Chapter 3

Cecilia's friends arrived just as my brothers got home.

That meant that even if I'd gone with them, I would have had plenty of time to get ready for Cecilia's friends.

By evening, Cecilia stood proudly among the crowd.

The precious moonstone hung around her neck, and Mom's wolf fang bracelet circled her wrist.

She looked like the only daughter this family had ever cared about.

Just before we were due to leave, Adrian made an important announcement.

He held up a property transfer agreement and declared that he was giving Cecilia the house that Mom and Dad had left us.

Adrian used to say that the house belonged to all five of us. No matter how hard life got, we could always come home and find comfort in being together.

Now, all three of my brothers had signed the agreement.

Cecilia was the sole recipient of the house.

Adrian handed me the papers. "We've all grown up and built lives for ourselves. Cecilia, on the other hand, is still young and needs a place to live."

"You're doing well for yourself, Selena," Gabriel chimed in. "I'm sure you'll be able to stand on your own two feet. You don't need the house. We've already signed over our shares. You're the only one left."

I flipped to the last page of the agreement. It was a declaration that I voluntarily relinquished my ownership of the property.

Cecilia hesitantly handed me a pen. "You don't have to sign it if you don't want to, Selena."

"Just sign it. We lost Mom and Dad when we were young, but Cecilia's the youngest of us. We should look after her," Nathaniel urged.

I was their daughter, too. I was only three when they passed away.

Mom and Dad had asked my brothers to look after us both, but they decided I was old enough to fend for myself and devoted all their attention to Cecilia.

Whenever Cecilia and I had the slightest disagreement, they always blamed me. The moment she burst into tears, they used our parents' death as an excuse to comfort her.

This time was no different. They were worried about Cecilia having nowhere to live, yet I'd spent the past two years in a rundown dorm at a remote border outpost. They'd never asked how I was doing.

I put down the pen. "And what if I refuse to sign?"

"Cecilia's friends are here. Do you really want to make a scene in front of everyone and embarrass the whole family?" Adrian warned.

Gabriel scoffed. "Don't be like that, Selena. Everyone's going to think you're a miser who fights her little sister over a share of the house."

Nathaniel shoved the pen into my hand.

"You're a sensible girl, aren't you? We'll get you a nice gift to make it up to you once you get back from your business trip."

The irony was palpable.

Since I was leaving anyway, I might as well cut ties with them once and for all.

The moment I signed the agreement, Adrian beamed. "That's more like it."

Just then, my phone lit up with a flight reminder.

A puzzled look crossed Adrian's face, but before he could ask me about it, Cecilia pressed a hand to her forehead.

She tipped her glass, spilling water all over her clothes.

"I think I'm getting dizzy from how happy I am."

The three of them rushed to her side. One of them made a phone call, while another hurried to get her some water. Even her friends were worried about her.

Since no one cared where I was going, there was no reason for me to stay for dinner.