Chapter 4

Just then, a startled cry came from the living room.

"Daniel, I fell!"

Daniel rushed out immediately, lifting Lily onto the couch with painstaking care. When he turned back to me, every trace of warmth had vanished from his face.

"Why did you leave your suitcase in the middle of the living room? Lily nearly got hurt. Don't you know she just had a baby?"

Lily leaned into his arms, her voice small. "Don't blame Emma. She just lost her baby. She's angry. It's understandable if she did it on purpose."

I looked at her and felt nothing but exhaustion.

I didn't even want to explain.

But my father was already pointing at me, furious. "Even if you're angry, you don't take it out on Lily! She's still recovering. How can you be so cruel?"

Mark was more direct.

He grabbed my suitcase, threw open the front door, and hurled it into the hallway.

"Until you learn your lesson, you'll never change."

I looked at him like this—and suddenly remembered when he'd bought his first apartment and came up short on the down payment. I'd transferred him every cent I had without hesitation.

His eyes had gone red with emotion.

"Emma, if you ever need anything—anything at all—I'll be there for you."

Now he was pointing at my face, saying I needed to be taught a lesson.

My phone screen lit up.

Adam had sent the employment contract.

I signed it electronically without a word.

When I looked up, my mother was shoving a large bag of groceries into my hands.

"I bought fish and seafood. Clean them up and make something light for Lily. She needs the nutrition right now. Don't use too much oil. Don't make it too salty. And make sure the fish is tender—don't overcook it."

The plastic bag dug into my palms.

My throat tightened. I said quietly: "Mom, I'm allergic to seafood."

My mother paused, then frowned.

"You never mention it. How am I supposed to remember?"

She couldn't remember my seafood allergy. But she remembered every single one of Lily's preferences.

I carried the bag into the kitchen. While I was cutting, the blade slipped across my finger. Blood welled up instantly.

Daniel saw it and blurted out: "How did you manage that? Now how is Lily supposed to eat this?"

"Throw out everything on the cutting board. And sanitize it with boiling water."

Then, as if he'd only just remembered I was bleeding too, he pulled a bandage from the cabinet and held it out.

"Put this on. You don't want it getting infected."

I looked at the grease-stained bandage. I said nothing.

When dinner was served, Lily took one bite and immediately began retching violently.

She covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

"Emma, you put onion in this. You know I'm allergic to onion."

I looked up at her.

"I didn't."

"Enough."

Daniel's voice cut through the room like a slap.

"Everyone here knows the truth. Why are you still denying it?"

I flinched. The cut on my finger began to throb again.

The next second, Mark was already grabbing his car keys and rushing out the door. Daniel scooped Lily into his arms and followed close behind. My parents gathered up Lily's favorite snacks and a change of clothes and walked out without a single glance in my direction.

The house was finally quiet. Empty. Like it had never belonged to me.

I dragged my suitcase back in from the hallway and did a final check of my documents.

That night, I lay in bed, and my heart was as still as a lake without a single ripple.

The next morning, I got into the car I'd booked in advance and headed to the airport.

On the way, I scrolled past a birthday post Lily had shared.

A two-tier cream cake, expensive flowers, carefully arranged gifts, and handwritten cards.

From my parents: "To our most beloved daughter."

From Mark: "To my favorite sister."

From Daniel: "To the most important woman in my life."

I looked at each one. My heart was numb.

Today was my birthday too.

I used to tell myself they were just busy, that they'd simply forgotten. Now I knew. They never forgot. They just never cared.

I liked Lily's post. Then I left the family group chat.

The plane roared to life and climbed into the sky.

I watched the city grow smaller and smaller outside the window. For the first time, I didn't look back.

On the other side, Lily had just blown out her candles and was about to cut the cake.

Daniel suddenly stopped her.

"Wait. Today is Emma's birthday too. Let me call her over. You two can cut it together."

Lily wrinkled her nose, clearly reluctant, but nodded anyway.

Daniel opened the family group chat and tagged me specifically: "Last night was a misunderstanding. Lily isn't allergic—it was just a stomach bug. Take a cab over. We'll celebrate your birthdays together."

The instant the message was sent, a system notification popped up.

"This member has left the group."