The Girl My Family Ignored Became the Warrior They Could Never Reach Chapter 03

The Girl My Family Ignored Became the Warrior They Could Never Reach Chapter 03

Celine blinked, tears shimmering on her lashes without quite falling.

“I saw there was one seat left in economy, so I thought we could save some of the trip budget.”

“Rhea, if it bothers you, I can switch seats with you.”

Before she had even finished, Liam stood up.

“Stay where you are. I’ll switch with her.”

His voice was gentle, but impatience was written all over his face. The words were for Celine; the attitude was for me.

As I stood there frozen, Mom lost her patience.

“A seat is a seat. Why do you have to make an issue out of everything?”

A bitter ache hollowed out my chest.

Somewhere along the way, I had become the selfish, inconsiderate one in their eyes.

But I had given up the bedroom that caught the morning sun, the pretty dresses, the expensive extracurricular programs, and even my family’s affection. I had surrendered all of it to Celine.

Maybe what they really wanted was for me to give up my place in this family altogether.

I tightened my grip on my boarding pass and let out a humorless laugh.

“No one has to move. I’ll sit in the back.”

As soon as I took my seat, the announcement came that the plane was preparing to taxi.

I put on my headphones, ready to listen to music. Before switching my phone to airplane mode, I received two more messages from Evan.

Evan: [Don’t blame Celine. She was only trying to save money.]

Evan: [Once we reach cruising altitude, I’ll switch seats with you.]

I was about to tell him not to bother when a flight attendant stopped beside me and gently reminded me to switch my phone to airplane mode.

Under the disapproving stare of the passenger beside me, I quickly did as she asked and gave her an awkward smile.

“Sorry.”

Once the plane reached cruising altitude, the flight attendants began serving meals, and the curtain separating business class from economy was temporarily pulled open.

I craned my neck to look toward the front, worried that Evan might actually try to switch seats with me. Instead, I saw him settle Celine’s head against his shoulder.

The sight made my eyes ache until the curtain fell back into place and blocked my view.

Apparently, he had forgotten about switching seats with me. He had also forgotten his promise to choose me first.

After we landed, we took a rideshare to the hotel. My silence stood in stark contrast to Celine’s laughter and excited chatter.

Dad finally lost his patience. He shook his head, his disappointment obvious.

“Rhea, why are you sulking? Has anyone here done anything to you?”

“When are you going to learn from Celine? Try being cheerful and considerate instead of so petty and narrow-minded.”

“If Evan didn’t keep taking your side, no one would even like you. Do you understand that?”

The words were so cruel that I stopped in my tracks, tears instantly burning behind my eyes.

Evan instinctively stepped toward me, but Liam pulled him back.

“Dad’s right. Evan, you really need to stop coddling her.”

Mom glanced at me, looped her arm through Celine’s, and walked away.

They disappeared into the hotel lobby, leaving me alone under the blazing sun, cold to the bone.

Dad’s words slithered into me like venomous snakes and sank their fangs into my heart, leaving it torn apart.

Countless times before, I had reassured myself that they only felt sorry for Celine because she had lost her family. They were not treating me this way on purpose.

But now I finally understood what a joke I had been.

The truth was much simpler.

They just did not like me.

If that was the truth, then I would stop loving them too.

Our first dinner at Valemont Lake was held at an upscale restaurant tucked away among the trees along the lakeshore.

The table was covered with beautifully presented dishes.

As I stared absently at the food, Dad suddenly turned to me.

“Rhea, I was too harsh this afternoon. Are you still upset?”

My fingertips trembled. I had not expected him to care how I felt.

I had already gone numb inside, yet my throat still tightened.

He stood and placed a bite of food on my plate.

“I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?”

I looked down and saw a shrimp sitting on my plate.

The fragile warmth that had begun to rise inside me froze solid in an instant.