Chapter 3

Five days later, I arrived at the restaurant right on time.

Following the directions Raphael had given me, I found the private dining room and pushed open the door.

The room was decorated romantically. It looked almost like a small wedding venue.

Helena was sitting between Raphael and Silas. She had on an extravagant gown and a tiara on her head.

Surrounded by countless flowers, she looked like a princess.

I froze.

The moment Helena saw me, she lifted her skirt slightly and hurried over. "Martha! I've been waiting for you for so long. We were worried you wouldn't come."

I avoided her outstretched hand and looked at Raphael. "What is this supposed to mean?"

Raphael walked over and shielded Helena behind him. "Don't be so harsh with her. I can explain."

Silas came over too. He looked impatient. "Are you even her older sister? It's her birthday today. Did you forget?"

I ignored him.

Raphael avoided my gaze. "Since it's Helena's birthday, I thought the two of you could celebrate together."

I shifted my gaze to the exquisite decorations around the room and said nothing.

The waiters had already begun bringing out the dishes when Helena approached me with a wineglass in her hand. "Martha, I know you don't like me. Thank you for still being willing to celebrate my birthday.

"I've been in the wrong lately. I shouldn't have entered that competition or competed with you for first place. I shouldn't have made you upset."

Her eyes welled up with tears, and her voice trembled. "Will you forgive me?"

Everyone turned to look at me.

It was as if refusing her would make me the biggest villain of the evening.

Silas frowned impatiently. "Helena has already apologized. Isn't that enough?"

A flicker of triumph appeared in Helena's eyes. Suddenly, she tilted her glass and spilled wine all over me.

My white dress was soaked and stained with red wine from top to bottom.

She hurried toward me in a panic. Tears streamed down her face. "I'm sorry, Martha! I didn't mean to do it! I thought you were still upset with me. I was just so scared–"

Raphael immediately comforted her. "It's a minor accident. Martha won't blame you for it."

Silas stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Helena. His expression was tender. "Why are you afraid of her? I'm right here. She can't hurt you."

I stood there calmly and watched them take turns comforting her. My heart had long since stopped reacting to any of it.

Only then did Raphael seem to recall I was there. He took off his suit jacket and held it out to me. "Here, cover yourself with this. I'll take you home later."

I shook my head. "That won't be necessary. You guys enjoy your dinner. I'm leaving."

Raphael frowned. "Martha, why are you throwing another tantrum?"

Silas scoffed beside him. "Just let her be. We've spoiled her too much."

I looked past him at Helena, who was wearing an innocent expression.

I then spoke calmly. "Helena, is that necklace around your neck a birthday present from Raphael?

"You came over to me earlier because you wanted me to see it, didn't you?"

Helena's face instantly went pale. She instinctively covered the necklace with her hand. "Martha, it wasn't on purpose–"

"I gave it to her." Raphael stepped in front of Helena and looked at me without a trace of remorse. "Helena said she really liked this necklace. It's the first birthday present I've ever given her. I couldn't disappoint her.

"It's only a necklace. Don't be so petty about it."

I stared at the necklace and felt a dull ache in my chest.

Raphael had designed it for me.

I recalled every single line on the original sketch.

Last year, he'd promised to have the necklace made in time for my birthday this year.

Now, simply because Helena had said she liked it, he'd handed it over to her without a second thought.

He even blamed me for being petty.

I chuckled, and tears finally slipped from my eyes.

I quickly wiped them away and said nothing more.

I then turned around and headed for the door.

"Martha!" Raphael grabbed my hand impatiently. "It's only a birthday present. I'll get you another one."

Silas chimed in. "Exactly, Martha. It's only an ordinary birthday gift. Helena was upset about the competition for days. Consider this a way of making it up to her."

I looked at the two men and felt as if I were staring at complete strangers.

"Sure." I nodded calmly. "She can have this birthday present."

Raphael visibly relaxed as if a weight had finally been lifted from his shoulders.

For the first time that evening, he smiled at me.

I looked back at him and continued speaking. "It's not just this birthday present.

"From now on, I'll let her have every birthday present too."

Silence fell over the private dining room. Even the sounds of our breathing felt unnaturally loud.

"Martha, stop causing a scene." Raphael looked into my emotionless eyes, and for the first time, he seemed at a loss.

Right then, Helena suddenly clutched her stomach and cried out in pain.

She promptly collapsed into Silas' arms. "Silas, my stomach is suddenly aching so badly–"

"Helena! What's wrong?"

Silas caught her in a panic, while Raphael hurried over to check on her.

Neither of them turned to look at me again.

The door slammed shut behind me.

My phone vibrated, and a notification appeared confirming that my flight ticket had been issued.

It was the earliest flight the following morning.

I didn't sleep that night. Instead, I dragged my luggage outside, hailed a taxi, and headed to the airport.

There were several missed calls from Raphael and Silas.

The last message was from Raphael.

[Martha, I'm waiting for you downstairs at the dorm.]

I ignored it, severed my mind-link connection with Silas, and blocked all their numbers.

I then boarded the plane without looking back.