Chapter 2

2

Leaving the office, I hopped on my bike and headed back to the Sterling estate. As I pushed open the door, I saw a crew moving things into my room.

"Oh, Gia, you're back! You don't mind if I keep a few of my dresses in your closet, do you?"

Winona's tone was dismissive, showing zero intent to actually wait for my permission.

When I didn't immediately respond, Shane snapped at me from the hallway.

"What are you standing there for? Get your old, dusty junk out of the way."

"Don't you dare get dust on the dress Winona's wearing for her birthday tomorrow. Or else!"

I clenched my fists inside my sleeves. Tomorrow was also my birthday.

But they didn't seem to remember that at all.

Near the closet, the flight suits they had gifted me in the past were tossed carelessly on the floor. They used to say I looked cool in them, that I was born for the cockpit.

Now, those suits were just "old trash" compared to Winona's British-style skirts and delicate bows.

My room was being colonised. There were the silk dresses Sean bought to spoil her and the custom perfumes Shane had ordered for her.

The brothers' hearts had been occupied by her, and now my physical space was next. I silently began packing my clothes, taking the opportunity to fill my suitcases for good.

The next morning, I woke up to an empty house. They had already left for the festivities.

In the kitchen, there was a bowl of traditional birthday noodles and a small gift on the table.

Our housekeeper, Mrs. Gable, told me that Mrs. Sterling had left them for me before her business trip.

I ate the breakfast with a small smile, then rushed to the airfield for training. I stayed until the stars were out, my muscles aching from the physical drills.

When I finally stepped out of the gym, the twins and Winona were waiting for me at the gate.

"Gia! Where have you been? we've been looking for you all day!"

"Winona was thinking of you the whole time. She insisted on bringing back cake for you to eat!"

Back at the house, the twins were busy lighting candles on a massive strawberry cream cake. After Winona made her wish, she cut a small slice and shoved it toward me.

"Try it, Gia. It's delicious."

"The boys drove halfway across the city just to get this specific one for me."

Winona's voice was dripping with smugness. She kept pressuring me to take a bite.

She didn't know I was deathly allergic to strawberries. But the Sterling brothers knew perfectly well.

When I was eight, my mother died in the line of duty and left me to her friend, Sandra Sterling. On my first day here, I'd nearly died from anaphylactic shock after eating a strawberry.

Since then, Sean and Shane had banned strawberries from the house. It was a rule they had enforced for a decade.

But now, for Winona's happiness, they acted as if they'd never heard of it. I looked at them, searching for a spark of memory or concern.

Instead, when I tried to push the plate away, Shane lost his patience. He grabbed the fork and forced a piece of the cake into my mouth.

"Stop being so dramatic. Why do you have to make everything difficult?"

"Just eat it. Don't ruin Winona's kindness with your sour attitude!"

Ten years of history had vanished from their minds. Our bond had been erased by a single summer with Winona.

Winona was happily devouring her cake, but she started coughing after a big bite. Sean jumped up instantly to get her water.

Shane rubbed her back, his voice tender. "Slow down, princess. Nobody's going to take it from you."

I watched the scene, a bitter taste blooming in my mouth―and not just from the cake. They used to look at me like that.

I must have been staring too long because Sean looked up and caught my eye. The warmth for Winona vanished, replaced by an icy stare that made my heart stop.

I looked away quickly. Within minutes, my throat began to itch and my skin felt like it was on fire.

I excused myself, claiming I was exhausted from training. They barely nodded as I hurried to my room.

I decided to white-knuckle through the hives. If I took the heavy-duty antihistamines, I'd be too drowsy to fly the next day.

Luckily, I hadn't swallowed much. The reaction stayed manageable, but the sting in my heart remained.