Chapter 2

The replacement notice hadn't even arrived yet, and the Whitmore family group chat was already holding my trial.

Aunt Lydia sent a long voice message.

"Maren was completely out of line today. Celeste had just been humiliated, and Maren immediately asked the investigators whether she could take the spot."

Uncle Peter followed.

"Two sisters fighting over one appointment? If people hear about this, the whole family will be embarrassed."

Dad was furious.

"She wasn't raised in this house. She has no manners."

I stared at those words and laughed.

After Mom died, I was raised by my maternal grandmother in an old apartment across town.

The Whitmores remembered me on major holidays.

I'd be invited over for dinner.

At the end of the evening, Dad would pat my shoulder and say, "Be a good girl. Don't compete with your sister."

I'd been the good girl for more than twenty years.

The first time I reached for something, suddenly I had no manners.

Celeste joined the chat.

"Please don't blame Maren.

"She's always felt insecure. I understand why a permanent federal position feels so important to her.

"We simply have different ideas about dignity."

The relatives flooded the chat immediately.

"Celeste is so generous."

"That is real class."

"Maren should learn from her sister."

I locked my phone.

I didn't want to read any more.

To someone with family influence, this job might have been a nice addition.

To someone like me, with no connections of my own, it was a ladder.

That evening, Celeste asked me to meet her.

She sat beside a cafe window in a white blouse and pearl earrings, looking as polished as a magazine spread.

As soon as I sat down, she pushed a coffee toward me.

"My treat."

I didn't touch it.

She didn't look embarrassed.

"Maren, I'm not angry about what happened this morning.

"I understand that you want to move up."

I looked at her.

"Thank you."

She sighed softly.

"But have you thought about why people aren't fighting over that position?

"It sounds prestigious because it's a federal management-track appointment, but the first few years can be brutal.

"Are you used to that kind of life? Can you handle it?

"I didn't refuse because I look down on the job.

"I refused because I don't think you should sacrifice yourself just to say you got in."

I asked, "Then why were you researching the program until one in the morning?"

Her face changed slightly.

"You looked through my computer?"

"No.

"You synced your search history to the family tablet."

She went quiet for two seconds.

Then she smiled.

"I was being careful before making a decision."

The floating comments appeared.

[Careful? She was just searching whether a voluntary withdrawal can be reversed.]

[She already regrets it. She's trying to make you hand the spot back on your own.]

[So calm on the outside. Completely panicking inside.]

Celeste continued.

"Maren, the more you expect from this, the worse it will feel if the agency rejects you.

"If the replacement doesn't go through, you'll be more embarrassed than you were today."

I pushed the coffee back toward her.

"Celeste, I'm not afraid of failing.

"I'm afraid of wanting something and pretending I don't."

Her smile disappeared.

I stood and left.

I had just reached the cafe door when my phone rang.

Unknown number.

I answered.

"Is this Maren Whitmore? This is the review team at the federal recruitment office. Please come in tomorrow at nine to submit your replacement-candidate materials."

I turned back.

Celeste was staring at me.

All the calm had vanished from her eyes.