Chapter 2

Early the next morning, Mia sent me a message.

“Claire, I’m sorry about yesterday. I really didn’t mean to upset you. Please don’t be mad at me, okay?”

A moment later, she sent me a photo.

In it, she was sitting in Julian’s car, cradling a birthday cake in her hands.

“Julian said he’d take me to see you today so I could make it up to you. I made you another birthday cake myself. I hope you can forgive me.”

I ignored her message and got up to get ready to go out.

Not long afterward, Julian called me.

“Claire, Mia wants to come see you today.”

“She really should have thought things through yesterday, and I’ve already spoken to her about it. She’s coming over to apologize, and she even made you another birthday cake herself. Just accept her apology.”

I couldn’t help laughing.

“The decorations at my birthday party had nothing to do with my taste, the cake contained something I’m allergic to, she blew out my candles and rushed to make the first cut. Now she’s apologizing, and I’m supposed to pretend none of it ever happened?”

There was a brief silence on the other end before Julian sighed.

“Claire, I know you feel hurt, but you don’t have to make this into something so serious.”

“Mia’s been spoiled by her family since she was little, so of course she can be a little willful sometimes. She just wanted to make the party more lively. She wasn’t deliberately trying to humiliate you.”

“Besides, she’s your sister. As the older one, you should be a little more generous. Let it go, and that’ll be the end of it. Do you really expect her to get down on her knees and beg for your forgiveness?”

I held my phone as my heart slowly turned cold.

Every time Mia crossed a line, someone was always ready with an excuse for her.

When we were children, my parents said she was too young to know better whenever she took something that belonged to me.

As we grew older, whenever she made decisions on my behalf without asking, Julian insisted she was only trying to be kind.

Whenever she embarrassed me, it was because she was immature.

Yet the moment I showed even the slightest displeasure, I became the one who was petty and unreasonable.

My throat felt dry as I finally answered, “She can come if she wants to.”

I had no desire to argue with him anymore, so I hung up.

At noon, the doorbell rang right on time.

Mia stood at the door holding the cake, accompanied by two Sterling family bodyguards carrying an assortment of gift boxes. Julian stood beside her, holding a dark blue jewelry box.

The moment Mia saw me, her eyes immediately filled with tears.

“Claire, I’m sorry. I was wrong to blow out your candles. I didn’t know you’d mind so much… and I shouldn’t have asked Julian to replace the flowers, either.”

She gently set the cake on the table.

“Come on, Claire. Make another wish! I promise I won’t blow out your candles this time!”

Written crookedly across the cake in strawberry jam were all three of our names.

I looked at her calmly.

“If this is supposed to be a replacement birthday cake for me, why are there three names on it?”

Mia’s smile froze.

“Haven’t we always done everything together? I just wanted all three of us to be happy.”

Julian opened the jewelry box and pushed it toward me.

“She’s just trying to express her good wishes. Don’t be so sensitive. Look at this necklace. Mia picked it out especially for you.”

I looked at the necklace but made no move to take it.

After they left, I called the event planner.

“Cancel the engagement party.”

The planner responded almost immediately.

“Miss Ashford, are you sure you want to cancel? Mr. Sterling has arranged for Miss Mia to represent the Ashford family and accompany the two of you through the engagement ceremony.”

I froze.

“When was this decided? Why wasn’t I informed?”

“Mr. Sterling said that you and Miss Mia are very close as sisters, so he was certain you wouldn’t object.”

Holding my phone, I suddenly found the whole thing absurd.

He hadn’t even bothered to ask me. He had already agreed on my behalf.

Before I could respond, the planner added, “There’s one more thing. Mr. Sterling also wants Miss Mia’s seat placed between the two of you. He said it would make it easier for you to look after your younger sister.”

I fell silent for a long time.

So, in Julian’s eyes, I was not only expected to forgive Mia, but also to make room for her at my own engagement party.

I gently closed my eyes.

“Cancel the engagement party. All those arrangements are off.”