Chapter 2

"Your sister only wants to borrow your suitcase. Why are you being so petty?"

"What kind of older sister refuses to lend one thing? Are we still a family?"

"I need it."

This time, I did not give in.

"Forget it. If she won't lend it, she won't lend it."

Sofia spoke from behind them with red eyes, looking deeply wronged.

My parents held her and comforted her softly.

My brother stared at me for a moment. Then he went to his room and pulled out a sky-blue suitcase.

"Sofia, use this one."

My hand tightened around the doorknob.

That suitcase was a gift I had given him.

Sofia knew it perfectly well. She deliberately glanced at me.

"Is that okay, Vince? Elena might be upset."

My brother's face was calm.

Because he was doing it on purpose.

Just as he was about to say something, I spoke first.

"It's fine. I already gave it to him. He can do whatever he wants with it."

The room fell silent for a second.

My brother turned sharply to look at me, his brows drawn together.

But he did not say another word.

He pulled Sofia away.

At dinner, no one called me.

When I came out, they were talking excitedly about something.

"Smoky blue is elegant and gentle. I vote for smoky blue for the estate renovation."

After my mother finished speaking, my brother responded naturally.

"Ivory white actually fits the current style better. Clean, respectable, like a proper family."

Sofia picked up a meatball and grinned.

"No matter how you decorate the new house, I get to decide what my bedroom looks like."

My father did not join the discussion. He was eating happily when he suddenly noticed me from the corner of his eye.

He coughed.

Their conversation stopped instantly.

So they had bought a new house.

And I was the only one who did not know.

I sat down and took the salad closest to me. Swallowing it felt like swallowing needles.

My mother and father exchanged a glance. My mother moved her lips.

"Elena, the family bought a new house. The rooms have already been assigned. You can go see it when you have time."

I slowly swallowed the food in my mouth and asked hoarsely, "How long ago did you buy it?"

"Half a year. We just never had a chance to tell you."

Never had a chance to tell me, or never wanted to tell me?

I could tell the difference.

I hummed, then suddenly asked, "What's the door code?"

"971604."

971604.

It was a combination of my brother's and sister's birthdays.

I looked up at my mother and moved my lips.

"Mom, when is my birthday?"

My mother froze. Her expression turned odd.

"What's wrong with you? Did you forget your own birthday?"

My father laughed, thinking I had really forgotten.

"You were born in winter. It wasn't even your due date yet. There was a heavy snowstorm outside, and your mother slipped on the steps of the old estate. She nearly had a difficult labor and suffered so much before giving birth to you. Your mother always said you were born to collect a debt from her."

My mother coughed. Her face looked unnatural, and she stopped looking at me.

"Why bring that up?"

I lowered my head too.

Only my hands were trembling beyond my control.

Before long, my brother and sister finished dinner and pushed their plates aside before returning to their rooms.

After my father left, my mother also stood.

"Elena, the family rule is that whoever eats the slowest clears the table."

Then she left too.

On the table were leftovers and dirty plates.

I was always the slowest.

Because no one ever called me to eat.

My mother would call my brother. My father would call my sister.

By the time I came out, more than half the food would already be gone.

So I was always the one who cleaned the table.

While I was cleaning the kitchen, my grandparents called.

"I heard from Vincent that you're taking Sofia to Sicily?"

"Yes, Mom. Do you want anything?"

My grandmother laughed and said no.

"Is Elena not going?"

My mother answered without thinking.

"Oh, she's not going. She wants to work at the deli and gain experience."

"That child..."

My grandfather sighed, but he did not ask any further.

Because for all four years of college, my parents had answered the same way.

"Is Elena not going to the amusement park?"

"No, she's staying home to write a paper."

"Is Elena not going skiing with you in Colorado?"

"No, she doesn't like sports."

"Is Elena not taking family photos?"

"She hasn't been feeling well lately. She doesn't want pictures."

...

In their mouths, I was a dull bookworm, an invisible person who did not fit in, a fool who only knew how to endure.

That way, no one could stand up for me.

Because according to them, that was simply my nature.