Chapter 2

“Ellie only wants to borrow it once.Why do you have to be so mean?”

“What kind of family can’t even share a suitcase?”

“I told you,I need it.”

This time,I did not give in.

“Forget it.”Ellie sniffled.“If she doesn’t want to lend it to me,then she doesn’t have to.”

My parents immediately put their arms around her and comforted her.

Noah stared at me for a moment,then went to his room and returned with a sky-blue suitcase.

“Use mine.”

My fingers tightened around the door handle.

I had spent a long time choosing that suitcase at an outlet store before giving it to him for his birthday.

Ellie knew that.She deliberately glanced at me.

“Are you sure?Claire might be upset.”

Noah’s expression remained calm.He wanted to hurt me.He wanted to force me to back down.

Before he could speak,I said,“I gave it to you.You can let anyone you want use it.”

The room went silent for a moment.

Noah snapped his head toward me and frowned,but he said nothing.He took the suitcase and left with Ellie.

No one called me for dinner.

By the time I came out,they were gathered around the table in the middle of a lively conversation.

“I like warm gray walls.They make a house look expensive,”Mom said.

Noah replied,“Cream white would work better with an open floor plan.It would make the place brighter too.”

Ellie speared a piece of roast meat with her fork and grinned.“You can do whatever you want with the common areas.I’m choosing everything in my own bedroom.”

Dad was eating happily when he caught sight of me from the corner of his eye.He coughed at once.

Every voice stopped.

They had bought a new house.

I was the only person in the family who had not known.

I sat down and took a bite of the salad closest to me.I forced it down,but my throat ached with the effort.

My parents exchanged a look.

Mom forced a smile.“Claire,we bought a new house.The bedrooms have already been assigned.You can go see it when you have time.”

“When did you buy it?”

“Six months ago.We never found the right time to tell you.”

It was not that they had lacked an opportunity.They had never intended to tell me.

I nodded,then asked,“What’s the door code?”

“617923.”

Noah’s birthday and Ellie’s birthday.

I looked at Mom.

“When is my birthday?”

She stared at me in confusion.

“Did you forget your own birthday?”

Dad laughed,thinking I genuinely had.

“You were born in December.There was a blizzard that day.Your mom slipped on the porch,went into labor early,and nearly died.She always says you were causing her trouble before you were even born.”

Mom coughed uncomfortably.

“Why bring up something that happened so long ago?”

I lowered my head,but the hand holding my fork would not stop trembling.

Not long after that,Noah and Ellie finished eating,dropped their plates in the sink,and left.Dad walked away from the table too.Mom was the last to stand.

“The rule in this house is that the last person to finish cleans the kitchen.”

Then she left as well.

Cold food and a pile of dirty dishes covered the table.

I was always the last one to finish eating.

Because no one told me when dinner was ready.

Mom called Noah.Dad knocked on Ellie’s door.By the time I smelled the food and came out,half of it had already been picked over.

That was why the kitchen always became my responsibility too.

I was halfway through cleaning when my grandparents video-called us.

“Noah said you’re taking Ellie to Italy?”

“That’s right.Do you want any souvenirs?”Mom asked with a smile.

Grandma waved her hand,then asked,“Isn’t Claire going?”

Mom answered without hesitation.

“She doesn’t want to.She’d rather work and get more experience.”

“That girl…”Grandpa sighed,but he did not ask anything else.

For four years,Mom had always answered for me.

“Isn’t Claire going to the theme park?”

“She doesn’t like those places.She wants to stay home and study.”

“Isn’t Claire going skiing with you?”

“She isn’t athletic.”

“Why isn’t Claire in the family pictures?”

“She doesn’t like having her picture taken.”

According to them,I was a gloomy,antisocial girl who cared about nothing but work.

By pretending their neglect was my choice,they made sure no one could object on my behalf.