Chapter 2

After the placements were confirmed, Mom and Dad sent money to my account and Serena's.

Serena immediately hooked her arm through Mom's.

"I knew it. You love me the most, Mom."

She glanced at me and asked, like always, "How much did Dad send you?"

I answered flatly. "Twenty thousand dollars."

Serena burst out laughing, then quickly pulled herself together and put on a thoughtful face.

"Mom and Dad must be worried you'll waste it. That's why they gave the two hundred thousand to me. You know, to hold on to."

"If you ever want something, just ask me."

Mom fondly tapped the tip of her nose.

"That money's your reward for doing so well, sweetheart. It's yours to spend."

"As for your sister... she barely made the cut. I won't even get into it."

She turned to me, the disappointment plain on her face.

"Have you ever once measured up to your sister? Those scores are embarrassing!"

"When you get to New York, you'd better work twice as hard. Don't embarrass this family."

Serena shook Mom's arm right away.

"Mom, come on. Stella passed. That's already great. Stop picking on her."

I should hate Serena.

She shone so bright that everyone gave her the best of everything without even thinking about it.

She kept track of every little bit of attention our parents gave me.

And yet whenever Mom scolded me, she was always right there to play the sweet, caring sister.

Never quite good enough to love. Never quite bad enough to hate.

Then my brother, Alessandro, brought out two velvet boxes. A pink one for Serena. A black one for me.

I opened mine. Inside was a simple gold bracelet, with the Vittore family crest engraved on its clasp.

Before I could say anything, Serena threw her arms around him.

"Oh my God! Is this the new Seraphine diamond necklace?"

Matteo leaned over to look at it and let out a low whistle.

"That's a limited edition. Must have cost a fortune."

"Alessandro, you actually got this for her?"

My brother ruffled Serena's hair fondly.

"If Serena likes it, it's worth every penny. She's my favorite sister. What can I say?"

But I'm your sister too.

Why am I always the one getting less?

I had asked those questions in tears too many times when I was little.

Now, looking at the box in my hands, I didn't even have the energy to ask.

I put the bracelet back in its box, got up, and headed upstairs.

No one noticed me leave.

Only Serena turned around. "Sis? What's wrong?"

I stopped for a second and said I was just tired.

Right away, my brother's annoyed voice came from behind me.

"She's always like this. You give her a gift, and she pulls a face."

"Forget her, Serena. Come on. Do you like the laptop?"

Matteo laughed along.

"Stella's just way too sensitive. She can make anything awkward."

I closed my bedroom door and shut out their laughter.

When I came back down, it was dinnertime.

Mom had told the kitchen to make a whole spread.

Honey-roasted chicken wings, lobster gratin, pineapple glazed ham, and Serena's favorite steak in tomato sauce.

Every single dish was something she liked.

I had always loved spicy food.

For eighteen years, I had gone along with it. I didn't want to anymore.

"Mom, could I ask the kitchen to make a spicy beef stew?"

Mom paused with her napkin halfway to her lap, then frowned.

"You were picky as a kid, fine. But you're still this much trouble now?"

"The kitchen made all this food. Can't you just eat?"

She glanced at Serena and added:

"Why can't you be more like your sister? Serena never fusses like you do."

In that moment, I wanted so badly to tell her that of course Serena wasn't picky.

Every day, the kitchen made exactly what she liked.

But what I liked had never really mattered to Mom.

Maybe it wasn't that she didn't know. It was just that my likes had never been important enough for her to care.

But the words got to the tip of my tongue, and I swallowed them back down.

What was the point?

Mom would only think I was making a big deal out of nothing, and fighting with my sister for attention again.