Chapter 3

“I don’t buy it for a minute that Naomi’s leaving for good. She’ll probably go off somewhere for a bit of fun before she comes crawling back.

“Naomi, I should remind you that Charlotte has been eyeing your room. If you don’t stop these antics, I’ll tell Dad to give your room away to Charlotte.”

I froze.

Mom had lovingly decorated the space in my room.

Charlotte demanded my room on the first day she moved in. The family was all on board, except for me.

“If you move her into my room, I’ll break her legs!”

Arthur branded me ungrateful, Caleb and Tucker called me a psycho in disgust, while Rhys spat at me.

I couldn’t care less. All I wanted was the memory of my mother.

Clutching the suitcase in my hand, I turned on my heel, my voice flat.

“She can have it.”

The sneer on Rhys’ face went stiff as he stared at me in disbelief.

Caleb and Tucker scowled.

Exasperated, Arthur yelled at my back, “Naomi, don’t bother coming back if you walk out the door today!”

I nodded and blissfully disappeared into the night.

‘Mom, I’m taking your dream and living my own life now.’

…

It was nearly midnight by the time I reached the dorms.

I briefly unpacked my things and set a photo of my mother by the bed.

The phone in my pocket kept buzzing with notifications.

I pulled it out for a look. I had dozens of missed calls from Arthur, Caleb, Tucker, and Rhys.

Not wasting my time, I turned off my phone and put my attention on my upcoming performance overseas.

Charlotte’s dance recital was held in the dance school’s in-house auditorium. Unlike her, I would be performing at Vinna’s Golden Hall.

Even without anyone’s support, I had to make sure I was ready.

The next day, I showed up at the orchestra rehearsal full of energy.

I ran into Maddox, whose suit looked rather wrinkled.

His hair was unkempt. Judging by his five o’clock shadow, I doubted he had slept last night.

As his gaze met mine, Maddox bolted toward me and grabbed my hand.

“Why didn't you take my calls, Naomi? You didn’t even tell me that you passed the audition to be in the orchestra. You have no idea how worried I was all night. Am I even still your boyfriend?”

His loud voice, laced with rage, turned heads.

I tried to wrench my arm free, only to be dragged into the car.

“Charlotte was up all night, crying because of you. Her dance instructor even gave her an earful today. You need to go home and cheer her up.

“While you’re at it, you should give your spot in the orchestra to her. Charlotte picked up the recorder as a kid. She’ll be glad to join the orchestra.”

I smirked in rage.

“Maddox, save that crazy talk for someone else.”

It was insane for Maddox to think that someone who played the recorder could join a top symphony orchestra.

Furrowing his brows, Maddox looked at me like I was the unreasonable one.

“Naomi, how did you become this person?”

He fixed his eyes on me, as if lost in his memory.

“You used to be so sweet and innocent. You never made a fuss as a child when someone took your toys. In fact, you’d even give away the rest of them. Even my mother felt sorry for how sensible you were and worried you’d be taken advantage of, so she told me to look after you. Now all Charlotte is asking for is a chance to perform. It’s bad enough that you won’t even give her that, and yet you—"

I smirked, my tone chillingly flat.

“I was so sensible because I knew that you and my family would stand up for me if I were ever picked on.”