"If you'd been a little more sensible, you wouldn't have gotten Dad so worked up." Sean seemed genuinely relieved, even a little surprised that I didn't snap back. "Ophie, just try to listen from now on. Dad and I are your family. Everything we do is for your own good."

I clenched my jaw and nodded slightly, though I thought to myself, "As if there's still a future for me."

Marcus stepped forward, carrying a birthday cake. "Ophie, don't be upset. Happy birthday."

He looked calm, and I could tell he truly meant it.

"Thanks…"

The bitterness I'd been suppressing surged all at once, spreading through my chest.

This was the guy I'd loved for five years, the one who'd pulled me out of countless dark moments when my family left me gasping for air. And now…

Marcus' face lit up a little. "There's actually something I wanted to talk to you about. Lexi's going on her graduation trip. She'll be by herself, and she's never been as healthy as you.

"I don't feel right letting her go alone, so I'm going with her. Let's put the engagement on hold for now. We'll talk about it after we get back. You can come if you want to. We're leaving early tomorrow."

His words hit me like a punch. I froze, stunned, barely registering anything. I just stared at him, unable to find my voice.

Alexia spoke up. "I remember Ophelia hates traveling. This trip involves hiking and going out to sea for whale watching. It'll be exhausting. She should stay home and rest instead."

She coughed lightly, pretending she was looking out for me, but I knew she just didn't want me to interfere with her and Marcus' private time.

I should've realized it sooner.

From the first time I brought Marcus home, Alexia had always been unusually friendly toward him, and she'd deliberately tried to make me look bad.

At first, he didn't pay her any attention and always stuck by me. But somewhere along the way, his focus had shifted.

Growing up, Alexia couldn't bear to see me happy. If I liked a toy, it would vanish the next day or get destroyed. If a dance instructor praised me in class, I'd find needles hidden in my shoes the following lesson. Any friend who got close to me would cut me off entirely after spending just one recess with her.

So how could Alexia have resisted trying to win over my boyfriend, who everyone admired for his intelligence and good looks?

I should have expected this by now. Whether Marcus had really changed or not, it didn't matter anymore.

Marcus nudged me lightly, a hint of impatience on his face. "Ophie, say something! It's just a postponement, not a cancellation—"

"Fine."

I cut him off, keeping my voice calm. "I'm not going on the graduation trip. The engagement doesn't need to be postponed either. Marcus, we're done."

He froze, then panicked. "Ophie, I'm just going on the trip with Lexi. You can come as well! After all these years, does it matter if the engagement is delayed by a couple of weeks? Why are you making a big deal out of this?"

Dad slammed his hand on the table. "You let a few nice words go straight to your head. We're family, yet all you think about is yourself. Marcus just wants to go with Lexi, and you're threatening to break up with him over that? Honestly, someone like him is way out of your league."

I turned on my heel and started walking away.

Sean called after me, "Ophie! Lexi has never gone anywhere alone. Marcus has friends abroad, and he's just being helpful. Don't you care about Lexi at all?"

Marcus' frustrated voice followed. "Ophelia, why are you being so stubborn? You think I'd go this far if it weren't for you?"

I whirled around, facing the four people before me. Some of them were on their feet, while the others were seated. Yet they all wore expressions of anger and disappointment.

I couldn't hold it in any longer. Bursting into tears, I grabbed the table and flipped it over in a fit of anger.

"Then go ahead! Marcus, I hope you and Alexia will be happy together! Till death do you part!"

I bolted for the door, desperate to get as far away from them as possible.

But I hadn't even taken two steps when Sean grabbed me, and a loud slap landed across my face.

Sean raised his voice. "Ophelia! Mom died because of you, and now you're even cursing Lexi to die? You're heartless. How could you be this vicious?"

He usually seemed calm, but the moment Alexia was involved, all restraint vanished. He'd hit me with full force. For a moment, the world went dark, and I reeled, barely able to stay upright.

The taste of blood filled my mouth. I swallowed hard, forcing it down, until my vision slowly cleared again.

Lexi.

Ophelia.

Her name was always said with warmth.

Mine was spoken flat, without feeling.

Why was I even struggling?

I let out a bitter laugh and watched Alexia run toward me, tears streaming down her face.

"Sean, don't hit her," she said, feigning concern as she brushed a hand across my cheek. "Does it hurt? Ophie, I never meant to come between you and Marcus. If you don't want him to go with me, he won't. Don't get mad…"

She spoke sweetly, but her hand pressed hard against my swollen cheek, her eyes shining with clear satisfaction.

The pain drove me to shove her away. I hadn't even used much force, yet she suddenly staggered backward and fell hard.

Sean and Marcus cried out at the same time and rushed forward. The shards of porcelain on the floor sliced into her calf.

Dad stormed over, fury etched across his face. "You ungrateful brat! I don't know what I did to deserve a daughter like you! It's because we've been too soft on you that you've gotten completely out of control, even going so far as to hurt your own sister!"

Marcus looked at me with disappointment and called his private doctor immediately.

Sean chimed in, backing Dad up. "Dad, Ophelia has gone too far. If we don't punish her, she'll never learn!"

Then he added, "The doctor's here. Marcus, take Lexi out and make sure that cut doesn't get infected."

Marcus nodded, scooped Alexia into his arms, and left without so much as a glance at me.

Dad glared at me one last time before following them. As Sean reached the door, he suddenly turned and called for a few servers.

"Extend our reservation for another day. After we leave, lock the doors. Don't worry about her."

The servers exchanged uneasy glances. "Sir… what if something happens?"

Sean snapped impatiently, "Nothing's going to happen! Unlock the doors tomorrow morning. She needs to learn a lesson tonight. I'll pay double, so don't bother about anything else."

Left with no choice, the servers complied.

The heavy doors of the banquet hall shut with a dull, final thud.

Dragging my aching body, I staggered to the door, just in time to hear Sean's cold voice. "Stay put and think about what you've done. When you've learned your lesson, we'll let you out."

"No…"

The word barely made it past my throat. I couldn't force out anything more.

The allergic reaction spread through me, making my body swell. The cancer spread unchecked. It felt like thousands of ants crawling beneath my skin.

Suffocation… Pain… Relentless itching and numbness…

I regretted everything.

My deepest regret was ever becoming part of this family.

My senses slowly faded, one by one, until the last tear slid down my cheek.

I didn't know how much time had passed before my eyes finally closed.

Third-Person Point of View

Alexia wasn't seriously hurt. There was just a small cut on her leg, but it still had all three men on edge.

When she heard that Sean had locked Ophelia up, a sly little smile curved her lips. She clung to Wesley's arm, playfully fluttering her lashes.

"I'm fine. I can still go on the trip with Marcus tomorrow, right? You promised me, Dad."

Unable to resist her, Wesley gave in with a fond sigh.

Seeing him relent, Alexia pressed on. "I still haven't finished packing. Since everyone's here, you can help me decide which clothes and jewelry I should take with me."

The maid laid out Alexia's clothes and accessories one by one. She picked up a diamond necklace, then a pair of pearl earrings.

"Sean gave me this for my birthday. I have to take it.

"And this was picked out by Dad… I have to take it too."

Five or six suitcases sat open in front of her, and she looked determined not to leave until they were filled to the brim.

Marcus' patience wore thin, and he frowned. "Lexi, you don't need all these diamonds, pearls, and fancy dresses for a trip. All of this will only weigh you down."

Alexia blinked, puzzled. "But all these things are important to me! I want to take amazing photos that will make everyone envious. I can't leave anything behind."

Wesley yawned and finally said, "Marcus is right. Just take what you like and leave the rest. They aren't going anywhere."

Sean nodded in agreement. "Listen to him, Lexi. When you get back, I'll get you new bags and jewelry."

Alexia's smile faltered. "I said I wanted to take a bodyguard, but you said no. Now you're saying I can't even take the things I love? What's the point of traveling at all, then?"

Marcus' brow furrowed. "So you can't go on a trip without jewelry? Ophelia loved traveling the most, and yet she'd just grab a bag and go all the time. She never made things this complicated."

The room fell quiet. They'd never gotten Ophelia designer bags or jewelry before.

Alexia's eyes widened. "Marcus, are you calling me difficult?"

Marcus hesitated, then turned to Sean. "Has Ophie come back yet?"

Sean had locked Ophelia in the restaurant after Marcus had left.

"I locked her in the restaurant to teach her a lesson," Sean said, checking the time. "They'll let her out in a couple of hours, and she'll come home on her own."

Marcus' eyes flicked to the seafood soup the maid had brought over. Suddenly, he remembered something. "Did you leave any allergy medicine for Ophie? She's allergic to seafood."

Sean froze. "I… I was rushing Lexi to the hospital. I forgot about that…"

Wesley stood up. "Go get her now. She'll be fine."

Seeing everyone's attention shift away from her, Alexia finally lost it.

"What are you talking about? Ophelia and I are twins! I'm not allergic to seafood, so how could she be? She's obviously faking it to get your attention!"

Marcus immediately instructed the maid to prepare Ophelia's allergy medicine. "Lexi, keep packing. I'll check on Ophelia first and come back to help you finish."

Alexia shrieked, "Dad! Sean! Look at what Marcus is doing!"

Sean's face darkened. "Lexi, we're just making sure Ophie's safe. You've had enough attention for now. The trip to the restaurant won't take more than an hour. Stop being so unreasonable."

Wesley nodded in agreement.

Alexia grabbed Sean's arm, refusing to let go. "You're all lying! You said I was the most important to you, and now no one cares about me! Why? Because of that brat? Even if she's allergic, she's not dead. She can take care of herself!"

As she grew more panicked, the sweet, gentle facade she'd carefully crafted slipped.

Marcus froze. "Lexi, Ophie is your sister and my girlfriend. Not some brat!"

Without another word, the three men got in the car and sped off toward the restaurant.

After Alexia's hysterics, the atmosphere in the car was tense and uncomfortable.

Sean muttered suddenly, "Ophie's hardly ever sick. Maybe Lexi's right. She's not really allergic. She just wants us to feel guilty."

He lowered his voice, muttering to himself, "If she's okay this time, I'll get her a birthday gift as well."

Wesley leaned back in his seat, nodding slightly. Meanwhile, Marcus stayed silent as he sped through the roads.

When they reached the restaurant, a small crowd had gathered and were talking among themselves.

One sharp-eyed server recognized Sean and hurried over, handing him a crumpled piece of paper.

"Mr. Cavanaugh, this woman with late-stage cancer is your family, right? She… passed away earlier this morning."