But when he held me close, demanding affection, he called out, "Kate, why won't you look at me?"

At first, I thought he had found a new love. It wasn't until the flower-viewing banquet that I realized the tragic truth of it all.

At the banquet, the woman who caught everyone's eye was none other than the most favored princess of the realm—Kate Winslet.

She and I bore a striking resemblance, right down to our clothing styles.

But no, my dresses were all tailored to Cassian's taste.

I turned my gaze to him, only to find his eyes fixated on Kate.

Something inside me felt like it had shattered.

I clenched the fabric of my gown, a wry smile creeping onto my lips.

So, I am just a stand-in, a mere substitute? If it weren't for that, I might have starved to death out in the wild by now.

I have been like a weed, lowly and insignificant, so who am I to complain about the brilliance of a gem?

3

I had finally exposed Cassian's lies, and instead of remorse, he erupted into a maniacal laughter. "If I can't have Kate, then what makes you think I can't have you?"