The Summer I Was Nobody’s Choice Chapter 04

The Summer I Was Nobody’s Choice Chapter 04

As they came toward the living room, I picked up my bowl and went into the kitchen.

My sister headed straight for the fridge.

“Oh my god, I’ve been working nonstop for two weeks. My face is a mess.”

“Move! I need a sheet mask!”

She shoved me hard.

I stumbled, and the bowl in my hand hit the floor with a crack.

But she was the one who screamed. “Ah!”

Footsteps came fast from the hallway.

“What happened?”

Mom walked in and looked my sister up and down first.

Only when she was sure Chloe was unharmed did she glance at the floor.

“It’s just a broken bowl. Clean it up.”

I thought that was the end of it.

But my sister’s eyes filled with tears, and she sniffled, “Nora, why did you block my way? Were you trying to scare me on purpose?”

On purpose.

That word was doing a lot of work.

As if the broken bowl was all my fault, even though she’d seen me standing there.

Mom frowned and whispered, “Don’t cry. You have a press event tomorrow. Your eyes will get puffy.”

I wanted to find a broom, but they were blocking the doorway.

Then Dad and my brother appeared. “What’s going on?”

The circle tightened around my sister, shielding her, shutting me out.

Mom glanced over and said, “Hurry up and pick up the pieces. Don’t cut yourself.”

I looked at my sister. She was smirking at me.

She was punishing me for almost getting her villa, and Mom, Dad, and Ryan were all silently playing along.

I crouched down and started picking up shards with my bare hands.

A sharp edge bit into my palm, and blood welled up, dripping onto the tile.

I didn’t cry out. I just said, “Excuse me.”

Everyone went quiet.

Dad moved first, then my brother.

But it wasn’t over.

“Stop right there.”

“Nora, where are the things from the fridge?”

Mom’s voice was ice, as if I’d been the one who’d emptied it.

I stopped. “I don’t know.”

I didn’t. Grandma Brooks hadn’t told me.

“You don’t know?” My sister’s voice shot up.

“The things in that fridge are limited editions Mom brought back from overseas.”

“I didn’t say you couldn’t use them, but you could’ve at least told me. Taking without asking is stealing. Do you understand?”

Dad frowned at me. “Nora, if you did it, just admit it and apologize.”

My brother patted Chloe’s shoulder. “Don’t get upset. I’ll buy you replacements.”

“This isn’t about buying replacements! This is about someone stealing in our own house!”

Chloe’s face was red with anger.

“And the freezer—Ryan’s stuff and Mom and Dad’s stuff are all gone too!”

The room went rigid.

Everyone stared at me, waiting for an explanation.

Helplessness flooded my chest.

They’d already decided I was guilty. What was the point of explaining?

“How much? I’ll pay.”

I dropped the shards in the trash and pulled out my phone, smearing blood across the screen.

“Is $1,800 enough? That’s my whole paycheck for the month.”

“If not, I’ll put it on my credit card.”

Dad had enough. He waved his hand and herded Mom and Chloe toward the door.

“Forget it. It’s not a big deal. We’ll buy more.”

Soon, I heard the engine start outside.

I stood there for a long time, waiting until the blood on my palm had dried before I went upstairs.

Before I left, I crouched down and opened the freezer. I took out the last bag of pierogis and wrapped it in layers of foil so it wouldn’t thaw.

At the station, Dad tagged me in the WhatsApp group.

Dad: [What do you want to eat? I’ll bring you something.]

I didn’t reply.

I left the WhatsApp group and blocked them all, one by one.

The train started moving, the scenery sliding backward.

I held the frozen pierogis against my chest and didn’t look back.