Chapter 1 : Looking for Him at the Library

Avella Winters hadn''t slept well all night.

When she found that document in her father''s study last night, she first froze for two seconds, then felt as if she''d been drenched in ice water from head to toe. The clauses in the legal document were worded beautifully, meticulously, with all procedures accounted for – the change of ownership for some of the assets under her name had already been completed. The ''Transferee'' column clearly bore the name "Sebastian Winters."

Avella let out a bitter laugh. She felt like she''d been played.

She and Sebastian were twins, sharing the same birthday. A few months ago, on their birthday, her parents had given her a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace: a fine white gold chain with a pear-shaped sapphire as the main stone, surrounded by a circle of brilliant diamonds. The moment she opened the box, it was dazzling.

At the same birthday party, with the same cake, Sebastian had received only a watch—an entry-level Patek Philippe mechanical timepiece. A respectable brand, but nothing extravagant.

She had been quite pleased at the time, even feeling a little smug.

It wasn''t until last night, with that document staring her in the face, that she understood. That watch was just a prop for show. The real eighteenth-birthday gift had been arranged long ago.

She was the clown.

That fire of anger had been smoldering in her chest all night, lasting until her alarm rang for the third time this morning. Avella simply switched it off, rolled out of bed, and couldn''t even be bothered to put on her St. George Academy uniform. She walked to her dressing table to brush her hair. The reflection in the mirror showed eyes with slightly upturned outer corners, long eyelashes, and beautiful eye shapes, but their color seemed dulled by lack of sleep, her whole face carrying an indescribable weariness.

"Don''t feel like class today. Pick me up at the usual spot."

After sending the text to Chloe, Avella didn''t even pick up her backpack, just changed her shoes and went out.

Chloe''s Mini Cooper was parked at the intersection of the tree-lined avenue. The window rolled down, and Chloe raised an eyebrow at Avella. "Get in."

Avella opened the door and slid into the passenger seat, her hair slightly tousled by the morning breeze. She sighed and leaned back into the seat.

The engine hummed softly, the early morning wind rushing in through the window. Avella leaned against the headrest, fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of her phone case.

Chloe drove steadily the whole way, deliberately slowing down before a turn. "What time are we playing till today?"

"Till school lets out in the afternoon."

Avella uttered the four words, her tone neither light nor heavy. "Grandma''s birthday. Mom wants me and my brother to go over together."

Chloe clicked her tongue in understanding. "So you still have to go back?"

"Yes."

Avella tightened her seatbelt further. "Grandma''s always been good to me. Can''t break an old lady''s heart."

Avella and Chloe wandered around SoHo for most of the day, then went to Fifth Avenue to pick out a gift. Close to dismissal time, Chloe dropped her off at the school gate. Avella hopped out of the car and patted Chloe''s shoulder. "Thanks. I owe you one today."

Chloe whistled. "I''ll collect. Still counting on you for the next AP Calculus homework anyway."

Avella didn''t respond, just turned and entered the school grounds.

Sebastian''s classroom was at the end of the third-floor corridor in the library building. When she reached the door, class wasn''t over yet.

She stood in the shadows beside the door, looking in through the glass. Sebastian was in the last row by the window. He sat upright, his profile outlined perfectly by the light from the window. His golden-brown bangs fell neatly, his eyebrows were dark but finely shaped and sharp, the corners of his eyes slightly upturned. As he lowered his head to take notes, his eyelashes cast a small shadow, giving him a youthful air.

Avella withdrew her gaze, turned, and leaned on the railing, pulling out her phone. A text message popped up first. She replied to Chloe with a couple of lines, then casually opened Instagram to scroll through her feed, just to kill time.

Inside the classroom, Sebastian''s pen didn''t stop. The moment Avella appeared at the door, he had caught her in his peripheral vision, but he didn''t even flutter an eyelash, still keeping his head down, listening and taking notes.

Only after Avella looked away did his gaze lift from the edge of his notebook and land on her.

She was facing away from the classroom, her shoulder line relaxed, her Saint Laurent jacket hanging loosely, the ends of her hair lifting gently in the breeze. Sebastian watched her, his eyes darkening slightly.

The professor was still explaining the last problem. Sebastian listened while smoothing down the used pages of his book, recapping his pen, and leisurely closing his notebook to the right page.

The bell rang, and the classroom instantly buzzed with noise. Sebastian stood up, picked up his canvas bag, and when he looked up, his expression was still that same detached one.

When he walked out the door, Avella was still leaning on the railing. The cool light from her phone screen fell on her jawline and fingertips, making her pale skin seem even whiter. The evening wind blew from the end of the corridor, stirring her long hair. It gently brushed past the side of her neck before lazily settling back down.

Sebastian stopped a step behind her, paused for two seconds.

"Let''s go."

"I know."

Avella put away her phone. "I''m not deaf."

Sebastian didn''t respond to her jab. He just tilted his body slightly, making half a step of space, indicating she should go first.

Avella shot him a glance, turned, and walked off, her steps crisp and decisive, not even bothering to look back.

Sebastian followed half a step behind. As the corridor filled with voices, his gaze remained fixed on her retreating back.

At the school gate, the driver''s Mercedes S-Class was already waiting. The two got into the car, one after the other.

Avella sat by the window. The glass reflected half of her face as she watched the Manhattan streets receding outside.

Sebastian sat properly, maintaining a precise distance between his knees and hers—not too close, not too far. He leaned his head towards the window, his gaze fixed on the reflection inside the car on the glass.

The car was so quiet, only the sound of the air conditioning remained.

"You came out pretty fast today," Avella suddenly spoke up.

"Packed up early."

"Oh."

She responded indifferently. "Afraid I''d have to wait too long?"

Sebastian looked ahead, his Adam''s apple bobbing slightly.

"No."

What a boring person.

Avella turned her head to look out the window, not bothering to speak anymore.

As the car drove onto Fifth Avenue, it suddenly slammed to a halt. The inertia was so strong Avella was thrown forward, her shoulder and back crashing into Sebastian''s chest, the ends of her hair brushing against his jaw. The impact was so solid, even the warmth of her body pressed through the thin fabric of their clothes.

Sebastian instinctively reached out to catch her.

The moment his arm crossed over, what he first touched was the fabric of her clothes at her waist—unbelievably soft. Her hair carried a faint citrus scent of shampoo, mixed with the warmth of her body temperature. It wasn''t an intentional perfume scent, but something you''d only smell up close.

His knuckles tightened, then forcefully relaxed.

Avella quickly pushed herself back onto her seat, her movements sharp. Frowning, she muttered under her breath, "Damn it."

The driver in front kept apologizing. "So sorry, so sorry! Someone suddenly rushed out at the intersection..."

Sebastian then, a beat late, slowly retracted his hand, placing it back on his knee. His face still showed no expression, only the residual heat in his palm hadn''t dissipated, feeling uncomfortably warm.

The car started moving again, a bit slower now. Outside, the sky gradually darkened, the dusk stretched into a grey-blue tail. Streetlights lit up one by one, their light falling on the car window, shimmering like water.

When the car turned into the familiar streets of the Upper East Side, the lights outside their grandmother''s house were already on. The driver parked steadily, and the two got out one after the other. The evening breeze carried a slight chill, dispersing the stuffiness inside the car. Avella raised a hand to tidy her hair, opened the door, and got out. Sebastian followed closely behind, closing the door.

Pushing the front door open, the sounds of people and the warmth of food wafted out from inside.