Chapter 1

After dating, my sister Chloe stormed through the door and exploded.

"What a complete loser! His salary is less than half of mine, and he had the nerve to tell me to stay local, get married this year, and pop out a kid next year."

"They set me up with *that*? Disgusting!"

Mom and Dad rushed over to comfort her.

"We won't see him again. That matchmaker has terrible judgment, always setting you up with bottom-feeders."

I stared at the gift box by the door and quietly added,

"He seemed nice. He went out of his way to drive you home and brought gifts for everyone."

Chloe's eyes flickered. She suddenly laughed.

"What? You interested in my leftovers?"

She looked me up and down, her voice dripping with contempt.

"Makes sense. You're worse than me in every way. A guy like that is perfect for someone like you."

She waved her hand dismissively.

"You want him? Take him. I'm not interested in a dead-end life in this backwater town anyway."

I silently added the contact info she'd forwarded to me.

I didn't mention that when he'd driven her home earlier, he'd been in our district supervisor's car.

And as far as I knew, his family owned over thirty properties in our county.

***

Chloe's anger hadn't faded when her phone buzzed.

After reading the message, her expression darkened further.

"How annoying! He wants to take me to a movie tomorrow. I said no, but he won't take the hint!"

Mom quickly intervened. "Chloe, don't reject him outright."

"This is a small town—everyone knows everyone. You shut him down today, and tomorrow someone's gossiping about how working in a big city made you too stuck-up for the locals."

Dad nodded along.

"Exactly. Relationships are complicated here. Who knows what connections his family has? If you offend the wrong person, it'll make things difficult when you come back to visit."

Chloe's eyes suddenly landed on me, her tone charitable.

"Nina, you go instead."

"Just handle it for me. Don't screw it up."

I didn't argue. I just nodded.

No one asked if I was willing. In this family, I'd never had the right to say no.

To avoid screwing it up, I spent all night researching the movie Owen had chosen.

Plot, foreshadowing, the director's techniques—I filled an entire page with notes.

The next day when we met, Owen clearly looked surprised to see me.

I explained, "My sister had something come up. She asked me to apologize."

Then I casually mentioned a few things about the film.

His eyes lit up. "I already bought the tickets, let's not waste them."

After the movie, he enthusiastically discussed it with me for ages.

Dinner was his treat.

It was relaxed. Nothing like the sleazy lecturing Chloe had described.

He was actually very considerate—serving me food, asking if I liked the taste.

After dinner, he suddenly led me into a jewelry store next door and picked out two pendants.

When I saw the price—nearly 10 grands—I froze and tried to decline.

He smiled and shook his head, paying anyway.

"Last time I brought gifts in a rush. Didn't have time to get something special for you and your sister. Keep this one, and give the other to her for me."

I accepted the pendant, understanding clearly—he still cared about Chloe.

After all, Chloe was beautiful and had a good job in New York. A top student.

Me? I was plain at best. Completely ordinary.

But I wasn't planning to give Chloe the pendant just yet.

When I got home, Chloe glanced at my hand and sneered.

"Oh wow, he didn't even buy you anything? Told you he was cheap. Can't even spring for a gift when he takes you out."

I ignored her and went to my room, tucking the pendant safely in my bag.

As soon as I sat down, a notification popped up—Owen had accepted my friend request from last night.

I retouched my makeup, put on the pendant, and posted a photo to my social media.

Less than two minutes later, Owen liked it.

Outside my room, Chloe's complaining continued.

"Good thing I sent Nina. Otherwise, he would've driven me insane. Pathetic loser, thinking he can chase me. Doesn't even know if he's worthy."

Mom and Dad chimed in.

"Exactly. You are so excellent—you'll definitely find someone better."

"Just let Nina handle these things from now on."

I leaned against the door, feeling nothing.

I'd gotten used to it long ago.

Mom and Dad had me by accident. They always felt guilty toward Chloe, who should've been an only child.

From childhood, they'd drilled it into me: "Nina, don't compete with your sister. She's older. You have to let her have her way."

Chloe took every kind of enrichment class growing up—music, chess, painting. She excelled at everything.

I got yelled at by Mom for being "wasteful" just for wanting a workbook.

Chloe had a high-paying job in New York, yet Mom and Dad secretly gave her an extra $1000 every month.

When I wanted to leave and make something of myself, I'd secretly bought a train ticket, only for Mom and Dad to tear it to shreds.

That night, I'd heard them talking in their room:

"Chloe will get married eventually. We can't burden her. Nina is obedient—she'll take care of us when we're old."

In their eyes, Chloe was always precious.

And me? I was just there to take Chloe's problems and absorb the hits meant for her.

A week later, Owen invited Chloe to go hiking.

She refused without a second thought and pushed me forward again.

"Nina, you go. Tell him I'm busy with work."

I didn't argue. I changed into workout clothes and went.

During the hike, I kept a steady pace and waited whenever Owen fell behind.

I handed him water and wiped his sweat.

When we hit rough patches, I reminded him to be careful.

The whole thing was relaxed—no forced pleasantries, just doing what felt natural.

At the summit, Owen suddenly spoke.

"Chloe said she's busy, but really she just doesn't like me, right?"

My heart tightened. I was about to explain when he smiled.

"I could tell something was off the first time we met. Today confirmed it."

"Chloe has never been nice to me. She'd never be as patient and genuine as you. I'm not going to force it."

He paused, his gaze turning serious.

"Nina, you're special. Want to give us a try?"