Chapter 2

2

The showdown happened at our weekly family dinner.

The Vances had a ritual of eating together every Sunday. This time, my father brought up our future plans.

"Trixie is going to London for her Master's next year," he said with a smile. "I've already pulled some strings at the university there."

Trixie smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Daddy."

My mother then turned to me. "Wren, you should think about your future too. About that spot we reserved for you at the design school... would you mind letting Trixie have it? Her paperwork is urgent, and you can always wait a year."

Give it to Trixie. Again.

Since I returned, I had given up everything. My bedroom location, my closet space, my allowance, and my voice at the table.

Every time I gave in, I told myself, "Just one more time." But after eighteen months, I had nothing left to show for it.

"No," I said.

the table went dead silent.

My mother blinked. "What did you say?"

"I said, I'm not giving her my spot," I said, putting my fork down. I looked every one of them in the eye. "That's my admission. Why should I give it up?"

My father's brow furrowed. "Wren, Trixie needs this more than you do―"

"Needs it more?" My voice was calm, but every word cut through the air. "Since the day I got here, I've given her everything she wanted. My room, my resources, my dignity. You didn't even remember my birthday, but you threw her a million-dollar party."

Trixie lowered her head, her shoulders shaking as if she were about to cry.

Xavier's face hardened instantly. "Wren, watch your tone. Trixie has been nothing but kind to you, and this is how you act?"

"Kind?" I laughed. "Xavier, be honest with yourself. Since I arrived, have you ever once treated me like your sister? Every time there's a conflict, you take her side without a second thought. You tell me to be the bigger person, but you never tell Trixie to grow up."

Xavier's jaw tightened. He had no answer.

"Do you even know?" I stood up, looking at all of them. "Yesterday was my nineteenth birthday. It was hers, too. But not one of you remembered mine."

My mother's face went pale. Her lips parted, but no words came out.

"You spent a fortune on her party at the Grand Azure. And me? I sat in my room alone for twenty-four hours. No text, no cake, and not a single mention of my name."

Trixie finally started sobbing. "Sister, I'm so sorry, I―"

"Don't bother," I told her. "It's not your fault. But I'm done playing this game."

I pushed my chair back slowly.

"As of today, I'm out. You don't have to give me money, or spots, or pretend we're a family. You can focus all your love on Trixie."

"She's the daughter you wanted anyway. I'm just a mistake you happened to find."

I turned around and walked upstairs to pack my bags.

The silence behind me felt like a grave.