Chapter 4

Hearing this, I wished I could travel back to college just to strangle the version of myself overflowing with misplaced sympathy.

I pulled my arm out of her grasp. "Whoever you choose to flatter is your own business, Clara Reed. I don't owe you anything."

She froze on the spot, clearly caught off guard that someone as easygoing as me would turn cold so bluntly.

Ignoring her stomping her feet in anger behind me, I turned and went back to the living room.

Before long, Julian returned carrying Chloe in his arms.

A piece of gauze was taped over her knee, and her face was buried in his shoulder, looking terribly fragile.

Sebastian hurried forward, taking her from Julian's arms and gently setting her down on the sofa.

Julian let go, yet his gaze lingered on her.

With Chloe back, dinner could finally begin.

My father came out of the study and sat down at the dining table.

I pulled the bread I had packed beforehand from my bag, poured myself a glass of juice, and quietly began eating on my own.

I had suffered at this table far too many times; I had long learned to come prepared.

Catching sight of this, my father let out a cold scoff. "With a whole table of food, why are you gnawing on bread? Are we mistreating you?"

Chloe hurriedly picked up a piece of fish and placed it into my bowl. "Sister, this is your favorite!"

I fished the piece of fish out. "It's your favorite. I have never liked it, and I can't eat spicy food. Didn't you all know that?"

Stunned by my rebuttal, everyone fell silent, plunging the dining table into awkwardness.

My mother stirred the soup in her bowl with her head down, while Lucas turned his gaze away. The dining room fell so quiet that only the clinking of utensils remained.

Under the table, Julian nudged my hand, frowning as he urged, "Nicole, say less. It's just a meal. Don't make it awkward for everyone over something so trivial."

Right, just a meal. I had heard lines like that my entire life.

It's just a dress. It's just a piece of candy. It's just a bedroom. It's just a vacation.

My parents always said that, and later Lucas learned to do the same. Eventually, even Sebastian started saying it.

I used to yield again and again, thinking that if I was sensible enough, my parents would eventually see my worth.

Only later did I realize that backing down only invited them to push further.

I had even given up my fiancé, yet my parents had merely said with breezy dismissiveness, "He's just a man. What's wrong with being the older sister and yielding to your younger sister?"

Today, it was finally Julian's turn to say those exact words.

Before coming here, he had held me in his arms, promising that he would always choose me no matter what.

In the blink of an eye, sitting at this table, he sided with Chloe without a second thought.

Even though I had braced myself, a chill still washed through my heart.

Lucas picked up the conversation. "Julian, ignore her. She's always like this. Leave her alone, and she'll get over it herself."

He scoffed lightly. "Does she really think she's a princess?"

When we were little, Lucas and I used to cuddle together watching Sleeping Beauty.

Back when he barely reached the height of the table, he would thump his little chest and promise, "Nicole, you're the princess! You don't need to wait for a prince—I'll protect you!"

Now, he had severed that bond with his own words.

He was no longer the chubby little kid who ran behind me.

Just like my parents, he only had eyes for Chloe, leaving no room for his real sister.

Picking up my bread and juice, I stood up. "Then I won't spoil your mood. Enjoy your meal, everyone."

Going up to the second floor, I twisted the knob of my bedroom door, only to find it locked.

I understood almost immediately. Chloe was back with plenty of luggage, so once again, I had to surrender my room.

With familiar ease, I walked to the small, sunless guest room at the end of the hallway.

Sitting by the window, I finished my dinner in peace, then opened the wardrobe to pack my certificates and documents into my bag.

After dinner, Julian came upstairs looking for me.

It was his first time inside this bedroom. Looking at the narrow bed and the north-facing window, he frowned slightly.

Even so, he softened his tone to coax me. "Chloe explained it to me. She has a lot of luggage, and moving it is a hassle. We're only staying one night—just let her have her way."

I couldn't be bothered to respond.

In a few days, he and I would have nothing to do with each other anyway. Saying anything more was pointless.

Taking my pajamas, I went into the bathroom.

When I came out after showering, Julian pressed up against me again, wrapping his arms around me and inhaling at my neck. "You smell so good."

Without hesitation, I pushed his arms away. "Not in the mood tonight."

With that, I climbed into bed and lay down with my back turned toward him.

He stood beside the bed for quite a while without moving.

Probably feeling deflated yet unable to find a reason to lash out, he could only wash up himself and come back to lie down beside me.

The next day was our scheduled bridal fitting.

Just as Julian and I were about to head out, Chloe insisted on tagging along. "My sister trying on wedding dresses is such a major event—how could I possibly miss it?"

Sebastian showed a conflicted expression. "Chloe, we just flew back yesterday and we're exhausted. Let's rest properly at home today."

Chloe turned to act spoiled with my parents. "Dad, Mom, I haven't seen my sister in years, and I can't bear to be apart from her. Can't we all go together?"

Smiling, my mother drew her into an embrace. "Oh, you naughty girl. Fine, fine. Sebastian, let's all go together."

My father nodded as well.

No one asked whether I was willing.

In the end, the whole family accompanied us to the bridal boutique in full force.

Having changed into the gown, I stepped out of the fitting room.

Chloe's eyes lit up, and she circled around me several times. "Sister's wedding dress is gorgeous! I love it so much..."

My father blurted out, "Nicole, let your sister have the dress."

The moment the words left his mouth, even he realized it was inappropriate, freezing in place.

Chloe cast her eyes downward. "Maybe we should just forget it. What right do I have to wear such a wonderful dress meant for my sister..."

Seeing this, Julian felt a pang of pity.

Looking troubled, he turned to me. "Nicole, how about letting Chloe have this one? I'll order an even better one for you."

This wedding dress was something he and I had designed together.

The skirt was embroidered all over with my favorite lilies of the valley, and the train was dusted with diamonds he had selected by hand. He had promised to spread an entire galaxy behind me.

The hand embroidery and beading alone had taken six months, and it had just been flown in from Paris a few days ago.

With barely half a month left before the wedding, where on earth was he going to order an even better one?

Sebastian cut in first. "That won't be necessary. Our wedding dress will arrive in a few days."

Shut down by his words, Chloe nearly lost her composure.

I, on the other hand, merely offered an indifferent smile. "If you like it, take it. It's just a wedding dress. Yielding isn't a big deal."

Sebastian looked at me, a flicker of heartache in his eyes.

Julian was stunned.

With me agreeing so easily, he should have been delighted.

Yet for some reason, an unnameable suffocation welled up inside him:

Why did Nicole give away the wedding dress they had designed together without a single protest?

In her eyes, was this dress really so insignificant?

Beaming with joy, Chloe lunged forward to hug me, though she was fortunately blocked by the puffed-out skirt.

"Wonderful! I knew my sister was the best to me!"

Her words brimmed with gratitude, but the look in her eyes didn't hide her provocation.

She couldn't wait to duck into the fitting room, emerging in my wedding dress shortly after.

My mother showered her with praise. "Chloe looks so perfect in this. It's as if it was custom-made for you."

My father nodded in satisfaction as well.

Standing to the side, Julian watched her with a gentle, affectionate gaze.

Lucas was even more direct. "Chloe, you look way better in this than Nicole does."

Lifting the hem, Chloe twirled in front of the mirror, her eyes catching the jade bracelet on my wrist.

"Wow, this bracelet is so pretty too!"

She leaned closer. "Where did you buy it, Sister? Can you tell me? I want to buy one too."

This bracelet was the Foster family heirloom, placed onto my wrist by Julian's mother herself.