Chapter 3

Silas paused surprisingly, then burst into laughter. "You're breaking up with me? Sandy, you're not even my girlfriend. You're just..."

He halted.

What was I? Just some random person he had taken home years ago, like a stray pet. If he had to give me a title, considering how he spoiled me, it could be a canary.

I dared not open my eyes, even my voice trembled as I spoke. "Have you ever thought about marrying me?"

He chuckled as if he'd heard a joke, "Don't say things like that, Sandy."

He reminded me that the Hudson family was powerful and influential in Sangrilas's elite circles, that his family held sway over both government and business sectors, that they wouldn't allow him to marry someone with an unknown background.

My grip tightened until my knuckles turned white. "What about Kaitlin? She's just an ordinary person, too."

Kaitlin was just the daughter of a maid of the Hudson family, whom had been financially supported by the Hudson family to finish her school and go abroad. Then she became a renowned painter thanks to my artwork.

Silas froze. Then his gaze quickly darkening. "How dare you compare yourself to her?"

Seeing my face turn ashen, he noticed he had been rude to me and softened his tone. "Alright. You pushed me to speak harshly to you. Sandy, rest assured. Even if I marry Kaitlin in the future, I won't abandon you."

He lightly tightened his lips. His attractive almond-shaped eyes flashing a mischievous glint. "When the time comes, whether you want to study abroad or have a legitimate identity, I can make it happen for you."

Sandy was just a name he casually gave me.

From the day he found me ragged by the river, all the memories I had was about him.

Silas initially tried to heal me, but the doctor shook his head after trying everything. "Highly unlikely. She must have suffered extreme trauma. Recovery can only come with time."

Or perhaps never.

At that time, Silas seemed nonchalant, wrapping his arm around me with a healing smile. "It doesn't matter if you never recover. From now on, your name is Sandy. And I'll look after you for the rest of your life." He always promised easily, like a lifetime was as long as a day.

Perhaps because of our unpleasant argue on that day, Silas took me along the next time he went out.

The car drove across the river to an amusement park, lit up though not yet open.

I looked at Silas in surprise, and he looked smug. "When have I ever failed to deliver on my promises?"

My only friends in Sangrilas, Yasmine Lee and Wendy Stewart were already there, standing in a distance.

They were nurses at a private hospital who had taken care of me for a year after Silas found me.

I had extensive burns on my back, requiring several major skin grafts with old skin wounds.

Whenever the pain was unbearable, Silas was always comforting me by my side. "Alright, Sandy. Be good. Once you get through this, I'll build the biggest amusement park for you."

An amusement park just for me.

I drew a vast amusement park with only one girl riding a carousel on the first painting I created when I was just with him. It was also the only realistic painting I drew and was still hanging on the second floor of the mansion since it didn't fit Kaitlin's style.

I stared blankly at the amusement park in front of me. It was vast and filled with the air of freedom. But I was not free.

Yasmine and Wendy accompanied me as I played through the facilities, occasionally glancing at Silas in the distance.

He was sending messages with a smile on his face leaning against his sports car.

Yasmine looked at me enviously, "Sandy, you're so lucky. Silas treats you so well."

Gripping the handrail gloomily, I forced a smile.

Wendy seemed to see through me. When we were away from Yasmine, she leaned closer to me and lowered her voice, "Wilbur said Silas wants to arrange for someone to sleep with Charlie. Do you know about this?"

I felt my face flushed crimson as if I'd been stripped naked.

Wendy, understanding everything, looked at me with pity. "Is it really you? He's certainly doing so?

Sandy, it's not worth it. You haven't known he had Wilbur decorate the site of the exhibition as a wedding chapel. He's waiting for Kaitlin to change her mind and marry him without hesitation. What do you think you mean to him?"

...

As we left the amusement park, Silas leaned over to fasten my seatbelt. "What's wrong? Didn't have fun? You seem distracted."

I forced a smile, clenching the access card in my hand. "Just a bit tired."

Silas tugged his lips slightly, avoiding my gaze, "Sandy, this place is going to be torn down soon."

I looked at him in shock.

"Kaitlin really likes this place. I'm going to build her a new art museum here." He pointed toward the Ferris wheel, "I'll build a garden over there and fill it with a sea of yellow roses."

Memories crashed violently in my mind, piecing together bit by bit.

My face turned pale. I bit my lip and looked toward the other side.

Before Kaitlin returned, I had wanted to tell Silas that my long-lost memories seemed to be resurfacing.

Those memories of an amusement park, a sea of yellow roses, and burning buildings were slowly becoming clear in my mind.

I wasn't an orphan with an unknown background.