Chapter 4

I closed the door and immediately logged into my email.

"Rhea Olsen, congratulations on passing the assessment and officially becoming a member of the field expedition program. Please report at the designated time and attend the residential training program. Once the training is complete, we'll depart for Faldor."

The anxiety that had been gnawing at me finally went away.

I read through dozens of pages of instructions from beginning to end. After booking my flight, I added a few essentials to my shopping cart. I'd been working part-time since I started college, quietly saving up a fair amount of money.

I had just finished checking out when I heard my aunt, Janet Olsen, say, "Weren't you taking the highway? How did the rocks hit you? That was so dangerous."

Mom sighed. "That was the initial plan, but Rhea insisted on taking the shortcut. You know what she's like. If you don't go along with her, there's no peace."

Silence enveloped the living room for a moment before my relatives erupted in anger.

"It's that troublemaker again!"

"Wasn't it enough that she harmed Renee? Now she wants to harm you and Leonard as well?"

"That girl is nothing but a jinx. What the hell is she trying to do?"

One nasty remark after another came pouring out of their mouths.

I felt as though I had fallen into an icy pit, even though the sun was blazing brightly outside.

"Oh, it's fine." Only when my relatives' voices began to fade did Mom casually smooth things over. "She's already paid the price. She injured her leg. Rhea takes things too personally. As her parents, there's only so much we can say."

Renee chimed in, "Rhea didn't mean it. Please don't criticize her anymore."

Our relatives scoffed upon hearing her words.

Janet spoke the loudest, as if she wanted me to hear her. "Renee, you're just too kind-hearted. Why are you still speaking up for her? Just think about it. If she hadn't insisted on taking that route, would any of this have happened? Luckily, you're all safe. Otherwise, she could never have made up for it."

I sat blankly in my room, unable to move. It wasn't until I heard them leave that I slowly regained my senses.

A little while later, Renee pushed the door open, carrying a plate of cut fruit. The pale yellow apple chunks were already turning brown at the edges, enough to make anyone lose their appetite.

I stared at her. We were sisters, with almost identical faces. However, there was always a faint feeling of distance and unfamiliarity when we were together.

Renee placed the plate on the table. "Rhea, I didn't expect Mom to say that."

I said nothing.

She clenched her fist and lowered her head. "We're a family. Don't blame our parents or me."

With that, she hurried away as if trying to escape something.

Right after she left, Mom walked in, her brows furrowed. She demanded, "What did you tell Renee? Why does she look upset?"

A tightness rose in my chest, and I couldn't help but ask, "What about me? Mom, why did you pin that on me? Renee was the one who insisted on taking that route!"

Mom froze, clearly not expecting me, who was usually obedient, to talk back suddenly. Her eyes flickered, and she snapped, "Rhea! What the hell are you talking about? So what if I said it was you?

"You're sisters. What's wrong with helping Renee out a little? You've always been shameless. A few harsh words aren't going to hurt you. You owe her anyway."

My lack of reaction only fueled her anger. She slapped me hard across the face and warned me, "Listen to me—don't you dare say anything out of line in front of our relatives. Do you hear me?"

I staggered back several steps as a sharp, searing pain shot through my leg, and I collapsed onto the floor. My cheek burned too.

The fruit platter fell to the floor as well, sending apple pieces rolling everywhere.

Mom slammed the door and left.

I lay on the floor, slowly picking up the apples and throwing them into the trash can.

…

I became even more careful around the house for the next few days, quietly packing up my things. With my medication and dressings changed on schedule, my leg had mostly healed by then.

The day I left coincided with their trip to Yovon. Just before leaving, Mom suddenly raised her hand.

I instinctively flinched and dodged her hand.

She froze, her expression darkening. "I just slapped you once. Are you still holding a grudge against me?"

I shook my head calmly and said, "No. Have a safe trip."

I stepped back to let them through.

Mom glared at me, led Renee out, and slammed the door shut.

I grabbed my suitcase and headed toward the airport too.

As luck would have it, our gates were close to each other. Renee stood between Mom and Dad, chatting and laughing with them while waiting in the first-class boarding line. I stood a distance away, alone at the end of the long economy-class line.

I checked in on my own and made it through security. As I walked toward my gate, I thought I heard someone call my name.

I didn't look back. I simply walked down the jet bridge and boarded a flight headed in the opposite direction from theirs.