12
The moment I got home, Celine deliberately stopped me in front of everyone as I was heading upstairs.
“Sister, will you come with us to see the aurora?” she asked, her voice a mixture of fear and hopeful pleading.
I looked at her with scorn. She was only asking because she knew I wouldn’t go. I knew she knew. This was all a performance for
the benefit of the family. And I was happy to play my part.
“No.”
I pulled my hand away and started up the stairs.
“Ah!” Celine stumbled as if I had pushed her.
“Rory Rhodes!” As expected, Alex’s angry voice followed. “Celine specifically invited you, she’s trying to make peace with you, and
this is your attitude! Are you incapable of letting this family have a single moment of peace?”
My mother’s face was full of disapproval. “Rory, you can’t always be so willful. Celine has done nothing wrong. Why do you always
have to target her and refuse to accept her?”
“Rory, we are a family. Come travel with us, let’s
voice gentle.
enjo
Our
“Sister, let’s just say everything in the past was my fault. For Mom, along peacefully from now on?” Celine said, a flash of
T
time together and get along from now on,
,
and Alex, for the sake of our family, can we please just get tion in her hidden behind her weak, white–lotus act, as if she
okay?” my
father tried, his
was afraid I might actually agree.
My mother immediately pulled Celine into a protective hug.
I snorted. She was worrying for nothing.
“Sorry, not interested.”
I said it coldly and walked straight up the stairs.
blame th
“Rory Rhodes, you are unbelievably selfish,” Alex yelled after me. “Don’t you dare family for favoring Celine! Just look at your own attitude! Fine, stay home by yourself! But don’t you go telling people we only took Celine
vacation and left you behind!”
My parents just shook their heads in exasperation. I ignored them all.
Not long after, my parents, Alex, Celine, Caleb, Julian, and Leo all left for their trip abroad.
I packed my own bags and left the Rhodes house.
A few days later, it was my birthday.
The moment I opened my apartment door in the morning, confetti cannons exploded. My uncle, aunt, and cousin Ethan were stand-
ing there.
05.52
Chapter 2
“Happy birthday!” they shouted with big smiles.
05 52
Then they drove me to an amusement park. I spent the whole day playing like a little kid again. That evening, they surrounded me as I made a wish and blew out the candles on my cake.
I wished that we would always be a family.
