"Ladies! It feels like forever!"

Lillian and Samantha had always been the social butterflies of their circle, instantly clicking during their Solmaris Conservatory days.

The moment Lillian spotted Samantha, her face lit up with excitement. She dashed forward and pulled her into an enthusiastic embrace.

"Sam! I've missed you terribly!"

Though years had passed since their last meeting, their reunion held no awkwardness—only the comfortable familiarity of old friends who'd never been apart.

Genevieve, who'd remained quiet throughout most of the gathering, finally spoke in a hushed tone. "Celeste... has the Harrington family contacted you?"

Among them, Genevieve came from the most distinguished lineage. The Beaumont family, her own, stood equal to the Harringtons, their ties spanning generations. Recently, whispers of an arranged marriage had surfaced—Genevieve was being considered as a match for Nathaniel Harrington, Celeste's eldest brother. They'd even shared several dinners recently.

Celeste paused, her fingers resting on the car door as she glanced back. "No. Why do you ask?"

Genevieve lowered her voice. "Your brother mentioned the Harringtons are planning to bring you home soon."

The name Harrington stirred nothing in Celeste. It might as well have been gossip about strangers.

"Bring me home?" Celeste arched a brow, genuinely surprised. "After all these years of silence, why now?"

Genevieve hesitated before explaining. "Your recent appearances in the news caught someone's attention. Harrison found out you weren't... thriving on your own. He felt guilty and decided it was time."

Celeste slid into the car, her tone cool. "We're worlds apart. I doubt we'll ever understand each other."

Genevieve caught the unspoken meaning. "Celeste... you don't want to go back, do you?"

A shrug. "Would it even matter if I did?"

Genevieve opened her mouth to argue but stopped. She realized Celeste was right.

Celeste had earned her place at Solmaris Conservatory through sheer talent, without a shred of help from the Harringtons. Scholarships and performance fees covered her tuition and living expenses. Even if they hadn't, she'd never lacked for money—her mother had left her more than enough to live comfortably for years.

The truth was, the Harringtons had never lifted a finger for her.

After Celeste moved in with them, Harrison had been generous—monthly allowances, designer wardrobes, luxury cars. But she'd never touched a cent.

The day after her first allowance arrived, Connor Harrington had cornered her.

"In this family, we don't live off handouts," he'd said bluntly. "My brothers and I have been working for years. As for Aurora..."

His eyes gleamed with pride.

"Aurora filed physics patents before she turned eighteen. Prize money, research grants—she hasn't needed family money since she was sixteen."

The implication was clear.

Celeste had met his gaze evenly. "So you think I came back to leech off you?"

Connor hadn't denied it. "Do you know why Father hasn't announced your identity? Every Harrington excels. Nathaniel. Aurora. All of us. Right now, you don't measure up. That's why we're giving you three years to adapt. After that, if you've become a proper Harrington, we'll introduce you to society."