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All Chapters of You Don't Get It Back Once Give It Up: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

The moment I asked the question, every head in the office turned toward me.For the first time that afternoon, my sister Celeste Whitmore's serene expression cracked.She turned slowly."Maren, do you understand what you're saying?"Of course I did.My name was Maren Whitmore.I ranked second overall.If the first-place candidate formally withdrew, the published rules allowed the agency to move to the next qualified person.Director Bennett looked up from behind his desk. His gaze was steady behind his glasses."You're Maren Whitmore?""Yes.""Second-ranked candidate for the same position?""Yes."He flipped through the file in front of him."Procedurally, once the first-ranked candidate clearly withdraws and signs the confirmation, the hiring agency may begin a replacement review based on the existing ranking."My father, Graham Whitmore, stood up immediately."Director Bennett, she's young. She doesn't understand what she's saying. Celeste is upset right now. She does

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 b

Chapter 3

The next morning, I arrived at the federal recruitment building half an hour early.The wind outside was bitter.I held my document folder against my chest. My palms were damp.Director Bennett was already waiting in a conference room.A younger man sat beside him in a dark overcoat, his expression unreadable.Director Bennett introduced him."Nolan Mercer. He works in the division this position reports to. He's here to collect your materials."Nolan looked at me and nodded once."Maren Whitmore?""Yes."No small talk.He went straight to the questions."You completed a local-government internship in college?""Two months at a district administrative office. Mostly resident interview logs, case tracking, and service records."Nolan skimmed my resume."Can you write briefs?""Some.""Can you work late?"I hesitated."If the job requires it, yes."He looked up."Don't give me a polished answer."This isn't a desk job where you drink coffee and leave at five. Early o

Chapter 4

I barely slept that night.The message didn't say what the problem was.I reviewed my application three times.Education.Awards.Internships.Family members.Nothing missing.Nothing false.That should have reassured me.Instead, it made me more anxious.When I arrived at the review office the next morning, Dad was already there.He sat on a bench in the hallway, face dark.The first thing he said when he saw me was, "Happy now?"I stopped."What does that mean?""Your sister didn't sleep all night."His voice dropped."She was too proud yesterday. She didn't truly mean to give it up. You're sisters. Why can't you give her a way out?"I stared at him."Director Bennett asked her three times before she signed.""That was an outsider asking!"Dad frowned."Family isn't supposed to keep score like this."I laughed."Dad, when you say family, do you mean anyone besides her?"His face stiffened."Maren, stop twisting my words."The office door opened.Director

Chapter 5

Celeste entered with red-rimmed eyes.Dad followed behind her.The two of them stood together like a complete family portrait.I sat across the table alone, like an outsider.Celeste spoke softly."Director Bennett, I was emotionally unstable when I signed yesterday."I wasn't refusing the agency's background review. I misunderstood the scope of the process."I'm willing to provide the supplemental materials."Then she looked at me."Maren, you know I never meant to give it up."I said nothing.Director Bennett placed the signed withdrawal form on the table."Ms. Whitmore, the review team explained the consequences to you three times that day."You were coherent, and your intention was clear."Under the published procedure, once you voluntarily withdrew from final review, the replacement process began."Your request to reverse the withdrawal is denied."Celeste went pale."But the replacement candidate hasn't been hired yet."Director Bennett's tone didn't change."T

Chapter 6

On my first day, I expected to be stuck in a corner doing meaningless errands.Instead, Nolan brought me into a small office.The desk by the window was empty.A computer, folders, and a detailed training schedule were already waiting."Your desk," Nolan said.I stopped short.A short-haired woman at the next workstation leaned around her monitor."I'm Tessa Langley. If you don't understand something, ask me before you panic."She pushed a bag of mini muffins into my hands."First day rule. New people aren't allowed to starve."I held the bag and felt my throat tighten.Nolan slid the schedule toward me."First three months, you learn the files and workflow."Month one, old cases."Month two, sit in on meetings."Month three, start drafting short briefs."Bad drafts are fine."Sloppy work isn't."I nodded."Understood."He studied me for a second."One more thing."Don't rush to prove yourself."Build the foundation first."That sentence settled me more than any

Chapter 7

The day before the forum, I went to Grandma's apartment to pick up my suit.The moment I walked in, I saw Celeste sitting in the living room.She was chatting with Grandma in a soft voice, smiling as if she had never been absent from our lives.Grandma looked unimpressed.When she saw me, she stood immediately."Rennie, I pressed your suit for you."Celeste glanced at the document folder in my hand."You're speaking tomorrow?""Yes."She smiled lightly."I'm going too."My hands paused.She explained, "Someone in the exam prep group organized observer passes. I happened to get one."Maren, I just want to see how you're doing."I said nothing.She kept going."Don't be nervous. You're new. Nobody expects a perfect presentation."The agency may only have picked you because they want to support the replacement hire."Grandma's face cooled."Celeste, whether Rennie speaks well isn't your concern."Celeste's eyes instantly filled with tears."Grandma, I didn't mean anyt

Chapter 8

The auditorium went silent.Every eye turned toward Celeste.She stood perfectly straight, her eyes red.As if she had endured too much for too long and had finally been forced to speak."I'm not denying that Maren worked hard."But if I hadn't withdrawn, how could she possibly be standing there?"I just don't think everyone should hide the basic facts behind the phrase 'proper replacement procedure.'"The people from the exam prep group exchanged looks.Someone pulled out a phone.Director Bennett's expression hardened."Ms. Whitmore, this is not an appropriate time or place."Celeste acted as though she hadn't heard him.She stared at me."Maren, we're sisters."You knew I was emotional that day."Why couldn't you wait?"Now you have the job and management's approval, so I'm just the person you stepped on to get there?"I held the microphone.Strangely, I became calmer with every sentence.She had finally stopped pretending.Director Bennett stood."I will clarif

Chapter 9

The forum was paused for ten minutes.Director Bennett asked staff to escort Celeste to a side room.She refused to go."I didn't mean any harm."I'm just devastated."I ranked first for this position. Am I not allowed to say one thing?"Director Bennett's voice turned cold."You may express emotion."You may not distort facts or disrupt an official event."Dad arrived before I knew anyone had called him.He rushed into the side room.The first person he looked at wasn't me.It was Celeste."Celeste, stop crying."Then he turned on me."Maren, how could you put private messages on that screen?"How is your sister supposed to show her face anywhere after this?"I looked at him.I felt nothing at all anymore."When she stood up in public and said I stole her appointment, why didn't you ask how I was supposed to show my face anywhere?"Dad choked on the answer.A second later, his fatherly authority returned."She made a mistake because she was upset."You're alread

Chapter 10

After the auditorium incident, Celeste went quiet for a long time.Eventually, she posted an apology in the family group chat."Some of the things I previously said about Maren's job were inaccurate. I caused her unnecessary trouble. I'm sorry."Short.Immaterial.She didn't mention asking me to withdraw.She didn't mention losing control in the auditorium.Still, it was enough to silence the relatives who had repeated her version of the story.Aunt Lydia messaged me privately."Maren, we misunderstood you."Uncle Peter wrote:"Getting in took real talent. Keep it up."I read the messages and didn't answer.It wasn't about being rude.I simply no longer needed recognition delivered after the fact.I was busy.Busy rewriting briefs.Busy sitting through meetings.Busy rotating through field offices.Busy turning words I had once only seen in textbooks into work that affected actual people.I still made mistakes.Nolan still returned drafts covered in edits.Tessa s

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