Chapter 1
My dad's old friend entrusted his daughter to our family.
She was lively and outgoing, totally unlike me. I cared only about studying and exams and was quiet and reserved.
My dad treated her like his own daughter, and my brothers would drive her to all the popular spots, spoiling her with the latest tech.
Even my boyfriend, the school heartthrob, just complained about how clingy she was and how she was always acting cute.
But every time we had club activities, his gaze would always wander to her. At the school anniversary party, he even swapped the duet he promised to sing with me for a four-hand piano performance with her.
I looked down at the program sheet in my hand, my name scratched out in bold ink, and spoke calmly.
"Let's break up," I said.
Ryan Shaw's hand froze in mid-air as he stared at me in disbelief. Before he could say a word, Nora Morgan, standing behind him, immediately welled up with tears.
She was wearing a white gauzy dress, matching the style of the outfit I'd picked out for the performance.
"Ann Jordan, please don't be mad at Ryan. It was me... I really wanted to perform at the anniversary party, and Ryan only felt sorry for me..." Nora said.
I ignored her and kept my eyes on Ryan.
"I said we're breaking up," I said.
Ryan's brows furrowed, looking totally fed up.
"Ann, don't be so dramatic. It's just a song. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?" Ryan asked.
"Nora just got here, and it's her first time at the anniversary party. I'm just helping her out. What's the problem?" Ryan asked.
"You've always been so boring and quiet, but since when did you get so petty?" Ryan asked.
I looked at him, didn't say another word, and walked off the stage.
The crowd was buzzing, and no one cared about the drama happening in the corner.
I tossed the program sheet with my name scratched off into the trash, walked out of the auditorium, and sent Ryan a message.
[I'm not asking for your opinion. I'm telling you, we're done.]
When I got home, the living room was brightly lit.
Dad, my brothers, and Nora were all huddled together, watching the live stream of the school anniversary. On the screen, Ryan and Nora were playing a piano duet.
The melody floated through the room, and honestly, they looked really good together.
"Oh my God, Nora is so talented. She plays amazingly." my oldest brother said.
My oldest brother was the first to start clapping.
"Yeah, way better than someone who always has her nose in a book," my second brother said, giving me a meaningful look.
Dad looked away from the screen and sized me up.
"Why didn't you come home with Ryan?" Dad asked.
I changed my shoes, my voice calm.
"We broke up," I said.
The living room went dead silent.
Nora was the first to stand up, her eyes filled with tears as she rushed over to me.
"Ann, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. Please don't break up with Ryan. I'll go talk to him and clear things up." Nora said.
Dad's face darkened, and he slammed his cane hard on the floor.
"This is ridiculous. Ann, you're not a kid anymore. Why are you still acting so immature?
"Nora is your little sister, of course Ryan should take care of her. As her big sister, you should be more understanding, not break up with him over something so petty. Where are your manners?"
I looked up at him calmly.
"Before she died, my mom taught me never to let anyone treat me unfairly," I said.
Without another word, I headed upstairs and started packing my things.
Not long after, the door swung open and my oldest brother leaned against the doorframe.
"Ann, what's this act now? Planning to run away? You think you're three years old or something?" my oldest brother asked.
I folded a few clothes and packed them into my suitcase, ignoring him.
"Just go downstairs, say sorry to Dad, and it'll be over.
"Nora's a guest here, plus she's Dad's friend's kid. Of course we should be nice to her. Why are you so hung up on her?"
I said,"It's not her I have a problem with.
"It's you guys I can't stand."
My oldest brother's expression soured instantly.
I grabbed my suitcase and walked right past him.
When I got to the living room, my second brother blocked my way.
"Ann, seriously, do you have to make such a scene before you're satisfied?" my second brother asked.
I looked at him, then at Dad, his face dark and stormy on the couch, and at Nora, silently weeping beside him.
"I'm exhausted. I don't want to keep pretending to be the good, selfless, always-considerate sister and daughter anymore," I said.
"Please, let me go." I said.
I shoved past my second brother, opened the front door, and walked out without looking back.
Behind me, Dad's furious roar echoed through the house.
"If you dare walk out that door today, don't ever come back." Dad shouted.
I didn't slow down, vanishing into the night.
They all thought I was just throwing a tantrum.
They figured I'd be back soon, tail between my legs, with no money and nowhere else to go.
Joke's on them. They totally underestimated me.