When Chloe came back downstairs wearing the dress I treasured most, my blood ran cold.
"You've never worn it since I gave it to you,"
Ethan said, as if that explained everything.

"Chloe can wear it for now."
I gave a weak, bitter smile.
I hadn't worn it because it was too precious.
It was the only birthday gift Ethan had ever given me.
After he found out about my crush on him, the gifts stopped.
That dress was my secret treasure.

But now, I just nodded numbly.
"Fine. It doesn't fit me anymore. I was going to get rid of it anyway."
For the next few days, Chloe was constantly draped over Ethan, their public displays of affection clearly meant for me.
The day he officially proposed to her, I was so distracted that I got into a car accident.

I was fine, but a passerby insisted on taking me to the hospital.
They came to visit me as a group.
Chloe's face immediately crumpled.
"Ethan, do you think… do you think Sophia did this on purpose? Because we got engaged?"
"It's all my fault," she whimpered. "If I hadn't pushed you to propose, this never would have happened…"
"It has nothing to do with you," Ethan soothed her.
"Don't overthink it. I ordered you that milkshake you like. It should be here. Why don't you go get it?"
The moment Chloe was gone, Ethan's face hardened.
"Sophia, did you really have to pull a stunt like this on our engagement day? Are you that desperate to break us up? I told you to give it up! There will never be anything between us!"
I just smiled faintly.
"You're mistaken, Ethan. I only see you as a brother. And my accident had nothing to do with you."
He didn't believe me.
"Chloe and I are getting married soon," he said, his voice softer but still firm.
"If you know what's good for you, you'll find a boyfriend and get over me."
"I already have one," I said.
"You don't have to lie!" he snapped, an irrational anger flaring in his eyes.
Just then, Chloe returned with the milkshakes.
She smiled as she handed one to me, deliberately flashing the diamond ring on her finger.
"Sophia, just give it up. The more you act out, the more Ethan will hate you. See this? I'm the only one he loves. He put this ring on my finger himself. It's over."
As they were leaving, Ethan gave me one last, long look.
"And even if you don't have a boyfriend, it doesn't matter. You're Jake's sister, which makes you my sister. As long as you drop these ridiculous fantasies, I can take care of you for the rest of your life."
At his words, Chloe shot me a look of pure venom, though she quickly masked it.
"That's right. You can think of me as your sister, too. Ethan and I will both look after you."
But I wasn't lying.
I really did have a boyfriend.
My gaze softened as I looked at the gardenia on my bedside table.
A gift from Daniel White.
At first, I had only agreed to the date to appease my brother.
But when I got to the coffee shop, I realized Daniel was the man from the club.
I blushed, but he just chuckled, backing me into a corner.
"Shy now? You weren't so shy the other night."
I was ready to die of embarrassment and never speak to him again, but a few days later, I was followed by a creep on my way home from work.
Daniel appeared out of nowhere, landed a few solid punches, and drove me home.
"I thought you were an escort," I said in the car.
He glanced at me, one eyebrow raised.
"Who told you that? You were the one who was so desperate you grabbed the first man you saw. You're lucky I was there inspecting my club that night. Who knows what kind of creep you might have ended up with."
I punched his arm, and he caught my hand, pulling it into his lap.
"Sophia, I've liked you for a long time. Be my girlfriend."
Even the car accident had been because of him.
He'd told me he was planning to propose, and I'd been so lost in thought that I hadn't looked before crossing the street.
Every time I thought of his face, a quiet joy bloomed in my chest.
After I was discharged, I was out of the house from dawn till dusk.
One night, I came home late to find Ethan waiting for me by the door.
His expression was complicated.
"Sophia, have you been avoiding me?"
I blinked, then laughed. "You must be overthinking."
But he blocked my path, his hand shooting out to grip my wrist.
"You'd better be. Chloe and I are getting married soon. I'm warning you, don't try anything stupid."
I pulled my hand away.
"I wish you a long and happy marriage," I said sincerely.
His expression finally softened, but then his eyes fell to my neck, and his face contorted.
"Who did that? Don't tell me it was mosquitos again."
It was a kiss mark Daniel had insisted on leaving that afternoon, a way of "claiming his territory."
Before, I would have hidden it, but now, I had nothing to hide.
"I don't think that's any of your business."
His face grew even darker.
I walked past him, not noticing Chloe hiding in the shadows, her face pale with jealousy.
The next day, I got a text from Daniel.
"My treasure, I'm taking you somewhere special."
I was about to head out when I saw Chloe in the backyard, playing on my old swing set.
"Sophia!" Ethan's voice called out.
I ignored it and left.
But when I got home that night, he kicked my bedroom door open, his face a mask of fury. He slapped me, hard.
"Sophia, how could you be so vicious? Just because Chloe used your swing set, you had to sabotage it to make her fall? She's in the hospital now. Are you happy now?"