Chasing Happiness

Chapter 3

I stood on the veranda with a slight frown, gazing across Brandy’s sprawling estate. From where I was, I could see the massive swimming pool and dozens of people hurrying around as they made the final preparations for that evening’s celebration.

I had learned earlier that it was Brandy’s older brother’s wedding. Since she was the youngest in the family, my arrival had coincidentally fallen on the very day of the ceremony.

Lucky me.

One of my eyebrows lifted when I spotted the same man I had met yesterday.

He had just come from the stables. His clothes were stained with dirt, and dried mud clung to the legs of his jeans. It was obvious he had spent the entire day working.

Even so, I couldn’t understand why every time our paths crossed, there was something different about the way he looked at me. I couldn’t tell whether he disliked me… or simply didn’t care enough to hide his indifference.

For some reason, that irritated me even more.

“Sofia!” Brandy called from inside the room. “Come here and tell me what you think of our dresses!”

I turned toward her and walked inside.

She was wearing a soft pink dress with delicate floral embroidery. It wasn’t extravagant, but it hugged her figure perfectly and suited her surprisingly well.

“So?” she asked with a grin as she gave me a little twirl. “Do I look attractive?”

I nodded with a smile.

“You look beautiful. That dress was made for you.”

She laughed and waved a dismissive hand.

“Oh, stop. You’re making me blush.” She giggled before pointing to another dress hanging nearby. “Now go try yours.”

I picked up the matching pink dress and headed into the bathroom while she returned to the bedroom.

The dress fit me perfectly.

Even though I had only told Brandy about my trip at the last minute, it looked as though it had been tailored specifically for me.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, and little by little, my smile faded.

There was something I still hadn’t told Brandy.

I wasn’t planning to return to the United States.

She thought I was only here for a vacation.

She had no idea I had chosen this place to disappear.

No one knew me here. No one would ask why I had suddenly vanished or why I had walked away from the life I had spent years building.

Most importantly…

She didn’t know the real reason I had come.

My thoughts drifted back to the man I had left behind.

Kenzo.

I did have feelings for him.

I cared about him.

But not enough to marry him.

Not enough to promise him forever.

And that terrified me.

For my entire life, I had believed that was exactly what I wanted.

Money.

Success.

Status.

Security.

A carefully planned future where wealth and influence guaranteed happiness.

Because I wanted that life so badly, I had done everything I could to win Kenzo’s heart.

But when everything I had spent years chasing was finally within my reach…

Why did all I want to do was run away?

Somewhere along the way, a simple dream had quietly become a burden.

“Sofia!” Brandy shouted from outside the bathroom. “What are you doing in there? Did the bathroom swallow you? Hurry up! We still have to get our makeup done!”

The loud knock on the door pulled me back to reality.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment.

Then I pushed everything aside.

When I opened the door and stepped out, Brandy’s eyes widened. She looked me up and down from head to toe before dramatically placing a hand over her chest.

“No wonder all those white guys, Black guys, and even the Mexicans at work were crazy about you! Seriously, woman! Look at your figure! You completely outshine me!”

I laughed and shook my head.

“You’re still prettier. You’re half Chinese and half Korean. I’m just a full-blooded Filipina.”

“Excuse me?” She let out an exaggerated gasp before breaking into laughter. “Well… obviously I’m pretty.”

That only made me laugh harder.

She rested a finger against her chin as she studied me again, her playful smile slowly softening.

“But seriously, Sofia…” she said. “You’ve been living in the States for almost eight years, and you’ve changed so much.”

“Like what?”

“I forgot to tell you yesterday because it slipped my mind, but…” She smiled warmly. “You’ve become even more beautiful than the last time I saw you.”

I smiled without saying a word.

“Your face looks more mature now. More refined.” She grinned. “Honestly… you’ve become unbelievably gorgeous.”

“You know what?” I said, shaking my head with a laugh. “I think we’re both just flattering each other. Come on, let’s go get our makeup done.”

“True,” she agreed with a proud smile. “We’re both beautiful.”

“See?”

“Facts are facts, my friend.”

We both burst into laughter as we walked out of the room together.

Brandy hurried after me and slipped her arm through mine as we made our way to her mother’s room, where the makeup artists were already waiting.

“Hello, girls. We’ve been waiting for you.”

The moment we stepped inside, Brandy’s mother greeted us with a warm smile.

“You two are the only ones who aren’t ready yet. Your brother’s wedding starts in thirty minutes.”

My gaze wandered around the room.

It was spacious and elegantly decorated. Nearly everything inside looked expensive, but what caught my attention most was the large jewelry case displayed on one side of the room. It was filled with sparkling necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and diamonds that looked as though they belonged in a luxury boutique.

Brandy released my arm and walked over to her mother, kissing her on both cheeks.

“Thank you, Mom, for letting Sofia stay here at the mansion.” She grinned mischievously. “As a reward, I promise I won’t get married until I’m thirty.”

Her mother burst into laughter before shaking her head.

“Oh, no. Please don’t do that! You’ll worry me to death!”

“Mom!”

“Oh, Brandy Buenaventura!” she exclaimed, pretending to scold her. “Go sit down and let Stephany fix your makeup before all this stress ruins my freshly straightened hair!”

I couldn’t help smiling as I watched the two of them tease each other. Their playful banter was effortless, the kind that only came from a close and loving family.

“Go ahead, dear,” her mother said, turning to me with a gentle smile. “Take any empty chair.”

I nodded politely and settled into one of the vacant seats. Moments later, the makeup artists gathered around us, and the preparations began.