Chapter 5

I stood at the door like an absolute clown.

This was my home. My mother was planning a wedding for someone else, and my sister was acting shy over my boyfriend.

"Great. I wish you a smooth engagement tomorrow, and a very quick marriage."

Helen glanced at me, probably thinking I sounded sarcastic, but she was in too good of a mood to care.

"I knew you'd be sensible," she waved me off.

"Anyway, if you don't want to stay here tonight, find a hotel. Just make sure you're back tomorrow for the engagement party. You can't miss your sister's big day."

I didn't answer.

I pulled open the door.

As I stepped out, I heard my mother's voice fade behind me:

"Come on, Chloe, sit next to Caleb. Let me take a picture of you two!"

Followed by Chloe’s giggles—sharp and triumphant.

Since we were kids, Helen had always favored Chloe.

Chloe was born premature, weighing barely three pounds, and spent over a month in an incubator.

She was weak, constantly sick, and Helen shielded her from every hardship.

But me?

I was the older sister.

I had to be mature.

I had to give in.

When I was eighteen, I got into a prestigious university. But Helen claimed we couldn't afford tuition for both of us. She forced me to forfeit my spot so she could pay for Chloe's expensive private college.

When I suggested taking out student loans, Helen slapped me in front of all our relatives, calling me ungrateful.

I cried through the entire summer in a damp rented room, thinking my life was over.

But I refused to give up. I worked during the day and studied at night, taking three years to earn my degree online.

By the time I graduated, I was twenty-four. My peers were already finishing grad school, and I was just starting.

Fortunately, I was a fighter.

I joined my current company as an entry-level clerk. I worked overtime, traveled constantly, took on the toughest clients, and did the work nobody else wanted.

In three years, I made project manager, leading a team of eight. My salary wasn't astronomical, but it allowed me to live a comfortable, dignified life.

Then, I met Caleb.

He was the tech lead at a partner company.

Once we got together, I thought the universe was finally being fair to me.

I thought I found a stable partner.

I invested all my hopes for the future into this relationship.

And the result?

He chose Chloe.

Chloe never had to do anything. She just had to stand there, shed a couple of tears, and she could easily steal everything I worked for.

My mother's love, my family's care, and now, my man.

How ironic.

The elevator hit the lobby.

I checked my phone.

Almost 10 PM.

I hailed an Uber.

"Where to?" the driver asked.

"The nearest Marriott, please," I said.

At the hotel, I checked in, shut the door to my room, and collapsed onto the soft bed.

Five years with Caleb.

He had started coming home late recently.

I genuinely believed he was busy. I never checked his phone or snooped through his messages.

I knew all his passwords, but I respected his privacy because I trusted him.

Yet, he used my trust to steal my sister's contact info from my phone.

They had been fooling around while I was busy planning our wedding.

I closed my eyes, burying my face in the pillow.

Mother, sister, boyfriend.

None of them were reliable.

Only I could save myself.