"I didn''t know. I never knew Kaylee would get engaged to Mister ck." Kaylee did not know that her mother had nned the engagement behind her back. "Nor did I know that Kaylee will fall in love with that man." she never really knew that her heart would fall for Den.


    Everything Kaylee exined to Jacob was the truth and not a lie. But she said it by using the identity of Nichs, who seemed to understand what Kaylee felt.


    "When I heard that Kaylee was engagedst weekend, I was as shock as you are. As far as I know, she... she admitted she likes someone, but I''m sure that person was not Mister ck."


    Kaylee felt sure she liked Jacob and felt morefortable and excited about meeting this young man than Den. But as time went by, she realized her heart and soul had fallen on Den from the very beginning.


    "The reason why I didn''t tell you that Roe is Kaylee Zouch is that she doesn''t want everyone to know about her background. Her father, Mister Zouch, always protected her and hid her face from everyone. That''s why she always dresses up as someone else when she is on stage or appeared as the pianist."


    While Kaylee was talking exining why she was hiding Roe''s true identity, Jacob did notment and listened silently.


    "I never intended to y with you or trick you, Jack. I genuinely love to be friends with you and want to help you. But… I guess my way of helping you is wrong. Forgive me." Kaylee ended her words with a voice that was getting lower and lower.


    She didn''t know whether Jacob would forgive her or not. Whatever the young man''s decision after listening to her exnation, Kaylee would ept it gracefully.


    Besides… she felt guilty for tricking that young man. Not because she was hiding Roe''s true identity, but because right now… the one who gave the exnation and seemed to give the young man hope was herself... Kaylee.


    Jacob didn''t know that the Nichs he was friends with was Kaylee. She was afraid that the young man would get even angrier and hate her if Jacob discovered this little secret.


    Kaylee had to make sure to cover her disguise until the end. Even though she had graduated from college under Nichs Larson''s name, she would never tell anyone about this, including Den.


    Kaylee exhaled a long sigh then walked away because she felt Jacob didn''t want to see her face anymore. She walked out past Jacob''s figure, still standing in ce.


    "Hey, Nick."


    Kaylee''s steps stopped when she heard Jacob call her. She turned to the young man who still had his back to her.


    "Yeah?"


    "Do you think she wille?"


    Kaylee didn''t need to ask the meaning of the young man''s question. She knew who the ''she'' is.


    Since Jacob found out that Kaylee Zouch was Roe and was engaged to Den ck, the young man never texted Roe. As if the young man had disappeared into the earth, there was not a single text that greeted her or simply said a ''good night.''


    If Kaylee had not confronted the young man today, she would have let Nick take her role in the music battle. She would note and spend her free time at her home.


    "Do you want her toe?"


    "…" Jacob didn''t answer her question. It''s not that he doesn''t want to, but he doesn''t know what he wants.


    Jacob wished Roe toe so he could see her for thest time; at the same time, he doesn''t want her toe.


    He nned to confess his love on the music battle day when the girles to see him show off his skills. Unfortunately… he couldn''t possibly do it after the harsh reality of a few nights ago.


    Jacob remembered he still hasn''t spoken to Kaylee, and the girl owes him one answer. He once said he liked the girl, and Roe admitted she liked him too.


    He wanted to know… what kind of liking did she mean, and did she ever even see him as a man? Or is it that Roe doesn''t want to hurt him, so the girl uttered impulsively not to hurt him?


    No matter the answer, the truth is... he lost her. Jacob could never be on par with his uncle, let alone stand in their midst.


    He saw for himself how his uncle calmed the girl in the crowd when his grandfather announced their engagement. They have notably great chemistry as if they were made for each other.


    Kaylee never smiled with relief or found shelter when she was with him. She felt Roe smiling at him like a woman smiling at a child.


    It seemed that the girl only thought of him as a child because of his young age.


    Jacob turned around to look at his friend, who seemed to be waiting to respond to his question.


    "No. I don''t want her toe, but I won''t stop her froming."


    "Fair enough."


    Those were thest words hinting as if there''s nothing else to talk about.


    Even though Kaylee doesn''t know if their friendship can return to the way it was, at least this is enough for her.


    Since their conversation at that time, Jacob no longer avoided her and greeted her as usual.


    When they rehearsed the next day, the song''s vibe and performance improved and got better than the previous ones.


    Kaylee was quite satisfied with the results of today''s training, and she was no longer hostile to Letti. She entirely focused on the battle music rather than letting herself fall because of her brokenhearted feelings.


    Since she caught Den being so intimate with Letti, Kaylee never picked up her fiancé''s call and always told her employees to say to him that Kaylee didn''te to work every time Den stopped by her studio building.


    Den always came in the morning before leaving for work and in the evening aftering home. Of course, Kaylee was not in the studio building because she had arrived at the studio at night.


    As much as possible, Kaylee avoided Den and busied herself with college assignments to forget her jealousy and try to extinguish her feelings for him.


    She was pretty sure her heart wouldn''t hurt too much if she didn''t love him. She was sure her feelings for him were not too deep, so it was not toote to put out her newfound affection.


    But…


    What should she do with the extra lesson with that man?


    Now is Wednesday, and is the schedule for the extra lessons with Den. Should she cancel it today? Or should shee and tell the man that she no longer needs this additional lesson?


    The fewer the number of meetings she had with the man, the easier it was to get rid of her feelings toward him.


    Once she felt confident that she was strong enough, she would meet Den and return their engagement ring. She would break up with him and close her heart forever.


    Kaylee didn''t want to fall in love again, and she didn''t want to feel hurt because of jealousy.


    The jealousy she felt was so terrible that she could not think straight to the point where it almost made the clueless Letti hate her.


    There may be a reason why Den prefers Letti over her. The girl was not as innocent as herself. Even though she was a bit of a pushover, the girl was steel-hearted when someone attacks or insults the person she loves.


    Therefore, Kaylee decided to let the man go.


    For now, she would refocus on her role as Nick and act like she knows nothing about Den''s secret affair. Well, he had identally caught how Den cheated on her, so no one would find it suspicious if she acted hostile to Den.


    She was sure Nick would do the same as her. Kaylee knew that Nick loved her as much as he loved Wendy. The young man will not let it go if someone hurts her.


    She was pretty sure Nick would punch Den right away and defend her with great anger. She knew the young man would do it and how she wished she could whack him in the face in the name of Nichs Larson.


    But Kaylee couldn''t do it, even though she was currently disguising herself as Nick. Even if she had remodeled her appearance from head to toe to be someone who was not her, no one would be able to change her wounded heart.


    She was too scared to hear the true answer from that man. She was too cowardly to know the truth behind Den''s betrayal treatment.


    Hence, she did not dare to confront her fiancée.


    Kaylee had arrived in front of Den''s office at precisely three in the afternoon. She hesitates to knock on the door, but she knows she has to meet Den as Nick.


    Kaylee knocked three times on the door after taking a few deep breaths while calming her restless beating heart.


    For the first time, a voice sounded from within to permit her to enter the room. With azy motion, Kaylee turned the doorknob and opened the door, then…