Chapter 2

I stared at those harsh words on the screen, my fingers twitching as I exited the social media app.

Then I opened an unread email that had been sitting in my inbox for ages.

It was a full scholarship acceptance letter from the overseas business school at Aveei University.

I'd actually started secretly preparing my application a year ago.

But I just couldn't bear to leave this family, or the brother I'd spent five years trying to win over, so I kept putting off hitting confirm.

But now, I calmly scrolled to the bottom and clicked "Accept."

It turned out that after all that time spent getting ready for this coming-of-age ceremony, it was only ever her moment to shine.

And now, I could finally leave with nothing holding me back.

I locked my phone, gripping it tightly in my hand, and turned to walk out the front door.

The early autumn night breeze swept over me, its chill clearing away the fog in my head bit by bit.

When I reached the hotel's massive revolving doors, I stopped and gave one last look back.

In the center of the banquet hall, Julian was leaning down, saying something to Chloe.

Chloe giggled, covering her mouth, her shoulders turning slightly toward him.

They looked so natural together, like they belonged side by side.

I closed my eyes, leaving that scene behind the closed door.

Then I pushed open the heavy glass door and stepped into the endless night.

It was two in the morning, and my bedroom was pitch black.

My phone was vibrating like crazy in my hand, the cold light from the screen making my eyes ache.

I swiped to answer.

Julian's calm, steady voice came through the phone. "You left your silk jacket on the side table."

He paused for a second, like he was giving me his usual pat on the back, his voice gentler than before.

He said, "You did well letting Chloe wear the crown today.

"She doesn't have any family, and she's pretty sensitive. I know you get it. I notice these things."

I turned to stare out at the thick, impenetrable darkness outside, and was surprised by how calm my own voice sounded.

"Julian, I'm moving out of the mansion tomorrow," I said.

There was a faint chuckle on the other end, Julian sounding as confident and laid-back as ever.

He teased, "Are you pouting again?

"Fine, go clear your head for a few days."

"Once you've sorted yourself out, come back home."

When I didn't say anything, he probably figured I was just waiting for him to give me an out, like I always did.

His tone grew heavier, carrying a hint of reprimand.

He added, "Melody, you know better than anyone how much the Sinchair family has poured into you these past five years.

"Don't keep saying these childish things just to be stubborn. You know you can't really leave.

"Marry has prepared some soup. Come downstairs, have some, and get some sleep."

This time, I didn't wait for him to finish with his controlling tone. I just hung up.

The screen went back to the home screen, and a message from my friend Luna Calloway popped up on WhatsApp.

[Did you leave early?]

[I saw the video in the group chat. That was really messed up.]

[If it gets too much, just stay at the dorm for a few days and take it easy.]

I stared at her message, not replying right away.

My fingers absentmindedly swiped across the screen, and I opened the encrypted folder at the very bottom of my photo album.

It was from five years ago, the day I returned to the Sinchair family.

In the photo, Julian had casually rolled up the sleeves of his expensive custom-made shirt while getting my room ready for me.

His forehead was glistening with sweat as he crouched down, personally assembling the very first desk I ever had in this house.

He accidentally got a cut on the back of his hand from the wood, but he just wiped the sweat away without a second thought.

He smiled at me, curled up by the doorway, hardly daring to breathe. "Melody, don't be scared. From now on, I'll make it up to you for everything you've missed out on because of me."

That promise, and that faint, pale scar on the back of his hand.

I held onto them like they were the most precious things in my life, for five whole years.

[When did he start caring only about Chloe?] Luna messaged again.

I stared at the blinking cursor, my mind racing with fragments of memories.

But I couldn't pinpoint a single moment when it all began.

Maybe it was that first time Chloe broke an antique vase and burst into tears; he didn't scold her at all, just soothed her with his soft, gentle voice.

Or maybe it was my freshman year, when I was panicking before finals and called him in tears because I'd lost my exam admission ticket.

But he was too busy taking a sulky Chloe to the beach to cheer her up, so he just brushed me off with a cold, "Handle it yourself," and hung up.

All those little acts of favoritism never made a sound, but hurt like a dull knife slowly cutting into flesh.

Silently, they drained away all my hope for this family.

My finger hovered over the screen for a moment, then I finally tapped delete.

I emptied out the folder called "Home" until nothing was left.

I texted Luna back: [I'm not just staying away for a few days. I'm moving out for good.]