Chapter 2

Bryan couldn’t hold it in any longer, slapping his thigh as he let out a ringing laugh.

“You’re not into jokes? But weren’t you the one laughing the loudest when you were a kid?”

I clenched my fists tight.

All my grievances accumulated over the years poured out in an instance.

Terrified of being cut out back then, I would always offer a silly grin no matter how cruelly they played me for a fool.

When I was eight, they tricked me into climbing the mountain to hunt for a cure-all herb to fix my mother’s cold.

While my back was turned, they slipped down the mountain on the sly, using the pocket money swiped from my bag to buy candy and toys.

By the time the police found me, I had spent an entire night stranded on that peak—freezing, starving, and on the brink of death.

Yet the moment I opened my eyes, my first instinct was to smile at them: “That was fun. But next time… could you please not leave me behind?”

The painful memories flooded back.

Tears spilled down my cheeks, but Bryan and Daisy only laughed harder.

Only Harry showed a flash of impatience. “What’s with all the tears?

“You’ve been unable to take a joke since you were little. We would be having a good time, and you would stand there with a long face as if bullied.”

Just then, my dad, who was supposed to be away on an out-of-town business trip, suddenly pulled up in his car.

“Get in. I’m taking everyone for a drive downtown.”

I pointed at my heavy suitcase. “But I haven’t dropped my stuff off yet.”

He knitted his brows.

“I wasn’t talking to you.

“Can’t fit all three of you in here.”

I froze for a split second.

“Just kidding!”

Dad adjusted his sunglasses. “You’re my daughter—of course I’m taking you with me.

“Leave your luggage with the guard. Hurry and hop in.”

I dragged my heavy suitcase into the security office as fast as I could.

My knee slammed hard against the sharp corner of a desk, but I didn’t even have time to register the pain.

One last time.

I told myself, as long as this wasn’t another prank, as long as my parents were genuinely taking me out this time, I would let go of all my past grievances.

But when I stepped back out, their car was already gone.

Messages from Daisy flashed on my phone:

“Haha, gotcha again!

“Not my idea though. It was Bryan’s.

“He said you have only one brain cell and use it to do whatever you’re told. Can’t believe how true it is!”

Along with the texts was a short video.

In the clip, she had her arms wrapped around my parents, while Bryan had his arm around her, and Harry was carrying everyone’s bags and buying ice cream.

The ice cream parlor was a spot at the top of my bucket list.

“Glad you’re having fun.”

After offering an accommodating reply like I always did, I turned around and walked to the student affairs office.

“Hello. I’d like to withdraw my enrollment, please.”

The staff across the desk looked up in shock, adjusting her glasses.

It was as if she hadn’t heard me properly.

“What did you say?”

I repeated myself, steady and clear: “I’d like to withdraw my enrollment.”

Before stepping into the office, I had opened my mailbox on my phone to accept the full-scholarship offer sent by Crestview University half a month ago.

My parents had said Crestview was too far away—they couldn’t bear to be separated that far from me.

And Bryan and Daisy had convinced me to attend Westbrook University with them both.

I had made my choice based on them.

But now, I couldn’t squeeze into a home made for four.

Neither was there any space for me in a friendship made for three.

Since that was the case, I had no reason left to remain in their lives.