Chapter 1

It was the day I received my acceptance letter. Steve Baxter, my teacher, patted me on the shoulder with a proud smile.

"Congratulations, Kate. With Brightmoor being over a thousand miles away from our village, I guess you probably won't be coming home very often after this. While you still have a few days of vacation left, make the most of it with your family."

Slipping the acceptance letter into my bag, I started heading home.

My older brother, Cole Maxwell, was busy in the kitchen when I stepped into the yard. He was preparing a birthday meal for Jennifer Burke, the orphan he had brought home five years ago.

Cole was still in his dirty work uniform, probably because he had been too pressed for time to change.

I approached him cautiously. "Cole, I'm home."

As soon as he saw me, his face turned cold. There was a trace of irritation in his voice as he spoke. "Kate Maxwell, it's Jenny's birthday today, so don't you dare cause trouble."

Afraid that he'd say something else to get rid of me again, I quickly explained, "I brought Jennifer a gift. It's the toffees she likes. I bought some at the market."

I pulled out the neatly wrapped toffees and held them up for him to see, worried that he wouldn't believe me.

Cole glanced at the gift, then looked back at me with skepticism. "When did you become so kind?"

Ignoring his sarcastic question, I forced a smile. "Cole, you should change out of those. I'll wash them for you. Jennifer… She likes things clean after all."

This was my first time backing down. I just wanted to get along with him during these last few days I could spend with him, since there might not be another chance after this.

After a moment of silence, Cole set down the food and changed out of his dirty clothes.

I quickly took the clothes from him. "I'll go wash them now."

Without waiting for a reply, I ran toward the creek by the gate with the bundle of clothes.

By the creek, I turned out the pockets of the shirt and pants out of habit and discovered a receipt in one of them. It was from the tailor's shop by the village entrance.

My grip tightened around the receipt.

Five years ago, when Cole and I were selling vegetables near the village entrance, he had noticed that I was staring longingly at the floral dress in the tailor shop's window. That day, he had promised me that once he could afford it, he would buy it for me.

My heart warmed at the memory.

So, he had remembered his promise… He must still care about me.

When I returned to the yard after washing the clothes, Cole and Jennifer were already seated at the table.

On the table was a feast. There was even meat pie, which we usually only had at Christmas.

Yet, there were only two sets of tableware laid out.

Without a word, I went into the kitchen, got myself a set of utensils, and sat down at the table.

After Jennifer was done with her slice of the pie, she piped up in a sweet voice, "Cole, the pie is really good. I want some more."

Cole glanced at me.

Before he could say anything, I spoke up first. "I’m not hungry. You can take mine."

Right as I lowered my head, I caught the look of surprise in his eyes from the corner of my eye.

Cole then placed the remaining slice of pie on Jennifer's plate, saying dotingly, "If you like the pie, have some more."

Just like that, the food lost all its flavor to me.

My clothes hung loosely on my frame, and my arms were just skin stretched over bone. How could I possibly not be hungry?

Feeling my eyes about to well up with tears, I hastily shoveled the vegetables on my plate into my mouth, as if filling my stomach could keep my heart from feeling empty.

After the meal, Cole brought out a package wrapped in red cloth. "Jenny, look what I got you."

Jennifer was still chewing on the toffee I had given her. Her whole face lit up when she removed the red cloth.

"Wow! It's the floral dress from the tailor shop by the village entrance! Cole, this must have cost you a fortune!"

Cole stroked her head with a smile. "You don't have to worry about that. I just got my bonus, after all. I'll buy you even more dresses in the future."

My hands froze mid-cleanup, and I nearly dropped the porcelain plate I was holding.

It turned out that the dress wasn't for me.

Cole seemed to notice my reaction. He questioned in a cold tone, "Kate, surely, you're not jealous because I gave Jenny a gift, right?"