The house felt empty.
Too quiet.
Too still.
Lia sat on the floor of her room, staring at nothing.
People had been coming and going since morning—relatives, neighbors, voices she didn't recognize.
But none of it felt real.
Because one truth refused to settle in her heart.
Her father…
Was gone.
* The Burial*
The sky was gray that day.
As if even the heavens refused to shine.
Lia stood beside the grave, dressed in black, her hands trembling slightly.
She watched as they lowered the coffin slowly into the ground.
Each inch felt like a knife twisting inside her chest.
"No…" she whispered under her breath.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
He was supposed to come back.
He was supposed to smile again.
He was supposed to call her "princess" again.
People cried around her.
But Lia…
She was silent.
Completely silent.
Until—
The first shovel of sand hit the coffin.
Thud.
That sound—
It broke her.
"Dad!" she cried out suddenly, stepping forward.
Tears poured uncontrollably down her face.
"Don't leave me… please… don't leave me…"
Ava quickly held her back as her body shook violently.
"He promised…" Lia sobbed. "He promised everything would be okay…"
* After the Burial*
That night, Lia returned to the hospital.
Her mother was awake.
Weak… but alive.
"Lia…" her mom called softly.
Lia froze at the door.
She didn't know how to say it.
How do you tell someone their whole world is gone?
Her mother looked at her carefully.
"…Where is your father?"
Silence.
Lia's lips trembled.
"He… he's just…"
She couldn't say it.
Her voice refused.
Her mother slowly sat up, her expression changing.
"…Lia."
Something in her tone—
She already knew.
Lia broke.
"He's gone…" she cried softly.
"He's gone, Mom…"
The room fell into silence.
Heavy. Crushing.
Her mother stared at her…
Then tears rolled down slowly.
"No…" she whispered weakly.
Her hands trembled.
"This can't be…"
Lia rushed to her side, holding her tightly.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
Her mother cried quietly in her arms, her body too weak to even break down properly.
* The Decision*
Days later, after her condition stabilized, the doctor gave strict instructions.
"No stress. No emotional strain. She needs full rest."
The family made a decision.
Lia's mother would go stay with her parents—
Far away.
Somewhere peaceful.
The day she left…
Lia stood at the gate, holding her hand tightly.
"Come with me," her mother said softly.
Lia shook her head.
"I still have school…"
But that wasn't the real reason.
She just couldn't run away.
Not now.
Her mother looked at her with teary eyes.
"Take care of yourself…"
"I will," Lia whispered.
As the car drove away…
Lia stood there.
Alone.
Completely alone.
Lia sat in her dark room, hugging her knees.
No father.
No mother.
Just silence.
Her eyes slowly hardened.
"I won't cry anymore…" she whispered.
"I won't be weak again."
But deep inside…
One name still lingered.
Ethan.
And the hatred she felt…
Only grew stronger.
The morning felt heavy.
Not because of the weather.
But because Lia had nothing left inside her.
The house was quiet again.
Too quiet.
No father's voice.
No mother's presence.
Just silence.
#Back to School#
Returning to school felt strange.
Like stepping into a world that didn't stop for her pain.
Students laughed.
Talked.
Planned.
"The Silvergate Night Party is tonight!"
"I can't wait!"
"Did you see Madison's dress preview?"
Lia walked past them slowly, her expression blank.
None of it mattered.
Ava rushed toward her the moment she saw her.
"Lia…" she said softly, pulling her into a hug.
Lia didn't hug back immediately.
But after a second…
She did.
"I'm okay," Lia said quietly.
Ava pulled back, looking at her carefully.
"No, you're not."
Lia didn't argue.
Because for once…
She didn't have the strength to pretend.
"About tonight…" Ava started carefully.
Lia frowned slightly. "I'm not going."
Ava sighed. "Lia—"
"I just buried my dad, Ava," she said softly.
The words hung heavily in the air.
"I'm not in the mood to dress up and smile like everything is fine."
Ava hesitated.
Then she spoke gently.
"You don't have to smile."
Lia looked at her.
"But staying alone won't help either."
Silence.
Ava stepped closer.
"Just come with me. No pressure. No pretending. Just… don't be alone tonight."
Lia looked away.
Her chest tightened slightly.
Alone…
She had been alone since her mom left.
"…Fine," she whispered.
"But I'm not dressing up."
Ava smiled slightly. "We'll see about that."
#Classroom Cold War#
When Lia entered the classroom, everything went quiet for a moment.
Ethan was already there.
Their eyes met.
And just like before—
Cold.
Distant.
Unforgiving.
Lia looked away first and sat down.
Ethan didn't speak.
No rules.
No teasing.
Nothing.
But his silence felt louder than anything he had ever said.
Ryan walked in moments later, his gaze immediately finding Lia.
"Hey…" he said softly.
Lia nodded slightly. "Hi."
He hesitated before sitting beside her desk.
"You… coming tonight?"
"I don't know," she replied.
Ryan studied her face carefully.
"…If you go, I'll stay with you."
Lia didn't respond.
But something about his words stayed with her.
From his seat, Ethan watched everything.
Ryan's concern.
Lia's quiet response.
His jaw tightened slightly.
But he said nothing.
Because this time—
He knew he had no right to interfere.
After school, Ava dragged Lia again.
"No excuses this time," she said firmly.
Lia sighed. "Ava…"
"Just trust me."
At the boutique, everything felt the same as before—
Beautiful.
Bright.
Unreal.
Lia tried on the dress again.
The same one.
The one that made her look strong.
She stared at herself in the mirror.
She didn't look broken anymore.
But she didn't look happy either.
"…I look like someone else," she whispered.
Ava shook her head.
"No. You look like the version of you that refuses to fall apart."
Lia said nothing.
But she didn't change out of the dress immediately.
# Ethan & Madison #
Elsewhere, Ethan stood beside Madison as she finalized her outfit.
"Perfect," Madison said, smiling at her reflection.
She turned to him.
"Remember, tonight we are a couple."
Ethan's expression remained cold.
"I know."
She stepped closer.
"And don't let that girl ruin anything."
Silence.
Ethan's eyes darkened slightly.
"…She won't."
But even he didn't sound convinced.
Lia stood in her room, fully dressed now.
The same elegant dress.
The same calm expression.
But inside—
Nothing was calm.
She picked up her phone.
Ava's message popped up:
"I'm outside."
Lia took a deep breath.
"This is just one night," she whispered.
"One night… and it's over."
But deep down—
She knew.
Tonight…
Would change everything.