Chapter 2

I went grocery shopping to gather all the necessary ingredients. The moment I picked up the seafood, I couldn't stop shaking. By the time I finished preparing the seafood, my knuckles were red and swollen, and my palms were covered in rashes.

It felt like I was being stabbed with a thousand needles.

Still, I put up with it. This was the final dinner I would have with them as a family. I wanted to have a decent, proper goodbye with them, even if only for my own dignity.

I'd just finished preparing the seafood risotto. The butter-grilled oysters were still in the oven when Dad and the others arrived back at the Calhoun residence.

Dad sat across from Juliet and listened while she shared amusing anecdotes from her performance just now. William was peeling an orange for her, saying affectionately, "Leave it to me. Your hands are made for playing the piano, Juliet. You shouldn't be doing such chores."

Shawn sat on the side, staring gently at Juliet the whole time.

I stood in the kitchen doorway like I was invisible, watching the blissful scene in the living room. Juliet sat in the center of the couch, pampered and doted on by everyone. Once, that had been my seat. Now, all they saw was her.

"Why are you standing there, Livie? Come and join us," Juliet called out sweetly.

Scoffing, William commented, "Don't. She'll just ruin the mood if she comes over. I really don't get it. You're both my younger sisters, but why is one of you such a deplorable person?"

My nails dug into my rash-covered palms, the pain nearly making my knees buckle. Forcing myself to keep my tone calm, I announced, "The food is ready. You can start eating now."

After bringing out the final dish, I realized that Juliet was sitting in my seat. Dad sat on her left, and Shawn sat on her right. William sat across from her.

No one had left a seat for me.

I was just about to speak when William gave me a look.

With my tableware and cutlery in hand, I went back into the kitchen. There was a bit of sauce left in the pan, so I dipped some bread in it and sat in the corner to have my dinner.

I glanced toward the dining room. Dad was serving food onto Juliet's plate, William was peeling the shrimps for her, and Shawn was gently wiping the sauce from the corner of her mouth. All I could do was rely on these stolen glances to confirm whether "love" truly existed for me as well.

At that very moment, I met William's gaze. He didn't look away. Instead, he stared right back with a cold, different look in his eyes. I turned away in a hurry, but I slipped and ended up knocking over the pan. It crashed on the floor with a sharp clang.

Immediately, everyone in the dining room stopped what they were doing. Turning around, Dad eyed me coldly. "I knew she wasn't happy about having to cook. Look at her. She can't even prepare a meal without throwing the pots and pans around. What a disgrace she is to the Calhoun family."

Standing in the dim kitchen, I wrapped my arms around my trembling body.

All of a sudden, Juliet looked down, her face pale. A second later, she began coughing violently. Clutching her chest, she exclaimed, "I can't breathe… It hurts…"

Dad, William, and Shawn immediately rushed over to her.

"What's wrong, Juliet?"

"Are you having an allergic reaction?"

"Quick, call an ambulance!"

Once Dad saw the rash that began forming on Juliet's arm, his expression darkened. "She's having an allergic reaction to the food!"

He whipped his head around and glared furiously at me. "Did you do this?"

Immediately, he slapped me across the face. I couldn't avoid it in time. My cheek stung, and my ears started ringing. I fell onto the floor, feeling the chill in the air.

"Why do I have a sister like you?" William snarled through gritted teeth. "You disgust me! I knew something was up when you said you'd cook today. True enough, you did it to hurt Juliet!"

Shawn stood by the dining table, his expression cold. "You know why I don't want to marry you, right? You're such a schemer. I dare not entrust my life and future happiness to someone who'd hurt other people."

Dad scooped Juliet up in his arms. "Stop wasting time on her. We need to take Juliet to the hospital at once!"

I lay alone on the floor, my face swollen, my vision blurred with tears. My skin was starting to itch, and my breathing grew laborious. My allergic reaction to the seafood was finally kicking in. It took all my strength to get up and take my allergic medicine.

Whenever something happened to Juliet, it was always my fault. They wouldn't even give me a chance to explain myself.

This was the last supper that marked my rebirth.