no idea why Frederick had called her so many times. Before she could wonder further, the screen lit up again with an incoming call. "Where did you go? Why is your place half-empty?" There was something different in his voice—a flicker of panic she hadn't heard in years. But remembering what she had seen the night before, she dismissed the thought with a bitter smile. "I already talked to Mr. Davison and Mrs. Davison. I'll be living at your house for a while. What's going on?" He seemed to relax on the other end of the line. He sounded casual again, indifferent even. "Today's Rowena and Edric's wedding. Did you forget?" "I didn't forget. I still have to get dressed and do my makeup. You go on ahead without me." Frederick didn't respond at first. The silence on the line stretched for several long seconds. Minerva guessed he probably hadn't adjusted to the way things were between them now. Maybe, just like her, he was thinking about the past. Back then, she had just started learning to use makeup. It always took her forever to get ready. She'd take three to four hours at least. Frederick never once complained, though. He would wait patiently the whole time, helping her choose lipsticks and eyeshadow palettes. She used to worry she was making him wait too long, so she would ask if he was bored. He would smile as he gently wiped away her smudged eyeliner, his eyes full of quiet warmth. "How could I ever get bored waiting for someone I want to wait for?" But now, she wasn't that person anymore. That was just how it was. Frederick finally spoke again, his voice flat. "Suit yourself." Then, he hung up. Minerva didn't call him back. She simply got out of bed and went to wash up. The wedding was being held at the largest hotel in Valemont. As soon as Minerva stepped out of the car, she saw Frederick helping Yolanda out of another vehicle, his arm wrapped protectively around her waist. Minerva spared a brief glance in his direction before turning away, greeting a few old classmates she hadn't seen in years. After a few polite exchanges, a group of girls clustered together, lowering their voices to whisper behind cupped hands. "There were only two real couples in our class, and one of them got married right after graduation. Do you think Frederick and Minerva are next?" "Probably. I mean, Frederick never actually confessed, but come on—his possessiveness over Minerva was obvious to everyone." "No kidding. I still remember when Minerva had awful cramps and tried to skip the fitness test, but the teacher wouldn't let her. Frederick snapped, arguing with the teacher in front of everyone. It escalated until it reached the principal's ears, and the teacher ended up getting a formal warning in front of the whole school." "There was another time Minerva was fangirling over some pop star with us. She just casually said he was cute—and Frederick's face turned dark on the spot. The next day, he showed up with freshly dyed purple hair and a leather jacket. I swear, he looked insanely hot." "Honestly, anyone who's ever seen them wants them to end up together. Even the teachers used to treat them like they were already dating." Hearing them bring up those memories, Minerva flashed a faint smile, masking the complicated emotions that flickered in her eyes. Just then, someone spotted her and raised a glass. "Minerva, isn't Frederick coming to the wedding today?" Before she could reply, she felt a familiar gaze on her back. Minerva smiled lightly and pointed toward the entrance. "He's here. Right over there." Everyone turned—just in time to see Frederick beside a girl they didn't recognize, a soft smile playing on his lips. He carefully tied her hair up, then shrugged off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. One arm affectionately slid around her waist. The girl whispered something, and Frederick dipped his head to kiss the corner of her lips. His expression was soft and indulgent. The group fell silent. None of them had expected to see such an exchange. For a moment, they were frozen in stunned disbelief. Then, awkwardly, they turned away and quickly changed the subject. Soon, the wedding festivities began. The groom, Edric Warren, had been Frederick's best friend in high school. The bride, Rowena Heath, had been Minerva's closest friend. Watching them walk hand in hand, from school uniforms to wedding attire, Minerva couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion. She smiled and clapped sincerely, sending them her blessings. When it came time to toss the bouquet, the bridesmaids gathered in position. But just before the bouquet could be thrown, Rowena stepped forward and grabbed the microphone. She beamed at the crowd. "Back in high school, the four of us made a promise. Whichever couple got married first would pass their happiness to the other. I know the two of them are here today. So, we're canceling the bouquet toss." After she finished speaking, Edric stepped up beside Rowena and loudly called out a pair of names. "Frederick, Minerva, this bouquet is for you. You're the next ones to get married."