Chapter 1

Now that I'd decided to leave in a week, I, Martha Bennett, began packing my belongings.

My gaze landed on the framed photo of the three of us on my bedside table, and my hands paused.

Silas Bennett stood to my left. He was smiling affectionately as he placed a tiara on my head.

On my right, Raphael Croft kneeled on one knee while offering me a bouquet with gentlemanly tenderness.

Now, however, they left me on the sidelines while fussing over Helena Bennett.

It was just like what had happened during the herbalism competition.

I'd spent three whole weeks preparing on my own, going to the lab early in the morning and leaving late at night. I'd practically lived there.

Meanwhile, Raphael had spent every day tutoring Helena in another lab.

He'd said she'd been preparing for the competition for a long time, and he didn't want all her efforts to go to waste.

When he said that, he hadn't even noticed how pale and weak I looked because I'd been too busy to eat dinner.

"Martha? Why are you packing?" My roommate, Clara Sterling, walked in and stared at me in surprise.

"You won first place in the herbalism competition today! Didn't your boyfriend and brother celebrate with you?"

I lowered my head. "They went with Helena."

Clara gave me an utterly exasperated look. "Are you serious? Ever since your stepsister arrived, those two have practically forgotten who they are."

A dull ache spread through my chest. I took a deep breath and tried to ignore it.

She was right. Ever since Helena had joined our household six months ago, they'd gradually started favoring her over me.

Three months ago, I eagerly prepared a birthday party for myself.

When the evening finally came, neither of them showed up.

Worried something had happened to them, I called to check.

Silas didn't answer.

So I called Raphael instead, only to hear a familiar female voice.

"I'm sorry, Martha," Helena choked out pitifully. "I accidentally fell down the stairs and hurt my leg. Raphael came with me to the hospital. Did I mess up your birthday party?"

Before I could answer, I heard a man's nonchalant voice in the background. "What's the big deal, Helena? Martha celebrates her birthday every year. You can always make it up to her another time."

It was Silas.

Raphael quickly took the phone. His voice was gentle and apologetic. "I'm sorry, Martha. I'll make it up to you another time. Helena needs to get her injury checked out, and I can't leave right now."

Before I could say anything, he hung up.

A moment later, my phone lit up with a text from Silas.

[Be mature about this. You're the older sister, so you should look after your younger sister. Come to the hospital later and check on Helena.]

That night, I ate an entire cake by myself.

...

My phone rang. To my surprise, it was Raphael calling.

The first thing he said was, "Do you know how upset Helena is? She's been bawling her eyes out."

His reproachful tone made my heart ache.

He couldn't even be bothered to ask how I was doing.

"So what?" I replied flatly.

Raphael paused. He then raised his voice. "You know how hard Helena worked for this competition. You're in the same field. Why did you have to steal her spotlight?

"She can't even eat now because she's so upset. Couldn't you at least call to check on her?"

I almost laughed.

When I'd been working around the clock in the lab to prepare for the competition, my stomach had hurt from eating irregularly. Had he ever once asked if I was okay?

Had he simply failed to notice, or had he never wanted to?

I didn't feel like saying another word. I hung up.

I then threw my trophies and framed photos into a cardboard box. I intended to get rid of everything in a couple of days.

The next morning, Raphael intercepted me outside my dorm.

He was holding a takeout breakfast and looking at me with an expression of helpless resignation. "Why did you hang up on me yesterday? You're being way too childish."

I ignored him and circled around him.

Raphael followed me. He impatiently grabbed my wrist. "Martha, can you please be more mature about this?"

"Let go of me." I stopped and slowly pulled my hand free.

Raphael froze, studying my expression. He probably wasn't used to this kind of response from me.

"Are you really that upset?" he asked, a slight frown on his face. "Come on, calm down." He held out the food to me. "Helena specifically asked me to bring this to you. She was worried you'd feel left out because you didn't come with us yesterday."

I glanced at the food and smiled.

"Worried I'd feel left out," I repeated, looking up at him. "What do you think? Did you leave me out?"

Raphael was taken aback, but quickly laughed it off. "Helena was upset about losing the competition. Besides, she's your sister. Of course I had to comfort her. It's not like you need to be so petty about it, right?"

I lowered my eyes in exhaustion.

'Petty,' I thought.

I reached out and accepted the food.

Raphael ruffled my hair, seeming pleased with my compliance.

The greasy smell of the food made my stomach turn.

I covered my mouth and retched.

Raphael's expression changed instantly. "Martha, what the hell was that supposed to mean?"