"What did you say?!"
Valerie Vance’s face suddenly turned ashen.
She didn’t care if Claire Shaw was heartbroken; she grabbed Claire’s shoulders so hard that she didn’t even notice the red marks left behind.
"You better explain what you an by ’if you’re not his first love’!"
Valerie glared at her with eyes that seed ready to devour Claire Shaw.
Sniffling, Claire Shaw explained:
"Actually... I don’t even know who Caleb’s real first love is. He made a mistake initially, thinking I was his first love, and then I just... went along with it..."
The more she spoke, the softer Claire’s voice beca.
Claire Shaw was born into a relatively affluent family. Cole Shaw and Valerie Vance had hoped for a son to inherit the family fortune, but instead, they had a daughter.
However, in Valerie’s view, a daughter has her own advantages; she could grow into a beauty who would marry a rich husband and expand their family business.
So, they nurtured Claire in the arts and cultivated her into a socialite.
But Claire had no particular talents; she was just an average girl.
To et her parents’ expectations, she studied diligently.
During the sumr holiday of her junior year, Claire participated in a national piano competition and made it to the finals.
Her parents had high hopes, believing she could bring ho the national championship.
Unexpectedly, there was an exceptionally talented contestant there.
Their piano skills were on a different level compared to the other competitors.
Claire Shaw only placed second.
She knew all too well that in the eyes of others, being anything but first was as good as losing.
Claire was about to give up hope when the first-place winner suddenly refused the prize, allowing her to step up and beco the national champion.
At that mont, Claire was ecstatic.
She believed it was divine providence rewarding her years of hard work.
But she never expected that the good fortune included more than just a hollow piano competition title—
It also included Caleb Lockwood.
"Caleb approached himself; he called Ellie as soon as he saw . I had no idea what was going on at the ti..."
Claire spoke honestly to Valerie.
She was holding the championship trophy, about to leave the venue, when suddenly a young man blocked her path.
The youth was handso, easily the most attractive guy Claire had ever seen.
No celebrity or young heartthrob could compare to him in the slightest.
Claire was stunned, only able to hear the thumping of her own heart.
The youth began by calling her Ellie.
Though her last na was Shaw, no one had ever called her that.
Her friends and family always called her Claire.
Seeing her confusion, the youth confird again:
"You’re the champion of this piano competition, right?"
Claire nodded.
She truly was.
"Then it’s you, Ellie. It’s , Caleb Lockwood. Don’t you rember ?"
The youth’s eyes shone like bright stars at night.
Claire could tell that he had a fondness for soone nad Ellie.
"You’ve changed so much; back then, your hair was silver with curls, and you wore braces... We were at the juvenile center..."
The youth animatedly recounted precious mories to Claire, but she was certain—
He had mistaken her for soone else.
Though her last na was Shaw, she wasn’t the Ellie he was referring to.
"I’ve finally found you..."
The youth’s voice choked up, tears glistening in his eyes.
At that mont, a voice inside Claire told her:
If you admit you’re Ellie, this handso guy will give you all his love.
"I’m sorry..."
Claire’s eyes began to well up too.
"I was very ill before and lost part of my mory, so... could you tell more about what happened between us before? Maybe it could help recover my mory..."
Claire shyly smiled and held the youth’s hand.
From that day on, she beca Ellie—
Beca Caleb Lockwood’s first love.
After Claire finished recounting her first encounter with Caleb to Valerie, Valerie’s face looked even more displeased.
"So Caleb is cold toward you now; do you think he found out? That he realized you’re not his first love?"
Valerie’s question left Claire unsure.
She stayed silent for a long ti, then shook her head.
"No... I think Caleb hasn’t realized yet..."
"Are you sure?"
Valerie was doubtful.
Claire hesitated for a mont, then nodded.
"Yes, I’m sure."
Claire felt she knew Caleb well.
It was precisely because she thought she knew him that she sensed his change most directly.
Initially, when Caleb found his Ellie, he was very caring towards her.
She transferred to the best high school in City A and beca the person everyone envied.
Because Caleb liked her, she was Caleb’s girlfriend.
Ian Blackwood also liked her and was at her beck and call.
Patrick Rhodes liked her too and quietly acted as her and Caleb’s sidekick.
The first half of her senior year, Claire felt like she was the happiest person in the world.
However...
People grow up.
In youth, one can focus solely on love, risking everything for it.
But with age, one’s mind becos filled with more things.
Caleb Lockwood was a case in point.
Gifted and talented, the Lockwood Group’s business was handed to him early on.
Ever since he began managing the Lockwood Group, his ti alone with Claire lessened.
Moreover, Caleb’s grandfather constantly pressured him, and Claire clearly sensed that his love for her wasn’t what it once was.
This was also why she chose to study abroad in defiance.
She wanted the Caleb who had just found her, who had eyes and a heart only for her—
Even though she wasn’t Ellie.
"If... Caleb already knows I’m not Ellie..."
Claire whispered softly.
Valerie, gripping Claire’s shoulders, felt her shiver.
Caleb Lockwood wasn’t going to let this slide.
If he knew she’d been using Ellie’s identity to deceive his emotions, to enjoy the benefits he brought—
Caleb might even kill her.
The more Claire thought about it, the paler her face beca.
Valerie naturally understood what Claire feared.
She was scared too.
The Shaw Family couldn’t compare to the wealthy and powerful Lockwood Family. If this ca out, not only Claire, but their entire family would suffer.
"Okay, honey, I know it’s not easy for you, but you can’t tell anyone about this. You have to keep it to yourself. You are Ellie. No matter what anyone says, you are Caleb Lockwood’s first love!"
Valerie stated firmly.
"But Mom... What if... what if one day Caleb ets the real Ellie?"
"Impossible!"
Valerie harshly silenced Claire’s fantasies.
"In Caleb’s eyes, you are the real Ellie. Since he already has Ellie, how could he look for anyone else? Rember, Claire, your only weapon now is your identity as Ellie. Make the most of it. As long as you’re still Ellie, Caleb won’t be able to let go of his feelings for you... Everyone has a romanticized view of their first love..."
"Hmm..."
Claire nodded, her expression still heavy.
"As for Serena Jennings..."
Upon hearing the na Serena from her mother’s lips, Claire looked up.
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