Chapter 3

When Dad was getting ready to leave for Chloe's place, he gently took my hand.

"Wait for me to get back."

"I still remember that little townhouse you liked. Once Dad saves up more money, we'll go look at it together."

I stared down at the ring on my finger, momentarily dazed.

It was an heirloom ring from Dad's father, who'd put it in my hand himself.

He had been dead for five years.

Over those five years, Dad had been completely indifferent to my life.

Two years ago, when I was saving to buy a place, I tried showing him listings. He was too busy texting in Chloe's family chat to care.

He had merely glanced up and muttered, "All houses look the same."

"Just handle it yourself."

Yet now, he suddenly remembered the exact place I had loved.

It took me a long time to manage a faint, "Okay."

Chloe ran over holding her phone up on FaceTime, deliberately speaking loudly.

"Hey, everyone! Look at Dad. He's still trying to talk his way out of this!"

"Summer is something else, though. Dad can't even step out the door without her needing reassurance."

"When I wanted to upgrade my car, I didn't even ask Dad for a whole speech."

Through the screen, Dad's relatives chuckled.

"Didn't your dad just buy you a car?"

"What, you want another one already?"

One of them hinted openly, "Well, there are so many new electric cars with autopilot features out now. Just have your dad get you one of those!"

Chloe flushed, grinning.

Then she turned to me.

"Summer, don't overthink it."

"Dad just worries about my safety on the road!"

Her lips curved into a smug smile, her eyes flashing with pure condescension.

"Even though Dad picked me in every single draw, I'm sure he loves you too."

I glanced at Dad.

He just wore an amused, indulgent smile, staring at Chloe with fond eyes.

During my first year working, he had taken me to meet those relatives.

One of them had made a bet right in front of me, sneering that I wouldn't last long in the family.

"She looks stubborn and aloof. Nowhere near as sweet and generous as Chloe."

Back then, Dad's face had darkened instantly.

He had told them, "Chloe is sweet, yes."

"But Summer is the daughter I owe the most to in this life."

"I won't let anyone badmouth her in front of me!"

Yet now, he stood by and laughed while they humiliated me.

Whatever faint warmth had sparked in my chest was instantly extinguished by a bucket of ice water.

My eyes burned, but I kept my face utterly calm.

"I know that," I said evenly. "Otherwise, why would I be the one drawn to get the house fund today?"

Chloe choked on her words.

The relatives on the video call immediately started buzzing with questions, but she glared and slammed the red end-call button.

A bitter irony washed over me.

Wasn't she the beloved golden daughter?

Why react so defensively?

"Alright, Summer, that's enough," Dad finally snapped. "Chloe was just joking. Why do you always have to blow things out of proportion?"

Those words drove into my ears like icy spikes.

The thread of restraint holding my sanity together snapped clean in half.

When Chloe flaunted their bond and weaponized his relatives against me, he said nothing.

When Chloe rubbed their closeness in my face, he offered no explanation.

I had merely stated an objective fact, and suddenly I was the one "blowing things out of proportion."

I pressed my lips together and fell completely silent.