A Second Chance at Forever ( Eleanor Shultz )

Beth settled into her chair, relief washing over her after standing on stage for so long. Just then, Nina bounded over with a plate of frosted cupcakes, her smile as bright as the treats themselves. "Dollface, you must be famished after that performance. Have a cupcake."

Beth was a pretty little girl, with her golden locks, sky-blue eyes, and a complexion as fair as fresh snow. Her high-bridged nose and those deep blue orbs were like a tranquil lake capable of capturing the entire night sky.

To Nina, Beth was nothing short of a living doll, and she secretly wished she could be as slender and pretty. But Nina had been indulged by her aunt and uncle to the point of chubbiness. Now at twelve, with no sign of a growth spurt, she feared she might always be on the plump side.

With this thought, the allure of the cupcakes vanished. Nina pushed the whole plate towards Beth. "I'm starting my diet now. You can finish them off for me."

Beth offered a polite but hesitant smile, accepting the treats. "Nina, you're not fat at all, you're absolutely adorable."

Nina grinned, "Adorable is just a nice way of saying chubby..."

Beth's smile faltered, and she quickly excused herself, "Sorry, I didn't mean that way..."

While Nina was the picture of carefree youth, Beth, four years her junior, seemed more cautious, almost as if she carried a sense of inferiority. This was likely because she had learned, at a tender age, how to appease others with her words and felt an immediate fear and guilt if she failed to please.

This behavior stemmed from a childhood marred by harsh discipline. Nina, who knew of Beth's past, patted her shoulder reassuringly. "I'm just teasing you. You could even call me a little chubster and I wouldn't mind..."

Beth remained apologetic, and Nina, hoping to brighten her mood, decided to fetch a sparkler. Before standing up, she called out to her uncle, "Uncle Bernard, I'm just going to grab a sparkler, I'll be right back..."

Bernard nodded, and seeing this, Damian tried to slip away too but was stopped by Bernard's firm hand on his chest. "Nina knows how to stay put. You, on the other hand, will stay seated." Damian turned away, frustrated, and caught Beth's eye. She flashed a kind smile at him, "Hello..."

Damian glanced at her as if she were simple-minded and quickly looked away, leaving Beth feeling awkward and unsure. She had done nothing but be polite, so why did it seem like the children from the Sharp family didn't like her?

Beth nervously fidgeted with her dress sleeve while stealing glances at Damian. He seemed like a sculpture of ice to her, exuding a presence more intimidating than hers, despite being three years her junior. His silence only added to his aura of indifference, leaving Beth to wonder what sort of person he would grow up to be.

Damian, feeling the intense gaze from beside him, turned and icily met her eyes. "Keep staring and I'll pluck out your eyeballs."

Beth recoiled in shock, her heart skipping a beat as she quickly looked away. Seeing her shake with fear, Damian let out a cold laugh.

When Nina returned with the sparkler, the wedding had come to an end. Peterson led Starry down from the altar to a lavish carriage waiting to spirit them away from the castle.

The Sharp family relatives took Beth home. She didn't dare to look at Damian again, but Nina rushed forward, handing her the sparkler and embracing her warmly.

"Little Beth, the past is behind you. You're going to be happy, keep your chin up!"

Encouraged by Nina's words, Beth hugged her back, grateful for the friendship they shared. It was a bond that had formed instantly in their youth and promised to last a lifetime. "Serenina, time to go home," called Bernard in his cool voice.

Reluctantly, Nina let go of Beth. "My uncle has my number, remember to give me a call."

With that, Nina ran back to Bernard, who was holding Damian's hand and had his arm around Eleanor. As Nina squeezed in, Bernard brushed her off, but Eleanor took her by the hand.

Beth watched, a slight smile curving her lips. Perhaps one day, she'd be as carefree as Nina, playfully vying for attention from her uncle, who was more of a father to her than her own. She hoped that even if her mother had more children, she would still have a place in her stepdad's heart.

As she dreamt of her happy future, Damian's figure in a little suit drifted into her gaze. No specific thoughts crossed her mind, just a single wish that her mother's future children would be nothing like Damian.