Peony's Pov

It has been four years since I decided to leave this country behind. The airport was still as busy as ever, filled with the sounds of hurried footsteps and rolling suitcase wheels. People were preoccupied with their own affairs.

Not much different from me. My eyes swept across the place, only to realize how little had changed. I had returned to the country that once taught me the bitterest lessons about life.

Right behind me, someone walked with a tablet in hand. The man kept his head slightly lowered, but I knew very well that he was following wherever I went.

“Has the pickup arrived?”

I glanced at my watch, noting how much time I had wasted on this one flight. Quite a lot, no wonder my eyes felt a little heavy.

Joe, the man who had been with me from the beginning, nodded and showed me his phone.

“It’s here.”

A message had come in just a few minutes ago, saying that we were being awaited. So we headed toward the exit, where a black van and a driver were already waiting.

I looked at it all, how nothing seemed to have changed. My gaze stayed fixed ahead, scanning the unfamiliar faces passing through the arrival terminal corridor. None of them had anything to do with what I had endured before. And yet, setting foot here again felt like reopening an old scar still raw in my heart.

“Look at this, nothing has changed at all.”

Every step I took felt like it carried a heavy weight. Something held me back, urging me either to stay where I was or to walk away. Even when the waiting car door opened and I stepped inside with Joe, my mind was still wandering far away.

I had already gone through the hard times. It wasn’t easy for me to just forget them. But it didn’t matter, I could overcome everything. The past was nothing but a nightmare, and I would never fall into the same pit again.

Now, I let out a long breath, clenched my hands, and forced a faint smile. “I’m much better now.” Look at me, I could even stand on my own two feet without begging for attention or pity from the people who had once cast me aside.

“We’ll need to pick up the clothes you’ll be wearing first.” Joe unlocked his phone again, checking my schedule, which seemed to stretch on endlessly. And yet, we had only just landed.

I nodded. A packed schedule had already become like daily bread for me. And now, the three-story building with golden accents was already in sight. Glitter And Glow Boutique had always been the best choice for finding stunning collections.

I stepped out of the car, followed closely by the ever-loyal Joe. We walked in silence as one of the attendants opened the door for me.

“Welcome, Sir and Madam. Please enjoy your shopping.”

I had only one purpose, and I clearly didn’t care when someone stared at me. I could feel it, the probing gaze, laced with mockery. But once again, I had no interest in anything other than the clothes I came to pick up today.

Yet that voice stopped me. “Long time no see, Peony.”

When I turned, I found Violet, dressed in a dark red knee-length dress. The woman smirked, sitting with her legs crossed like some wealthy lady. Her eyes gleamed as if she were plotting something.

So that uneasy energy I felt had come from her. I should have realized it from the start. Entertaining someone like her would only be a waste of time.

So I turned away, there were other things I needed to do. But apparently, Violet had no intention of letting me go so easily. The woman shouted, her shrill voice cutting through the air. “What, are you ignoring me?”

I heard her footsteps, she stood and came closer. Her arms folded across her chest, her eyes narrowing as she scanned me from head to toe. “Don’t act so arrogant. You should be greeting me.”

With one sharp pull, Violet yanked me back. Now we were face to face, and she grinned. “Trying to run away? Feeling inferior?”

I let out an exasperated sigh. Violet was draining my energy. We locked eyes, unflinching—I had no reason to feel humiliated by her.

Violet stepped forward, closing the space between us, still unsatisfied. “Why are you frozen? Are you mesmerized by how I look?”

She was so full of herself. It seemed the bracelets and rings she stacked on like some greedy old woman had made her forget her place. Even the necklace she wore was nearly the width of half my pinky finger. Ah, Michael must be spoiling her rotten.

Violet let out a low laugh, circling me with slow, deliberate steps. “My, my. After four years apart, you haven’t changed much at all.”

“You’re still so outdated, with no clue how to look appealing. Your makeup is terrible, oh wait, are you not wearing any at all and still strutting around like you’re confident?” Violet chuckled, covering her mouth. “Oh, how utterly embarrassing.”

She kept prattling on, laughing over things that meant nothing to me. Finally, I turned, meeting her gaze as she stood behind me. “Are you finished?”

I could see the lines creasing Violet’s forehead. I glanced at my watch. “I’m busy.”

For a split second, I caught the way Violet’s eyes widened before I turned to leave. I had no time to waste on nonsense like this. My time was far too valuable.

But apparently, Violet couldn’t stomach my dismissal. From behind me, her voice rang out, shrill and furious.

“Are you ignoring me?” And moments later, my body jolted backward as a hand grabbed the back of my collar and yanked me back with force.

I jolted, eyes widening. I wasn’t ready, and I fell to the floor. By accident, the ring on my finger snagged and tore the front of a gown on display.

“Damn it.”

I hissed, wincing at the sting in my wrist. And it seemed something even bigger was about to happen, because Violet’s shrill voice rang out again. This time more hysterical, drawing so much attention.

“Oh my God! What have you done? You ruined the dress!” Violet pointed dramatically at the gown on the mannequin. I knew it, the beautiful dress was torn.

“Oh no, what now? You have to take responsibility. You’re so careless and stupid!” Violet screamed, covering her mouth with a wildly exaggerated expression.

I let out a long breath, closing my eyes before exhaling slowly. Ah, Violet would never stop finding ways to pester me.