She had been brought into the family only to keep Sally company as a child,And now, even that purpose was thinning—never to compete, never to outshine her. Yet no matter the occasion, the outcome was always the same. At every party, every gathering, under every spotlight, Rose effortlessly eclipsed Sally without even trying.
Now, she was no longer just an inconvenience.
She was a threat.
"She's served her role long enough."
Naomi Liu's voice was calm, polished, as she sat in the living room later that morning. She lifted her teacup, steam curling delicately upward. Her eyes did not flicker toward the hallway where Rose stood, unseen.
"The media already knows she's adopted," Naomi continued coolly. "We can't simply throw her out. It would raise questions. But she can't stay here doing nothing either."
A pause.
"She shouldn't leech off us for free."
From the opposite sofa, Martin Liu's fingers tightened around the armrest.
"Well, what do you think should be done," he said quietly.
Rose was becoming a problem.
No matter how carefully Naomi tried to shield Sally, Rose continued to outshine her quietly, effortlessly, without intent. At school. At gatherings. In the eyes of others. And now, with the magazines and rumors swirling, the pressure on the family was mounting.
"I can't let this continue, Naomi thought coldly. The Liu family belongs to Sally. Everything I've worked for belongs to her. I won't allow Rose to climb her way into a powerful family and steal Sally's shine".
The scandal was dangerous but also useful. Enough to force people to reconsider alliances. Enough to push matters in the direction Naomi wanted.
She turned to Martin Liu, who sat across from her, silent and distant.
"I think the best solution," Naomi said calmly, "is to get Rose married."
Martin looked up, startled.
"She's already of age," Naomi continued smoothly. "And it would be best if she married someone of her own class,someone suitable for her status. I'm not saying she doesn't deserve better," she added lightly, "but she seems quite attached to that little baker of hers. I believe she has… feelings."
Martin frowned, shifting uncomfortably. He cleared his throat.
"I would need to ask Rose first. I don't think rushing her into marriage is right. She may have other plans."
Naomi smiled faintly, though irritation flickered in her eyes.
"What other plans could she possibly have?" she replied coolly. "She's lived her whole life at the bottom. What could she realistically achieve?"
Then, with quiet finality, she added,
"Marriage would be best—for everyone
Naomi nodded, satisfied.
"She's grown up alongside Sally. Sending her away abruptly wouldn't look right." You handle the rest."
Martin said nothing more.
He never did
Letting decisions be made over her future as though she didn't matter.
Rose slipped away before anyone could notice her presence. She hurried back to the small corner she called her room and shut the door softly behind her.
Naomi's words echoed in her mind.
Marriage.
To anyone else, it might have sounded comforting—safe, even desirable. Marriage could be good. Marriage could be easy. But Rose knew she wanted more than an ending someone else chose for her.
She wanted to be an expert coder. She wanted to study law, to stand in court one day and speak with authority, not silence. She wanted achievements that belonged to her alone,things no one could take away or diminish.
Did she want to marry?
The question lingered.
She did have feelings for Demetrius. That much was true. But even that warmth did not feel like a destination. Marriage was not the first dream she wanted to chase.
Not yet.
And perhaps, not like this.
Rose Liu understood Naomi's fear all too well,the fear that she might one day step into the spotlight, rise in status, and claim a place she was never meant to occupy. But Naomi was wrong about her intentions.
Rose had never wanted power or position.
What she longed for was far simpler—and far more painful. She wanted parental love. She wanted parents who looked at her and saw a daughter, not a substitute, not an inconvenience. She wanted a life that was ordinary yet acknowledged, a name she could build for herself with dignity.
She was tired of living in the shadows, tired of existing as Sally's accessory—visible only when needed, discarded when inconvenient. She wanted to stand on her own feet, to be capable, to belong somewhere without having to beg for it.
Her thoughts drifted back to Naomi's words.
Marriage.
Marriage to whom?
Would he be someone she chose or someone chosen for her?
The question lingered in her mind, unanswered, as her heart quietly resisted a future she was not ready to accept.
During dinner, Rose sat quietly, her thoughts drifting far from the table.Her fork traced slow circles against the plate, nudging the food from side to side, yet she never took a single bite. The meal grew cold and untouched. She wanted to ask—wanted to speak—but the words stayed trapped in her chest. Marriage lingered at the edge of her mind, a future already forming without her consent. She was curious. Afraid. Poised between hope and restraint.
She knew better than to ask.
"Your birthday is coming up next month," Mr. Martin said suddenly, breaking the silence. "What do you want as a gift?"
Rose froze.
For a moment, she wondered if she had imagined it. She lifted her gaze slowly, disbelief flickering in her eyes as she looked at him.
"You're… asking me?" she asked softly.
"Well," Mr. Martin replied, almost awkwardly, "your birthday is coming up."
For the first time, Rose did not hesitate.
All the thoughts she had buried, all the dreams she had guarded in silence, rushed forward at once.
"Dad," she said, her voice steady despite the pounding in her chest, "I want to go to law school."
"What?!" Naomi and Sally exclaimed in unison.
"Law school?" Sally scoffed. "Mom, I thought she was going to ask to marry that ragged baker of hers."
Naomi's eyes sharpened as they landed on Rose.
"Law school isn't something you dabble in," she said coldly. "Do you really think you're capable of that?"
"I am," Rose replied quietly but firmly. "I know I can."
She had always been an excellent student. Top of her class, year after year. Even though Rose Liu's grades were always exceptional, Naomi Liu had never once praised her. To Naomi, Rose's excellence was not something to admire but something to eliminate.
even if no one had ever acknowledged it. This was the first thing she had ever truly asked for.
Mr. Martin studied her for a long moment before speaking.
"Your birthday is coming up," he said at last. "If you can pass the law school interview, I'll allow you to go."
Rose's eyes lit up.
"Yes—thank you, Dad."
Though he did not say it aloud, Mr. Martin already knew the truth.
Rose would pass.
The interview was scheduled for the following month.
She had only one month to prepare.
And everything depended on it.