"Celeste Simmons, Effie didn't do it on purpose. Just go grab yourself a chair. There's no need to make her feel bad about it."
Always the same.
Patrick always sided with Effie. Completely. Unconditionally.
But the strange thing was—I genuinely felt nothing.
I couldn't even understand why I'd once fought my sister so bitterly over him.
"Mr. Stephens, I haven't said a single word yet."
Patrick blinked.
In the past, my eyes would've already been red. I would've been screaming, calling Effie a manipulative little snake.
"Sis, you're upset."
Effie's eyes glistened as she stepped forward and grabbed my hand. "Please don't be angry. I'll go get you a chair."
She turned to fetch one, but Patrick caught her wrist and pulled her back.
He looked down at me.
"This is the Stephens house. Not a place for you to throw your weight around.
"If you don't want to get your own chair, then don't bother eating."
A few of the staff couldn't hold back their laughter.
I heard someone whisper, "Just watch. She'll go grab that chair herself, tail wagging."
"Oh, please. She'd swallow any insult just to sit a little closer to him."
"No need."
I let out a quiet laugh.
"I only came to deliver my parents' gift to your family. I wasn't planning to stay for dinner.
"Besides, I have somewhere to be. Enjoy your meal."
Patrick looked at me like I was a stranger.
I didn't bother with him. I turned and walked away without looking back.
Effie nestled into Patrick's arms, eyes rimmed red.
"What could be so urgent that she had to leave like that? Does she just... hate me that much? Is that why she wouldn't stay?"
Patrick watched my car pull away, a slight frown creasing his brow.
"Don't take it to heart. A few years studying abroad, and she's gotten a little more sophisticated with her jealousy tactics, that's all."
Effie bit her lip. "You're right. She's learned how to play hard to get now. Sometimes I'm scared that one day you might actually..."
Patrick stroked her hair. "I told you. You're the only one I want."
The truth was, I really did have somewhere to be.
A classmate and I had co-founded a tech startup. There was always something that needed handling. Tonight, I had a dinner meeting with a client.
My business partner texted me:
Heard you're back in the country. Got a BIG surprise for you~
I fired off a quick reply and didn't think much of it.