2
Lily had changed so much.
I first met her when she transferred to our
class in junior year.
She wore her school uniform, stood on the
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platform, thin and malnourished, the clothes
hanging loosely on her. Her features were
unremarkable, her expression anxious and
nervous.
Our teacher, however, beamed, “This is Lily,
who consistently ranks at the top of the
provincial exams. Welcome, everyone.
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Silence. Many eyes scrutinized her. We went
to a private high school, filled with wealthy
students. Grades weren’t everything;
appearances certainly mattered, and Lily’s
was underwhelming.
I felt sorry for her, so I smiled and applauded
first, and then the class followed suit.
The teacher gratefully smiled at me, pointing
to me, said, “This is Willow, the class
president. If you need any help, you can ask
her.”
Lily never asked for my help.
Jackson was always there for her
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I didn’t know if their betrayal started then.
Lily’s family was poor. She had severe
hypoglycemia and anemia. One morning
during early study, she fainted, and Jackson
carried her to the infirmary.
Jackson’s mother returned from Belgium with
gifts for Jackson and me. She let me choose
first, but Jackson took a box of handmade
chocolates. “I’ll take these.”
I was puzzled, Jackson disliked sweets. Later
he asked for our chef’s dessert recipes. I
gave him some.
I thought his taste had changed.
Then I saw chocolate wrappers and the
desserts on Lily’s desk.
Lily loved chocolates and sweets.
I convinced myself Jackson was just helping a
poor classmate, though he wasn’t known for
kindness or charity.
I had my suspicions, but Lily was so ordinary,
I never thought Jackson would betray me for
her.
After all, I was so much better. I was the
prettiest girl in school, and during the height
of Palace Conspiracy’s popularity, someone
even called me “Willow Three–Good” -not
because of my personality but my family,
grades, and popularity.
How could I imagine Jackson choosing Lily
over me?
Seven years later, Lily wasn’t the frail,
impoverished girl. She was dressed in
designer clothes and bags; the logos were
huge and a little gaudy.
She approached me, smiling. “Willow, you’re
back.‘
Her eyes flickered between Jackson and me,
an unsettling scrutiny. I frowned.
Jackson spoke first, his tone cold, “What are
you doing here?”
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Lily nervously glanced at Jackson, her smile
pathetically appeasing. “I was shopping, and
the manager said you were here celebrating
Willow’s return, so I waited to go home with
you.”
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A flimsy excuse.
She held up her bags. “The manager heard I
was here and sent two bottles of wine, for
you and Mrs. Jackson.”
She emphasized “Mrs. Jackson,” asserting
ownership. Jackson frowned.
I heard someone giggle.
Given Jackson’s family, even the owner would
need an appointment to see him. Lily, as his
wife, was carrying two bottles of wine from
the manager like a treasure.
It was unbecoming. Clearly, this sort of
embarrassing situation had happened many
times.
Jackson’s voice was impatient and blunt.
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“Didn’t I tell you to stay home? Why are you
out here making a fool of yourself?”
Someone laughed.
Lily’s already pale face turned white. She
looked at Jackson, lost.
No one explained; no one helped her.
Everyone was laughing at her lack of
sophistication.
I was surprised by Jackson’s behavior. I
looked at him; he was cold, unmoved by the
laughter. It was like he wasn’t embarrassed by
his wife’s behavior.
I was stunned. He wasn’t always like this.
Lily had been ostracized in school. Jackson
had once defended her. He had even bullied
Lily.
But he’d always protected her.
Now, he looked down at her, his eyes filled
with subtle annoyance and weariness.
He was a different person.
<
How could he dislike Lily?
Hadn’t he done the same for her?
