7
In the ballroom, guests mingled. Celine moved through the crowd like a fish in water, charming everyone with her sweet “Uncle, Auntie, Brother, Sister.” Because I had been gone for three years, I was a stranger to most, and they kept their distance, unsure of
my new temperament.
This was exactly the scene Celine wanted. She kept repeating how she didn’t want to steal my spotlight, which was her way of saying she intended to steal every last bit of it.
Caleb and the boys hovered around her, as if afraid she would feel left out or overshadowed at my recovery party. For a while, the ballroom was filled with the sound of Celine’s voice and the sight of her graceful figure, earning her endless praise. She shot me
another look, brimming with triumph.
When it was time to cut the cake, my father smiled and pointed to the boys. “Rory, this cake is huge. Why don’t you ask one of them
to help you cut it?”
Instantly, Caleb, Julian, and Leo all glanced at Celine. They seemed to awkwardly avoid my gaze, as if they didn’t want to be seen
standing with me in public, afraid it would give people the wrong idea.
I remembered this moment from my past life. Back then, I had happily called out to my brother and the boys to cut the cake with me. I thought they were the closest people to me in the world. They had protected and spoiled me, and I had risked my life for
them. I thought no bond could be stronger.
But they had all hesitated. It wasn’t until my brother called Celine over, suggesting she join us, that they finally moved, as if they would only come over if she was included. I refused. I told them I didn’t recognize her as my sister and I didn’t want her cutting my
cake. Why should I suddenly have a sister with no blood relation to me?
They all called me selfish. My parents were angry and scolded me. Celine burst into tears, saying she shouldn’t be there, that she didn’t belong, and then ran out of the ballroom.
I didn’t even have a moment to feel relieved.
My father, my mother, my brother, Caleb, Julian, and Leo all shouted “Celine!” and chased after her.
The ballroom was left with just me and the gossiping guests, their fingers pointing, their whispers like daggers. I was so heartbro- ken and furious that I knocked over the entire cake. I stood there, lost, confused, and terrified. I couldn’t understand why, after just
three years, they no longer cared about me.
My thoughts snapped back to the present. I looked past them. “Ethan.”
Caleb and the others seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief.
My brother, Alex, frowned but still spoke gently. “Let’s ask Celine to join us.”
I shook my head.
Celine’s head drooped in a show of disappointment.
The boys‘ expressions immediately turned sour as they looked at me, as if I was once again proving Celine’s stories about me right -that I disliked her and was bullying her.
Alex shook his head disapprovingly. “Then I-
“I was asking my cousin, Ethan Rhodes, to cut the cake with me,” I said clearly, looking at my uncle’s adopted son, who was standi-
ng behind Alex.
