That morning, the sky over Shen Bay was pale. Thin mist still hung between the high-rises when the school car entered the grounds of Saint Aurelia Academy, an elite school standing grandly in the heart of the city's business district.
Felicia got out of the car without hurrying, her black shoes touching the stone pavement still wet with dew.
Around her, students arrived in luxury cars, accompanied by private chauffeurs and bodyguards. It should have been an ordinary sight.
But that morning, something felt different—the smiles that stopped a little too quickly when she passed. Felicia caught every one of them.
A month ago, she might have ignored it. But not now, because now she knew how a lie grew—not through shouting, but through whispers repeated over and over.
"Serena's really nice."
"I heard she helped pay for Hana's grandmother's medical treatment."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"And she never even talked about it herself."
"See? That's what good people are like."
The voices scattered like flecks of dust. Felicia walked past them without looking back. But her eyes caught sight of Serena at the end of the corridor.
The girl was helping a student carry a stack of books. She was too perfect. Felicia watched—and then something happened.
When the student turned around to pick up her phone, which she had dropped, Serena's smile vanished—not gradually, but instantly, like a light switched off, even if only for a fraction of a second. But it was enough.
When the student turned back, Serena's smile reappeared exactly as before, as if it had never disappeared. Felicia's heart pounded violently.
"She practices her expressions." Evelyn appeared beside her like a ghost. Felicia wasn't surprised anymore.
"Evelyn."
"I've been standing here for three minutes."
"I know."
"That's a lie."
Felicia almost laughed. Evelyn adjusted her glasses. "You saw it too?"
Felicia didn't answer. Her gaze remained fixed on Serena, the girl receiving praise after praise, the girl who always knew when to laugh.
When to look sad, when to seem vulnerable, or when to appear strong—as if her entire life were a stage and the whole world were the audience.
"You know what's scariest?" Evelyn asked.
"What?"
"The longer I watch her..." Evelyn stopped. "The less sure I am which Serena is real."
The morning wind blew softly, and Felicia realized something Serena herself might have already forgotten. The first recess bell rang, and the classroom immediately grew noisy.
Several students gathered by the windows while others busily discussed the charity ball to be held at the end of the month. Felicia was reading her economics material when a student's voice rang out.
"Serena, your father came to the blood drive yesterday, right?"
The room suddenly fell quieter. Serena, who was organizing her books, looked startled. "My father?"
"Yeah."
"The one in the black car."
"Oh..." Serena gave a small laugh. "I don't know which car you're talking about."
"Don't lie."
"We all saw him."
"He's so cool."
"That must've been Mr. Felix Lee, right?"
Serena's smile froze for a moment. "I..." She lowered her head. "Actually, I'm not comfortable talking about that."
Several students immediately reacted.
"Why not?"
"Yeah."
"What's the big deal?"
Serena toyed with the end of her uniform ribbon. It was a small gesture that looked nervous and made people want to protect her. "He always says I shouldn't be arrogant."
"Awwww..."
"Oh my God."
"That's so cute."
Serena laughed shyly. "I'm serious."
"And then?"
"My father says family status isn't important."
The room erupted in chatter. Even though not a single sentence had said that Felix was her father, Serena neither denied it nor corrected them.