It was Sabrina’s birthday. My parents’ adopted daughter. The girl I had once called my little sister. The same girl I’d defended from bullies back in high school, when the four of us—Sabrina, Nathan, Gabriel, and I—were supposed to be a makeshift family.
I had genuinely believed I was doing the right thing back then. Helping her would bring us closer. We’d all live under one roof, sharing laughter over dinners. I never imagined she would twist it all against me.
Sabrina had always been clever, quietly inserting herself into everything. At first, she simply tagged along with us—me, Nathan, and Gabriel—but over time, it became something else. Whispering into Nathan’s ear when I wasn’t looking. Making Gabriel laugh in ways that had once belonged solely to me. I told myself not to overthink it.
Until the night I saw it. The kiss.
It was supposed to be quiet, just me and Nathan—the boy who eventually became my boyfriend—confessing our love. But instead, I caught him pressing his lips to Sabrina’s.
I let it slide. Once. Twice. Too many times.
Every time I confronted him, Nathan brushed it off. “You’re imagining things,” he’d say. “She’s like a sister.”
Gabriel chimed in, echoing the dismissal. “Stop ruining everything with your jealousy, Elena.”
It wasn’t jealousy. It was betrayal.
Now, at her birthday party, I watched them laugh and clink glasses like stars of some twisted romantic comedy. Nathan had just taken a shot, tilting the empty glass to Sabrina’s lips, his hand grazing her waist as though they belonged together. My chest tightened.
I rose quietly, slipping to one of the guest rooms upstairs. Pulling the blanket over me, I tried to block it all out. Then the door creaked.
“Elena?” Sabrina’s voice was false, sweetly concerned. “They’re looking for you downstairs. Fireworks are about to start.”
“I’m tired. Leave me alone,” I said.
She stepped closer, coaxing. “Come on… it’s my birthday. You’re really going to sulk?”
I faced her, voice low, icy. “Sabrina, isn’t it enough that I was forced to be here?”
Her frown deepened. “Do you hate me now? You think I stole them from you? That was never my intention. We were best friends once—”
“Stop.” I raised a hand. “Go enjoy your stupid party.”
But she grabbed my wrist, pulling. “Come on! It’ll be fun. I’m happy when you’re around—”
“Don’t touch me!” I yanked, but her grip only tightened.
We toppled backward. Sabrina crashed into the small table by the bed. The vase shattered, glass slicing into our arms and shoulders. Pain flared across my forearm.
Before I could react, the door burst open.
Nathan. My boyfriend. He didn’t come to me. He ran to her.
“Are you okay? Sabrina—what happened?!” His hands brushed the shards from her skin.
“She pushed me,” Sabrina whimpered. “I didn’t mean—she just—”
“What the hell, Elena?!” Nathan’s face twisted in anger. “You’re ruining everything. Again.”
I froze, blood dripping, words choking in my throat.
“She attacked me,” I stammered. “I told her to stop—”
He didn’t listen. Gabriel appeared, eyes sharp. “You’re always like this,” he snapped. “Jealous, dramatic. Can’t stand not being the center of attention.”
Even bleeding through my sleeves, I was the one blamed for ruining Sabrina’s birthday.
Gabriel grabbed my arm. “Come on. Downstairs. We’re celebrating. You’re not going to disgrace the family again.”
So I went. Bruised, bleeding, humiliated, I stood beneath the fireworks, watching them dance and laugh.
One last time. Just one final effort. I joined the circle around the bonfire, plastering a fake smile over my face like a mask.
The music swelled. The crowd cheered. I swayed, barely holding myself together, when a shove sent me sprawling. Nathan? Why?
I stumbled into the edge of the bonfire. Fire licked my arm, agony shooting through me.
I screamed.
Someone screamed back—Sabrina. She knelt beside me, panic-stricken. “Oh god! Elena, you’re hurt! We need an ambulance—”
But Nathan shook his head. “It’s nothing. Just a small burn. She’ll survive. Consider it payback for hurting you before.”
And Gabriel? He didn’t even glance at me.
No one helped.
I hauled myself away from the fire and called a cab. No one offered to take me to the hospital. No one cared that I was bleeding.
And that was fine. Because this time, I vowed, it’s the last time they ever hurt me.
“It’s good you came when you did,” the nurse said, her hands gentle as she cleaned the raw, burned skin on my arm. “This is a second-degree burn, and honestly… you also needed stitches.”
I didn’t answer. I simply nodded, staring at the white ceiling above, blurred and endless. I remained in the hospital for two more days.
Not a single call. Not a single text. No “Are you okay?” No “I’m sorry for what happened.”
Nothing. Not even enough concern to pretend they cared.
By the second night, I found myself scrolling through my phone without purpose. Somewhere deep down, I thought maybe they would reach out. But all I discovered were pictures.
Sabrina. Her brand-new red dress glowing in the photos, grinning between Nathan and Gabriel. Champagne glasses raised high. That same victorious smirk she always wore when she knew she’d won.
“Thanks, Nathan and Gabriel, for the most amazing birthday ever! I’ll remember this forever! Check out our new friendship bracelets!!!”
I zoomed in, seeing three matching bracelets. And then I noticed—they no longer wore the friendship bracelets we had once shared.
I turned the phone face down and placed it on the side table. Silence reclaimed the room. My heart thudded in the quiet, but it didn’t hurt anymore. There was only… emptiness.
Two days later, I returned to the apartment—the same one we had all moved into after college. Supposedly a home for a family. Only they had betrayed me.
I stepped into the empty living room and walked straight to my bedroom. Opening the closet, I started packing.
I reached for my shoes and froze. There it was—the memory box. That ridiculous little box I once called my “treasure chest.”
I sank to the floor, pulling it toward me, letting the dust settle on my fingers. Inside were letters—crumpled, faded remnants of my childhood, written by Nathan and Gabriel. Stick figure drawings, silly poems, “get well soon” cards for when I was sick.
And a photograph. The three of us—me, Nathan, and Gabriel—kneeling by a treehouse, dirt smeared on our clothes, grins stretching across our faces.
I remembered that day vividly. The summer I almost got bitten by a dog. I had always feared dogs, and the neighbor’s had broken free. I froze in terror. Nathan and Gabriel jumped in front of me without hesitation. Nathan even got bitten on his arm just to keep me safe.
After that, everything shifted. They became my shadows. My protectors. And somewhere along the way, I had fallen for Nathan, while Gabriel treated me like a sister.
Until Sabrina came and destroyed everything.
I sat on the floor, clutching a friendship bracelet with my name engraved on it. I had been a fool.
My parents had warned me when I begged to adopt Sabrina. “Are you sure about this, Elena? Not everyone wants a sister the way you do. And what if she hurts you? You can’t trust just anyone so easily.”
I hadn’t listened. I believed that love alone would be enough.
But now?
Now I understood. She hadn’t wanted to be my sister. She wanted to replace me.
I finished packing the rest of my belongings. Then I carried the memory box to the backyard. I struck a match.
The flames caught almost immediately. Letters curled and blackened. Bracelets twisted in the heat, their golden shine turning lifeless. Photographs disintegrated into ash.
“Elena!”
I looked up to see Nathan running from inside, panic etched across his face.
“What are you doing?!” he shouted. “Those… those are our albums! The bracelets?!”
“Yes,” I replied, simply. “I’m destroying all our memories.”
He stepped closer, but I planted myself in front of the fire, blocking him. “It’s over. All of it.”
Gabriel appeared moments later, looking equally shocked.
“Is this some kind of tantrum?” he asked, arms folded. “We get it, you’re upset. But this… this is extreme, even for you.”
“This isn’t a tantrum,” I said, voice steady and calm. “This is the end.”
“You’re really going to let one terrible night erase years of friendship?” Nathan asked. “Elena, please… we can talk—”
I met both of their eyes before turning to Nathan. “I don’t ever want to have anything to do with either of you again.”
I turned my back and walked inside the apartment, leaving the smoke curling behind me like the last trace of a life I would never return to.
I had hoped that after I burned everything, they would finally leave me alone. But they didn’t.
Days slipped by, and gradually, Nathan started acting as if nothing had happened. Flowers arrived at my door again. His texts were sweet, casual—asking about my day, sending little jokes, even attempting a quick kiss when our paths crossed outside the building. It was like the past weeks had vanished into thin air.
Gabriel followed suit, stepping back into his “big brother” role. Coffee deliveries, reminiscing about old times, easy jokes. Every time they said, “We’re sorry. Let’s make this right,” it sounded less like an apology for betrayal and neglect and more like an excuse for a stubbed toe.
Then came the surprise dinner.
“Our treat,” Nathan texted. “The old spot. You remember.”
Part of me wanted to delete the message and forget it ever existed. But another, quieter part—the exhausted, broken part—wondered if maybe, just maybe, we could close this chapter without bitterness. Without hatred.
I went. The restaurant hadn’t changed. Warm wooden booths, soft jazz humming overhead, dim lighting casting shadows across familiar corners. Rosemary scents floated in the air alongside memories I wasn’t sure I wanted back. I watched them laugh, the way we once did, and for a fleeting moment, it almost felt… okay.
Then Nathan’s phone buzzed. He checked it and froze.
“It’s Sabrina,” he muttered, frowning.
“What? Slow down… robbed? Stabbed? Where are you?!” His voice went sharp as he dropped everything.
In seconds, both he and Gabriel were on their feet.
“She’s crying,” Nathan explained, voice tight. “She’s been attacked. We have to go.”
No goodbyes. No glance in my direction. They ran, as if the world depended on her survival.
I stayed seated, staring at the half-eaten food, the flickering candle slowly burning down to nothing. I paid the bill myself.
Outside, the sky had opened up. Thunder cracked and rain poured in sheets. Streets were empty—no taxis, no buses. The restaurant manager offered an umbrella, but the doors were already locked. I had to keep moving.
Each step weighed me down. My arms throbbed under the bandages. My body ached. But worse than the pain was the storm. Thunder rolled across the city, striking a deep fear I’d carried since childhood. During storms, I always froze. Lightning flares and thunder cracks made it feel like the world itself might split apart.
I clutched my coat tighter, pushing forward, the city a blur of lights and shadows.
Then—a sudden flash. A horn. A car.
No time to react.
Darkness.
When I woke, everything felt unnaturally soft. I blinked against dim lighting, clean white walls surrounding me. My body ached, but the pain was distant, manageable. I turned toward the source of movement nearby.
“Nathan…?” I whispered.
Not him.
A man sat in the corner. Tall, dressed in black, eyes unreadable. He didn’t stir until I tried to sit up.
“You’re awake,” he said, steady, deep. “Don’t move too much.”
“Who… are you?”
“Roscoe,” he replied. “Found you after the accident. Took you to the hospital. You were unconscious.”
I wanted to ask more, but the room spun, and I blacked out again.
When I opened my eyes, Roscoe was gone. No note. No explanation. No contact. No missed calls, no messages, no check-ins.
Except for my mother.
Mom: Call me when you’re on your way. Everything’s ready. Come home.
I didn’t tell her what had happened. I couldn’t—didn’t want her to worry.
The nurse said I’d been lucky. The car hit me from the side. Nothing broken. Still, I needed a few more days to heal.
So I stayed. Alone.
Finally, discharge day arrived. I returned to the apartment, just to collect the last of my things before booking my flight home.
That’s when Nathan appeared in the doorway.
“Oh, good, you’re back,” he said, smiling as if nothing had ever occurred. “Listen… we had to sell your car. And some of your things. Sabrina needed emergency funds, and—”
“What?” I froze. “You sold my things?”
“Relax,” Gabriel said, stepping in. “We’ll pay you back. Sabrina’s been through a lot since the robbery. She needs someone to care for her—can you cook? She hasn’t been eating properly.”
I blinked, stunned. “Are you serious?”
Gabriel’s brows knitted. “Where’ve you been anyway? Sabrina said you went to a party after dinner. You weren’t here when she needed you! That’s selfish.”
I laughed, bitter and hollow. “Right. A party.”
Then I hurled the hospital discharge file at them.
“There. That’s where I was. The hospital. You left me out in the rain. I walked home through a thunderstorm. I got hit by a car.”
“What…?” Nathan stammered, shocked. “You were in the hospital?”
“I thought you were with friends…” Gabriel mumbled, confused. “Sabrina said—”
“Of course she did,” I snapped. “It’s always Sabrina, isn’t it?”
Before they could speak further, a piercing scream echoed down the hallway.
“Help! Nathan, Gabriel—it hurts! Please!”
Sabrina. Of course. Always Sabrina.
I didn’t wait to see their reaction. I turned, crossed the threshold, and walked away.
My body ached all over, every muscle screaming for rest. Instead of leaving the room as I had intended, I stayed anchored to the bed, letting the dull pain hold me in place.
I didn’t cry. There were no tears left to shed.
When I opened my eyes again, sunlight spilled through the curtains, warm on my skin. And there, at the foot of the bed, were Nathan and Gabriel.
“Morning,” Nathan said, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips as he held a tray. “We brought you some breakfast.”
Gabriel carefully set the tray on my lap—toast, scrambled eggs, some fruit, and a glass of orange juice. Slightly cold, uninspiring.
“Thought you could use something to start your day,” Gabriel added, perching at the edge of the bed.
I looked at them. They seemed at ease, relaxed even. Almost happy. Like the past few days had never existed.
Nathan scratched the back of his neck. “Look, we’re sorry. Sabrina told us she saw an Instagram story from that night… you were at a party, and she was hurt. Robbed, even stabbed, and she thought you were ignoring her on purpose.”
Gabriel nodded. “She really believed that. So… maybe you should apologize to her. Just to make things right.”
I stared, incredulous, before scoffing.
“Maybe you should apologize to me.”
They both blinked.
Nathan frowned. “Why would we? We didn’t do anything wrong. You didn’t tell us what happened. If you had, we could’ve been there.”
I laughed, bitter and hollow. “Do I have to beg to be cared about now? I was gone for days, and not a single check-in.”
“Don’t say that,” Gabriel said firmly. “Sabrina got stabbed. She needed us.”
“And I didn’t?” I snapped. “So if I’m not bleeding in front of you, I don’t matter?”
Before they could answer, the door creaked, and she entered.
Sabrina. Soft, oversized sweater, a slight limp. Pale face, lips quivering, tears brimming in her eyes.
“Picking a fight now, Elena?” she whispered, voice trembling. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get hurt. None of this was my intention.”
I studied her—the tremor in her hands, the pout, the subtle manipulation in every word. Like she was the victim. Again.
Tears streaked down her cheeks.
“I just… I don’t want us to be enemies. We were sisters once… I wish we could go back.”
And just like that, the boys reacted.
“Stop making her cry, Elena,” Nathan snapped.
“Come on, Sabrina,” Gabriel said softly. “You shouldn’t be walking around. Let’s get you back to bed.”
Their care for her stung, the attention raw and unearned.
“I’ll feed you,” Nathan said, taking her hand. “You need to eat.”
“Yeah,” Gabriel added. “We’ll bring your favorite seafood. You need your strength.”
Then they turned to me.
“You eat what we made, Elena,” Nathan said. “You’re discharged. Stop being picky.”
And with that, they led Sabrina away, leaving me alone again.
I stared at the plate. Rubber eggs, dry toast, unripe fruit.
From across the hall, laughter rang out. Sabrina’s voice was bright: “Mmm, I love crab legs! You remembered I hate toast, right? Seafood’s my favorite!”
Of course it was. They gave me scraps and lavished her with a feast.
I didn’t cry. Not this time. I was just… done.
My phone buzzed. A message from Mom: Venue options are in. Dresses attached. Let me know what you like, darling.
I tapped the call icon.
“Mom,” I said, voice steady.
“Elena! Did you see the pictures? What do you think of the flowers? And the dresses?” she asked, excitement bubbling.
“I like everything. It was actually hard to choose,” I replied. “I’ll finalize today. But I think the vintage one is my favorite.”
“Perfect! We’ll prepare it for you. How long until you’re back? Your groom is waiting—he’s excited.”
“A few more days. Something came up, but I’ll be there. I can’t wait to wear the dresses… for the wedding.”
Mom chuckled softly. “That’s my girl. We’ll wait for you.”
I hung up and stared at the untouched tray. Then I sensed the shift.
Nathan and Gabriel were standing in the doorway. I hadn’t even noticed them return.
Their eyes fixed on me, unreadable.
Gabriel’s voice broke the silence first. “Dress… for the wedding?”
Nathan stepped forward, frowning. “Wedding? What wedding?”
“What wedding are you even talking about?” Nathan asked, brow furrowed, confusion written all over his face.
I smiled slowly, deliberately, letting the words hang in the air. “The wedding you won’t be attending.”
He blinked, caught off guard. “Whose wedding? Not… not mine, right?”
I tilted my head, letting a soft, mocking laugh escape as I stepped closer. “Of course not mine. You haven’t even proposed yet, Nathan. Still my boyfriend, aren’t you?”
I lightly brushed my hand across his arm, just enough to unsettle him.
He recoiled immediately, shaking my hand off. “Elena… don’t be so clingy. You’re still healing. Just… rest for now.”
I swallowed the sting that cut deep into me. He didn’t even pretend to care anymore. How could I have been so foolish to actually fall for him?
Gabriel, leaning against the doorway, crossed his arms. “Wait… why aren’t we invited? We’ve known you forever.”
“She’s a distant cousin,” I said flatly, keeping my voice calm. “You wouldn’t know her. Mom just wants me there—to represent the family, I guess.”
“And Sabrina?” Gabriel pressed. “Is she coming with you?”
I shrugged. “No. She doesn’t know this cousin. Just my adopted sister. No reason for her to go.”
Nathan laughed like that was good news. “Perfect. Finally, we can go to Finland while you’re away.”
Finland? My breath caught. That had been my dream destination for years, and they’d always claimed it was impossible, a waste of money.
“Yeah,” Gabriel added casually. “Doctor cleared Sabrina for travel next week, so we’re booking our flight.”
“Without me?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.
Nathan turned with a smile. I didn’t mirror it. “Don’t worry—we’ll send you a gift for the wedding. A dress, something. Anyway, rest up. We’ll take Sabrina to her next hospital appointment.”
And just like that, they were gone again.
I didn’t answer. I nodded quietly, closing the door behind them. So this was it—me, a background note in someone else’s life.
Fine. Let them think I was still around. I’d leave quietly, disappear completely. No one would notice, and when they did… they’d regret it. I just needed a little more time.
Later that afternoon, I finally left the bedroom and headed to the kitchen, craving something warm. Soup, maybe. Something genuine, not thrown together for show.
As I opened the fridge and began chopping vegetables, I heard it—a soft shuffle behind me.
I turned slowly.
Sabrina stood there, pale pink cardigan, hair braided neatly. Innocent, helpless little sister image in full effect.
“I didn’t know you were up,” she said, voice sweet, leaning against the counter. “I thought you were still sick… or maybe pretending?”
I ignored her, chopping steadily.
“I mean,” she continued with a fake laugh, “did you really go to the hospital? Or were you just faking it because I was there, stealing the spotlight?”
I set down the knife, eyes locking on hers. “I’m not like you.”
Her expression hardened. “What does that mean?”
“You crave attention,” I said evenly. “Always play the victim.”
“Oh please,” she scoffed, voice sharp. “You’re jealous. How does it feel… knowing both Nathan and Gabriel love me now? Your boyfriend, your best friend—they’re mine. And you? You’re nothing.”
I flinched slightly, just enough for her to notice and smirk.
“Really, you should leave this apartment,” she said. “You don’t belong here anymore.”
I turned back to the pot, stirring slowly, ignoring her.
“Still pretending you’re above it all, huh?” she mocked. “Fine, I’ll help cook. The boys will love it.”
I spun toward her. “No, Sabrina. I don’t need help.”
“I’ll make something anyway,” she said cheerfully, grabbing a knife. “Let’s see which they like better—yours or mine.”
She moved closer, chopping quickly and sloppily, clearly on purpose. I stepped aside, letting her continue.
Then—
“Ahhh!” Sabrina yelped, dropping the knife. Blood spread across her fingertip.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered under my breath.
But it was too late.
“Nathan! Gabriel!” she screamed. “Help! Oh no—I cut myself! Elena didn’t even try!”
Within seconds, loud footsteps pounded the hallway.
The brothers burst in, alert and panicked.
Nathan lunged to Sabrina’s side. “What happened? Are you okay?”
“She didn’t care!” Sabrina sniffled, clutching his arm. “I was bleeding, and she just stood there!”
I froze, ladle still in hand.
“You didn’t help her?” Gabriel barked. “What is wrong with you?”
Sabrina held Nathan’s arm like a lifeline.
“I was trying,” she whispered, “but she… pushed me away.”
“I didn’t touch you,” I said softly, but no one was listening.
“I didn’t touch you,” I said quietly, but no one listened.
They were too busy hovering over Sabrina, who cradled her hand like it had been severed and not barely nicked. Her performance was flawless—wide teary eyes, a quivering lip, trembling shoulders. Every gesture perfectly calculated.
“You should’ve stopped her!” Nathan snapped at me. “She’s still recovering! Why did you let her near the kitchen?”
“I told her no,” I murmured. “She didn’t listen to me. Why are you blaming me?”
Gabriel’s glare could’ve sliced me in half. “You should’ve insisted. You know she’s not well. You’re supposed to be the responsible one.”
“And what about you?” I muttered under my breath. “I’m not well either.”
But again, no one heard me. Or maybe they chose not to.
“Next time, just cook for everyone yourself,” Nathan said sharply. “Sabrina shouldn’t be lifting a finger in her condition. Have some care for her! You guys are best friends, and we’re family here.”
Family? I wanted to vomit at the thought. I started, but the words withered before they reached them. What would be the sense of explaining when they wouldn’t listen to me at all?
“She shouldn’t have to want anything. Just take care of it,” Gabriel cut in. “You’re the one who’s fine now, right? So act like it. Cook for us! We want to eat something decent.”
They took Sabrina—still sniffling—into her room. Nathan had his arm around her like she was made of glass. Gabriel followed, saying something about getting her some ice.
And once again, they left me.
Alone. I stood by the stove, the soup long gone cold. I reheated it without thinking, added some salt, cracked an egg into the pot. My body moved automatically, stirring, ladling, pouring the food into a bowl with practiced care.
But this time… I didn’t cook for everyone. Why would I? They didn’t even want me with them in Finland. They don’t deserve me, not even once, so everything I do now is for myself.
Just for me.
I sat down at the table and began to eat.
The broth was warm, the taste soft on my tongue—comforting. It didn’t fix anything, but at least it was mine.
Halfway through the bowl, footsteps stormed into the kitchen.
Nathan and Gabriel.
“There you are,” Nathan said, glancing at the table. “Where’s our food?”
Gabriel followed with a frown. “Isn’t it done yet? What did you even make?”
I didn’t look up. “Nothing. This is just for me.”
Nathan blinked. “You only made food for yourself? Didn’t you hear me say you should cook for us, and also Sabrina? Where is it now?”
“I’m not your cook,” I said simply, spooning another bite into my mouth. “I didn’t even agree.”
Silence. Then the scoff.
“This is because of Sabrina again, isn’t it?” Gabriel snapped. “God, Elena, when are you going to let this go?”
I didn’t answer.
“She’s sick. She’s hurt,” Nathan added. “Why do you have to be so bitter all the time? What, you think we’re supposed to just abandon her so you can get attention?”
Still, I kept eating.
Bite after bite, the silence growing louder around me.
“You’re so damn selfish,” Gabriel growled. “Seriously. Everything’s always about you, huh? You think the world owes you something just because you were here first?”
I stared at the bowl. My hands trembled slightly. But not from fear.
Just fatigue.
“She didn’t ask to get hurt,” Nathan added. “You’ve been nothing but cold since she got back. She’s trying, and you just… sulk. You’re jealous. Admit it.”
Jealous.
That word again.
The word they always used to shut me down.
I put my spoon down slowly.
“I’m not jealous,” I whispered. “I’m just… done.”
But they didn’t hear it. Or maybe they did and just didn’t care.
Suddenly, Gabriel slammed his palm on the table, making the spoon rattle. I flinched.
“You know what?” he snapped. “You really are nothing compared to her.”
Then, without warning, he grabbed my bowl and threw it against the wall.
The ceramic shattered. The soup dripped down like blood.
I stared at the mess.
Nathan didn’t stop him.
Neither of them did.
“Useless,” Gabriel muttered, shaking his head. “You’re just… useless.”
The words echoed in the air, thick and heavy.
They left the room again, their footsteps fading down the hallway.
I stood there, staring at the broken bowl. The mess they didn’t even try to clean.
And strangely…
I didn’t cry.
Not this time.
Not anymore.
Because I was past that.
By morning, most of my bags were packed. Boxes lined the wall beside my bed—neatly labeled and taped. Clothes, documents, photos I hadn’t burned yet. I folded the last few shirts with quiet precision, not because I cared, but because there was something strangely peaceful about moving in silence.
They all thought I was just packing for the wedding.
No one asked when I’d return. No one even asked if I would return.
That silence confirmed everything.
I moved to the corner of my closet where I kept a small velvet-lined case. My jewelry collection. Trinkets from birthdays, old gifts from relatives, little mementos I had held onto.
I opened the box to check on it. The necklace.
A diamond pendant set in platinum, delicately wrapped in an antique design. It had belonged to my grandmother. Passed down to my mother. And then to me. I was supposed to wear it on my wedding day—whenever that day came.
But when I opened the case, it was gone.
The necklace was gone.
I froze.
I searched the drawers, the shelves, the small lockbox I’d tucked beneath my bed. I tore through my bag. Nothing.
Heart thudding, I marched straight into the living room. Nathan was there, lounging on the couch with his phone in hand.
“Nathan,” I said sharply, “where’s my diamond necklace?”
He barely glanced up. “Oh. That.”
“What do you mean, ‘that’?”
“I gave it to Sabrina,” he said casually. “She’s gonna wear it on our Finland trip. Looks good on her.”
My heart stopped. “You what?”
He finally looked at me, annoyed by the tone of my voice. “She liked it. And it suited her. I figured, why not? You weren’t wearing it.”
I stepped closer, fists clenched. “It’s not just some accessory. That necklace is a family heirloom. It belonged to my mother’s family. It was given to me. It’s mine.”
Nathan shrugged. “Sabrina’s family too. Why are you being like that? And she was just borrowing it.”
“No, she’s not,” I hissed. “She was never family. I made her part of our lives. I begged my parents to take her in. I gave her a home. And what did she do? She took everything.”
His expression darkened. “You’re being rude, Elena. I can’t believe you were really jealous of her like she said.”
“I’m being honest,” I spat. “I regret ever bringing her into my life, and I am not jealous! Never! She’s nothing but a bitch!”
And then it happened.
Slap.
My head whipped to the side. A sharp sting burned across my cheek.
I blinked, stunned. Nathan’s hand still hung in the air between us.
“She’s your sister, not by blood, and also your best friend,” he snapped. “She is also like us. Don’t ever talk about her like that again.”
Before I could respond, Sabrina walked out of her room in a silk robe, barefoot, and playing innocent like she always did.
“What’s going on?” she asked sweetly, looking between us. “Why are you shouting?”
I pointed at her chest. “Where is the necklace?”
Sabrina glanced down like she’d forgotten she was even wearing it. The diamond glinted at her collarbone.
“Oh… this?” she said, touching it lightly. “I just borrowed it. I didn’t think you’d mind. Nathan said it was okay. And I mean, I’m part of the family too, right?”
“Take it off,” I snapped. “Now.”
Her expression faltered. “Elena—”
“Take. It. Off.”
I stepped toward her. She backed away, clutching the necklace.
“What’s wrong with you?” she said, voice rising. “Why are you acting like this? I just wanted to feel pretty. I love this necklace—”
I reached out to snatch it, but she yanked it back. We struggled. She fought harder than I expected, and the delicate chain snapped.
The diamond pendant clattered to the floor, rolling under the coffee table.
“You ruined it!” I screamed.
“It’s not a big deal,” she said breathlessly. “It’s just a necklace!”
“You had no right to wear it!”
Nathan rushed to Sabrina’s side, placing himself between us. “Back off!”
Gabriel came out from the hallway, immediately rushing to Sabrina. “Are you okay?”
“She’s lost her mind!” Sabrina cried, sniffling as usual. “She’s so… so mean. I didn’t mean to break it…”
“She attacked me,” she added as an afterthought. “I think she pushed me.”
“You’re unbelievable,” I whispered, numb.
Gabriel turned to me, his eyes sharp. “What’s wrong with you? She didn’t mean to break it. You’re always looking for a fight!”
Then Nathan shoved me back lightly, but enough to make me stumble.
“Just stop already,” he muttered, grabbing Sabrina’s hand and leading her back toward her room.
And once again… they left me.
Alone.
I stood in the middle of the living room, breath ragged, eyes on the shattered necklace chain on the floor. I knelt, silently, and picked up each broken piece of the pendant with trembling fingers.
That was it.
That was the last line they crossed.
I walked straight to my room, pulled out my phone, and dialed the landlady.
“Hello?” she answered sleepily.
“It’s Elena,” I said flatly. “I want to sell the apartment.”
“Sell?” she repeated. “Right away?”
“Yes,” I said. “List it. Put it on the market.”
“Yes,” I said. “List it. Put it on the market.”
There was a short silence on the other end of the line, then the real estate agent cleared her throat. “Understood, Ms. Reid. Just to confirm, you’re selling the property fully? Will there be any tenants to notify?”
I exhaled slowly. “Yes. Three of them—Gabriel, Nathan, and Sabrina. They’ve been living there with me for years. I want official notice sent to them after I’ve left.”
She paused. “Any rental contracts?”
“No,” I replied flatly. “They’ve been staying here for free. It was never supposed to be permanent.”
The apartment had been a gift from my parents when I entered college. A quiet, two-bedroom flat turned into a shared space once Nathan and Gabriel moved to the city with me. Sabrina followed a year later, right after her adoption was finalized. I had begged my parents to let me live independently, to build a life with them, to be free from the pressure of our family’s company.
They didn’t understand. They thought I was reckless. But I was just in love—with Nathan, with the idea of a found family, with the dream of forever.
Back then, nothing mattered more than being together.
Now, everything I built had crumbled.
“I want an invoice calculated,” I added to the agent. “Back rent for the past four years. Break it down clearly. If they can’t pay it, kindly begin the process to remove them.”
“Consider it done,” she replied. “I’ll prepare all paperwork discreetly and schedule the listing.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
After ending the call, I dialed another number—my storage and estate agent.
“I want all my things sold,” I told him. “Furniture. Appliances. Whatever’s still here.”
“All of it?” he asked.
“Yes. I’m not taking anything with me.”
The call ended, but I didn’t move right away.
I looked around the apartment—my apartment—for what I knew was the last time. It felt quieter than usual, but maybe that was just the emptiness finally settling in. The walls that once held laughter now only echoed back silence.
I walked through the living room slowly, letting my fingers trail across the back of the couch where we used to pile up on movie nights. The dent in the cushion where Sabrina used to sit was still there. So was the chip in the coffee table Gabriel caused after tripping over his own shoes. Even the photo on the wall—our first one together, fresh out of college—still smiled back at me.
I remembered baking banana bread with Nathan at 2 a.m., how we burned the first one and still ate it anyway. The nights we all sat around this very table, playing cards, betting on who’d do the next grocery run. The way they made me feel like this place was more than just bricks and furniture—it had been ours.
I had built my little world here. A home.
And now it was a graveyard of memories.
A part of me still wanted to believe we could’ve saved it. That maybe, if I had just tried a little harder…
But no. I had tried. Far too long.
With a steady breath, I whispered, “Goodbye,” to the space—and to the girl who had once believed that love alone could hold people together.
Then I picked up my suitcase, stepped out the door, and didn’t look back. I checked into a modest hotel across town—something temporary until my flight. No goodbyes. No closure.
Just silence.
It wasn’t peace yet, but it was the closest I’d come in years.
I was sipping tea in the hotel room when my phone buzzed.
Nathan: What is happening? Why is there someone here picking up our things??
I didn’t answer right away. I let him stew in confusion for a moment. Then I typed back: Oh, that’s the eviction notice.
A second later, he called.
I answered.
“What the hell are you talking about?” he demanded. “Eviction? Why are movers here? Is this some joke?”
“I’m selling the apartment,” I said calmly. “The papers were signed this morning.”
“You can’t sell it!” he shouted. “We didn’t agree to that!”
“I don’t need your agreement,” I said coldly. “It’s my apartment. You’ve never paid a single cent. Not for rent, not for electricity, not even for the groceries.”
He went quiet, but only for a second.
“You’re overreacting—again,” he snapped. “Come on, Elena. We can fix this. Stop making it worse.”
“There’s nothing to fix, Nathan,” I said, standing by the hotel window, watching the rain blur the city lights. “I’m done. With all of you.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do. I’ve meant it for a long time now.”
And with that, I ended the call.
No screaming. No begging. Just the dial tone.
I stared at the phone for a moment, then scrolled to the one contact that still mattered.
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