My brother is a superstar. On a family reality show, the host asked us to share a funny story about him. Charlotte went first: “He once bought out a whole store of blind boxes just so I could get the one I wanted.” Felicity giggled: “He tried to send a pic to our group chat and accidentally sent a nude.” Leo turned beet red: “Shut up!” The audience laughed. The host turned to me: “And you, the middle sister, did you save it?” I shrugged: “Nope. I’m not in the group chat.” The cheerful mood froze. The host tried to recover: “I’m sure he’s bought you plenty of blind boxes too.” I smiled shyly: “No, but he did give me a four-leaf clover necklace once.” A sigh of envy went through the crowd. Money, glamour, generosity. I blinked. “It was originally for Charlotte,” I continued softly. “But he gave it to me so I’d agree to move out.” “When she saw it on me, she called me a thief.” “Dad threw me in the pool to ‘clear my head.’ Later we found out it was all a misunderstanding. Isn’t that funny?” I looked at the silent audience. “Huh? Why isn’t anyone laughing?” 1 The show was broadcasting live. On the massive screen behind us, the live chat was scrolling at lightning speed: 【I smell tea. THIS IS THE GOOD STUFF.】 【Rich family drama? Secret scandals? SIGN ME UP.】 【OMG, get in here, you guys! @AbsForDays @LegsForYears】 【Wait, didn’t Leo Vance say he only had one older and one younger sister? Where did this one come from?】 【Just checked his Wikipedia page. The family section is totally missing a middle sister. What is going on?】 【She doesn't look adopted. She has their mom's eyes.】 The online detectives were sharp. I am, technically, a Vance. A daughter born of their blood, but a stranger in their hearts. My parents had four children in total: one boy, three girls. I was the second youngest. We all used to live in a small, sleepy seaside town. Then my uncle struck it rich in the city and offered to bring my parents into his business. The catch was, he could only secure school placements for three children. After a brief discussion, my parents decided to leave me behind. They paid one of my dad’s old coworkers, a man I barely knew, a meager fee each month to look after me. I didn’t rejoin the Vance family until I finished middle school. By then, they were living in a sprawling mansion. I only lived at home for a single semester of high school before I opted to board at my new school. I rarely came home, maybe once a month if that. I was a ghost in their family photos. It was no wonder the public had never seen me. If the show's producers hadn’t happened to call while I was home for a rare visit, no one would have ever known the Vance family had another daughter. 2 【OMG! I know her! She was a total brainiac at Westwood High, graduated this year. We all knew she was smart, but a secret heiress? Wild.】 【Westwood?? A Vance kid at Westwood High? You've got to be kidding. All the rich kids go to Northwood Academy.】 【It’s true. She actually transferred from Northwood.】 【What? Why would anyone trade a mansion for a dorm room? That’s insane.】 Seeing the speculation dig deeper, I smiled sweetly at the camera. “Please, don’t misunderstand,” I said. “After they realized the truth, everyone apologized to me.” “We have very strong family values. My dad is a big believer in character education; he just got a little rough out of concern for his daughter.” I paused, letting the lie settle. “You need high moral standards to run a successful company, right?” “And my brother only wanted me to go to boarding school to foster my independence. It came from a good place.” “Besides,” I added, “after the misunderstanding was cleared up, Dad transferred me a huge sum of money as compensation.” The host’s eyes lit up. “Can you give us a number? Let us live vicariously.” I turned to my father. “Dad, how much was it again?” His face was a mask of stone. “$200,000.” “Wow!” A wave of envious gasps swept the studio. My father continued, warming to the topic. “Our family believes in clear consequences. Rewards for good behavior, punishments for mistakes. No nonsense. It’s the same principle I apply to my business…” The doubt in the live chat evaporated, replaced by a flood of praise: 【That's a true industry titan for you. A man of principle.】 【Mr. Vance, you can throw me in a pool and then give me $200k anytime.】 【Ugh, I wish I had a brother like that.】 Amid the chorus of adulation, the show wrapped up smoothly. My father, beaming with pride, even invited me to ride home in his car. I glanced at Felicity, who was pouting, her arm wrapped around her Doberman. “It’s okay,” I said. “Shadow should have the space. He doesn’t like me getting too close.” Shadow was Felicity’s dog, and he was vicious. A pale, jagged scar on my calf was permanent proof of his temperament. My mother shot Felicity a look of mild disapproval. “Felicity, you’re so spoiled. Make room for your sister.” Felicity just nuzzled the dog’s head, her eyes flashing a challenge at me. “I can make room. The question is, would she dare to sit here?” “Oh, you,” my mother sighed, as if helpless, then turned to me. “Well, Nina, I guess you can just grab a cab to Saffron’s.” They’d made reservations for a late supper after the show. I, of course, hadn’t been included in the original headcount. I looked at Charlotte and Felicity, whose faces had simultaneously soured at the thought of my presence. I smiled. “I’m a bit tired. I think I’ll just go home.” My mother let out a quiet sigh of relief, though her words were laced with complaint. “You’re just so distant. You never join in on family activities, and then you’ll turn around and say I play favorites.” “Mom, please stop,” Leo interrupted, walking over and taking my arm. “Come on,” he said gently. “I’ll drive you home.” 3 In stark contrast to her coldness towards me, Felicity leaned out the car window, calling after Leo. “Hurry back, big brother! We’ll wait for you!” I tried to pull my arm away from his grasp. “I can get a cab. You don’t have to.” Leo’s grip didn’t loosen. “You’re my sister. It’s not a bother.” I raised an eyebrow in surprise. So, the great Leo Vance did know how to act human. Then I caught a glimpse of the fans lingering nearby, phones raised, snapping pictures. Ah. I understood. I complied, getting into the car and staring silently out the window as the city lights blurred past. At a red light, Leo spoke suddenly. “I’m surprised you still remember that.” I kept my gaze fixed outside, a small smile playing on my lips. He sighed. “Either way, thank you for today.” That was a first. The proud, untouchable superstar, thanking me. I was about to make a sarcastic remark when my phone buzzed with a text. 【DEPOSIT NOTIFICATION: $200,000.00 has been transferred to your account.】 【From Dad: Good performance today. This is your reward.】 I cashed it in, then showed the screen to Leo. “So, brother,” I said, my voice dripping with manufactured sweetness. “About that ‘thank you’… I prefer something a little more tangible.” Leo agreed instantly. “I’ve already ordered you the newest four-leaf clover necklace from their collection. It should arrive tomorrow.” My smile widened. “Thanks, big brother.” Leo looked a little uncomfortable. “Don’t mention it. I should have gotten it for you a long time ago.” He wasn’t wrong. In tenth grade, he’d used that necklace to bribe me into moving out to the dorms. The problem was, he never told Charlotte. When she saw her promised gift around my neck, she immediately branded me a thief. The entire family sided with her. My father, without a second thought, kicked me into the deep end of the pool. I couldn’t swim. I remember the shock of the cold water, the burning in my lungs as I swallowed mouthful after mouthful, thrashing in a desperate panic. They just stood on the edge, watching me. Luckily, Leo got home in time to pull me out. Charlotte stood there, clutching the necklace, her expression arrogant. “I don’t care. It was promised to me, so it’s mine.” My father tossed a few bills at my feet. “It’s just a necklace. If your sister likes it, let her have it. Go buy yourself something else.” The money amounted to $200. It was the first and only allowance I ever received after returning to the Vance family. The streetlights flashed across my face, and I narrowed my eyes. “It’s fine,” I murmured. “Better late than never, I guess.” 4 During the short drive, Felicity called him at least three times. Leo dropped me at the front gate and sped off. I took a long bath, and just as I was getting comfortable in bed, my phone lit up with a series of notifications. Charlotte had added me to the family group chat. 【Charlotte: Welcome, Nina. My mistake, I can’t believe I forgot to add you sooner.】 【Felicity: (Yawning emoji) We don’t really use this chat much anyway, so it doesn’t matter if she’s in it or not lol (Clown emoji)】 【Charlotte: (Smiling emoji) (Smiling emoji) (Smiling emoji)】 【Leo: Nina, want me to bring you anything? (Image) (Image) (Image)】 A stream of lavish food photos buried the previous messages. I was about to decline but changed my mind. 【Anything is fine. Thanks, brother.】 Leo sent back an “OK” emoji, and the chat went silent. I switched to another conversation and transferred the $200,000. 【Mr. Miller, the hospital in the city is all set. You and Mrs. Miller should take Jason for the prosthetic eye surgery next week. I’ll join you afterward.】 The “typing…” indicator blinked for a long time. Finally, a short message appeared: 【Be careful. We’ll be waiting for you.】 A lump formed in my throat, and a tear rolled down my cheek. Soon. It won’t be long now. 5 The next morning, my mother called me down for breakfast. Felicity winked at me. “Oh, Nina, you missed out last night. The king crab at Saffron’s was to die for.” Charlotte nudged a sleepy-looking Leo. “Brother, didn’t you say you were going to bring something back for Nina?” Leo froze, a guilty look washing over his face. “Oh… right. I’m so sorry, I forgot.” Before I could say a word, my mother set her bowl down with a sharp clink. “What is there to apologize for? She had the chance to go and she didn’t. No one is obligated to bring her food. We don’t tolerate princesses in this house.” I sighed, exhausted. “Mom, you’re overthinking it. I wasn’t expecting anything.” “Maybe not now, but that doesn’t mean you won’t later. I’m teaching you a lesson. Now, tell me you understand.” She continued, her voice rising. “You must have picked up that habit of talking back from the Millers. It’s been almost three years, and you’re still so unpolished. How am I supposed to present you to society like this?” “I was planning to introduce you to the Fords’ son, to see if you two could build a connection…” “Mom!” Leo cut her off. “Nina just graduated. She’s going to college. Why are you setting her up on blind dates?” “Oh, right,” Mom said, as if just remembering. She fixed her gaze on me. “Nina, what did you score on your finals? What university did you get into?” I kept my expression neutral. “Nothing special, way worse than Charlotte’s scores. Just a 650. I’m going to Westwood University.” My mother seemed to let out a breath she’d been holding. “Are you sure?” she asked, needing confirmation. “The acceptance letter is on my desk. Mrs. Gable probably saw it when she was cleaning.” Mom turned to the housekeeper standing nearby. Mrs. Gable nodded. The tension in my mother’s face melted away, her tone softening. “Well, 650 isn’t as good as your sister’s score, but it’s respectable. Westwood is a good school, just a bit far from home.” She added, “But with travel being so convenient these days, you can come back anytime.” I murmured in agreement, and she finally smiled. “Let’s eat before everything gets cold.” As I reached for a sausage, Felicity’s fork shot out and snatched it, dropping it on the floor for her Doberman. “I could never bear to be so far from home,” she chirped. “When I graduate next year, I’m going to the same university as Charlotte.” Charlotte smiled. “Perfect. You can take over as president of the student council when I leave.” The conversation shifted back to them. Only then did I realize a cold sweat had broken out on my back. If I hadn’t figured out early on that my mother despised me being more successful than her other daughters—if I hadn’t intentionally tanked my scores on the exams—I would be the one facing that god-awful blind date right now. The Fords’ son was a notorious local playboy who openly bragged about wanting a harem of wives and mistresses. No family with any self-respect would marry their daughter to him. Yet my mother was ready to throw me to the wolves. A metallic taste filled my throat. I washed it down with a sip of oatmeal. Leo placed a sausage in my bowl. “I’ll drive you to campus when the semester starts.” “Okay. Thanks, brother.” Charlotte smiled. “Any plans today, Nina? Want to come to the spa with us?” I rubbed my hands together, feigning bashfulness. “Oh, I’d love to, but I already made plans with Ethan. I can’t just bail on him.” Charlotte’s eyebrows rose, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “Oh. Well, have fun.” Leo glanced at me, his brow furrowed as if he wanted to say something, but he held his tongue. 6 Ethan and I were both avid cyclists. We took a long ride along the coastal path, the salty wind whipping through our hair, before stopping for a break under a grove of palm trees. “Here,” Ethan said, handing me a milk tea. It was Jasmine Pearl, my favorite. The irony wasn’t lost on me. My own family had no idea what I liked, but my neighbor knew my order by heart. “Thanks.” I took a sip, my gaze drifting out towards the vast, shimmering ocean. He followed my line of sight. “You love the ocean, don’t you?” “Yeah. I grew up by the sea. The town was nothing like this place, not nearly as glamorous, but I loved it.” Because the people who truly loved me were there. Mr. and Mrs. Miller. And their son, my brother, Jason. Ethan smiled, but then his expression turned serious. “Nina, there’s something I don’t think I should hide from you.” He pulled out his phone and opened a group chat named “The Garden (No Ninas Allowed).” “Yesterday, right before Charlotte added you to the main chat, she created this new one. You should see it for yourself.” He helpfully scrolled back to yesterday’s messages. 【Felicity: New chat! We’ll talk here from now on.】 【Charlotte: Got it.】 【Dad: Thumbs up】 【Mom: Thumbs up】 【Leo: …】 【Charlotte: We should probably still say something in the other group chat occasionally, so she doesn’t get suspicious.】 【Felicity: Easy. Mom can just forward a bunch of those inspirational videos. It’s not like Nina’s gonna watch them and then @ us for a discussion.】 【Mom: No, what if she actually replies? I won’t know what to say.】 【Felicity: @Dad, you should forward a bunch of those dense financial articles. She won’t understand a word.】 【Dad: Unnecessary. Her performance today was satisfactory. She’s clearly trying to get on my good side. The carrot has been offered; engaging further will only make her bolder.】 【Leo: Fine, fine. I’ll post something. Happy?】 【Charlotte: Thanks, big bro.】 【Felicity: Thanks, big bro.】 … I handed the phone back before I finished reading. “So,” I asked, my voice dangerously calm, “what are you trying to achieve by showing me this?” Ethan faltered for a second. “I just… I don’t think they should be deceiving you like this. Or mocking you. You’re a Vance, too. You deserve the same love they get.” I squeezed the plastic cup in my hand and let out a soft laugh. “Ethan, if you knew this would hurt me, why didn’t you just keep it to yourself?” “It wouldn’t have mattered if you never told me.” “So why did you have to?” I turned to face the handsome, bewildered boy beside me. “It’s just like before my college entrance exams. My brother, Jason, got into a car accident and injured his eyes. He didn’t tell me because he didn’t want it to affect my tests.” “But you,” I said, my smile never wavering, “you just happened to drag me to the hospital for a check-up the day before my exams. And we just happened to run into Mr. and Mrs. Miller there.” “You wanted me to be in pain, to be terrified. But why? Aren’t you my friend?” Ethan’s expression grew complicated. “Nina…” “Haha!” I suddenly burst out laughing. “Why the long face? I’m just kidding! Did you actually believe me? You’re my only friend. I would never suspect you. Right?” He looked lost, his mouth slightly agape, before finally managing a strained, gentle smile. “Right. I’m your only friend.” 7 Ethan had no idea. There was a time I truly had feelings for him. The day after I first moved in with the Vances, I had to register at Northwood Academy. My mother told me to ride with them. But when we got to the car, Felicity refused to let me in. “No way! She smells like fish from that disgusting town. Shadow hates the smell of fish.” She let her Doberman sprawl across the back seat, leaving no room. “Besides, the car’s full.” Charlotte was in the passenger seat, and my mother sat next to Felicity. None of them said a word as I stood there, humiliated. That’s when Ethan appeared. He offered me a ride in his family’s car. He even tried to comfort me. “Someone else’s love is a bonus,” he’d said. “But if you don’t have it, it’s not the end of the world. Loving yourself is what matters most.” I wrote that sentence on the first page of my diary. After that, he insisted on driving me to and from school. I felt bad always relying on him, so I bought a bicycle. The next day, he showed up with one too, becoming my cycling partner. He listened to my problems, offered advice, and even stood up to the bullies who targeted me. He took me hiking and to the beach, telling me to follow my heart wherever my eyes led me. I felt so lucky to have met someone so wonderful during the loneliest time of my life. I was a complete fool. It all unraveled during winter break of my freshman year. My grades were so high that my teachers praised me as a “gifted student.” I thought my parents would be proud. But my father didn’t care about my grades at all. And my mother, when she found out, her face soured. “Oh,” she’d said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I see your precious Mr. Miller taught you well.” Without another word, she had me transferred to Westwood High, a school with a much poorer reputation. That’s when I understood. I could not be better than my sisters. My only path to a peaceful existence in that house was mediocrity. So I started controlling my scores. I couldn’t do better than Charlotte or Felicity, but I couldn’t do too poorly either, or I’d embarrass the family. It was an exhausting, soul-crushing balancing act. One day, I couldn’t take it anymore. I decided to tell Ethan my secret. I called him, but he said he was busy. I figured I’d wait. I wandered aimlessly through the neighborhood and ended up near a small park, where I heard his voice, and Charlotte’s. “Nina’s grades have dropped a lot this semester,” Charlotte was saying. “I have a feeling she’s doing it on purpose. Has she told you anything?” “No,” Ethan replied. “It seems normal to me. Westwood doesn’t have the same resources as Northwood.” “I’m still not convinced. Keep an eye on her for me. Make sure she doesn’t have too much time to study. If you have to, arrange for some people to cause a little trouble for her.” “Okay. I understand.” “And one more thing. If you dare to actually fall for her, I’ll make sure you never see me again.” “Charlotte, even if you don’t trust me, you should trust yourself. Nina… she’s not a thousandth of what you are.” I hid behind a tree, watching them embrace, then kiss. The blue sky, the golden sunset, the beautiful couple. A perfect picture. But in my eyes, the show was over. The sun was dying.
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