Chapter 3

This was the ship I'd stitched together, thread by thread, through so many nights spent awake. Now, it really felt like it was about to carry me forward, taking me on my journey at last.

The final list was set to be announced the next evening.

The night before, just as I finished my last round of checks and was about to save the final version, my computer screen suddenly went blue with a sudden pop.

It was covered in a bunch of gibberish I couldn't make heads or tails of.

The fan stopped spinning, and the faint hum from the hard drive faded away. The world went dead silent.

I felt all the strength drain out of me, slumping in my chair with my mind completely blank.

I kept restarting, over and over, but there was nothing left, just that merciless blue screen staring back at me.

All my design drafts, all my materials, every single byte I'd earned from delivering food—gone.

A chill shot up from the soles of my feet, straight to the top of my head.

I remembered the hateful glare Ruby Robinson shot at me at the venue last time. I shot up from my chair, grabbed my coat, and stormed into the Robinson family villa, kicking Ruby's door open.

She was chilling in bed with a face mask on, casually scrolling through her tablet. She jumped, startled by my sudden intrusion.

"What did you do?" I demanded, my voice trembling.

She peeled off her face mask, showing a face so innocent it almost sparkled, her eyes wide and watery. Ruby blinked at me, "Alannah, what's wrong? Who made you so upset?"

"My computer," I said, staring her down. "My files."

Ruby let out a snort, like I'd just told the world's funniest joke. "Alannah, what are you even talking about? Your computer? Why would that have anything to do with me?"

Just then, my parents and Brogan rushed in. What they saw was me, looking like I was ready to tear the place apart, and Ruby, on the verge of tears, all fragile and innocent, like the perfect victim.

Jazzlyn instantly pulled Ruby behind her, glaring at me like she could burn a hole through me. "Alannah, have you lost your mind?

"Storming into your sister's room in the middle of the night? Ruby's health is fragile. Are you trying to scare her to death?"

Aaden wore a dark expression. "This is unacceptable! Apologize to your sister, now!"

I ignored them, keeping my eyes fixed on Ruby. Deep in her gaze, I caught a flash of triumph she didn't bother to hide.

Enough. Everything made sense now.

"Jealousy." Brogan's voice sliced through the room like a poisoned knife.

He added, "Jealousy has turned you into someone I barely recognize. Ruby's won all those awards, and not once did you ever look happy for her. Now your stuff's gone, and you just come back to pin it all on her?"

He got right in my face, looking down at me like I was dirt, his eyes full of contempt and disgust.

"Is the money I gave you not enough? You gotta pull these cheap stunts just to get noticed? Alannah, you seriously disgust me," Brogan said.

I stared at them, my family, standing like walls, putting Ruby and me on opposite sides of a chasm.

Each one of them was carving me up with their words, cutting me to pieces bit by bit.

Out of nowhere, I laughed until tears spilled from my eyes.

I didn't say a thing. I just turned and walked out. Behind me, Jazzlyn's cries and Brogan's shouts echoed, but none of it reached me.

Back in my deserted dorm room, I slid down against the door and just sat there on the floor, feeling like an empty shell, like someone had ripped my soul right out.

Outside, the city's neon lights flashed and danced, but not a single one shone for me.

It was all gone. Everything was gone.

Just as I was about to let the darkness swallow me whole, my phone screen suddenly lit up with a sharp "ding."

It was a new email.

The sender was anonymous.

My hands trembled as I tapped it open. There was a zip file attached. Without even thinking, I downloaded and unzipped it. The folder was named "Nestward."

I clicked inside, and there it was. All my original design drafts, modeling data, and backup materials. Not a single thing was missing.

The email message contained just a single sentence. [Your talent deserves to be seen, not hidden away.]

I froze, completely speechless.

The very next night after I got the files, the grand ballroom at the city's top hotel was sparkling with lights.

Brogan, one of the main sponsors of the exchange program, was mingling with a few business partners, a glass of champagne in hand.

Professor Hendrix Thornton, the event organizer, strolled over with a drink, a look of admiration on his face as he clapped Brogan on the shoulder.

Hendrix said, "Brogan, your family's got talent pouring out of every corner. Ruby's a natural at ballet, and now I hear you've got a niece who's a genius at landscape design too."

Brogan smiled politely, but he was honestly trying to remember if he even had a niece. He was pretty sure he didn't.

"Professor Thornton, you must be mistaken. I only have one sister," Brogan replied.

"Really?" Hendrix looked surprised.