Chapter 2 A damp, salty wind blew through the window, stinging my eyes. The truth is my brother had never truly intended to bring me home. Those eight years of being called "bad luck" were just an excuse to keep me outside. All to prevent me from stealing even taking even a bit of the attention he reserved for his precious adopted sister. How ridiculous that I had never doubted him-that I'd been afraid my misfortune would bring him disaster. He could have just told me he didn't want me as a sister. I would have left. But why did he use eight years of lies to trap me in his false concern? Why let me believe, with all my heart, that he loved me? Footsteps approached from inside. I forced back the heat gathering behind my eyes, but it was too late to slip away-Ethan was already opening the door. The moment he saw me, panic flashed in his eyes. "Eleanor... How long have you been here?" My fingers were clenched so tightly that my knuckles stood out white. I looked at him calmly and reminded him, "I just got here. Today is the fifteenth." The fifteenth. The one day each month he promised to have dinner with me. Throughout those eight years living away, he always told me, Even if I couldn't return to the Crawfords yet, I was still their daughter-his one and only precious sister. The fifteenth of every month, the Crawfords families reunite. For eight years, he never missed that day. His expression softened, and he gently ruffled my hair. "You're right. Come on, let's eat." I'd barely taken a bite when the doorbell rang. Amelia had invited herself over. "Ethan, I came specially to have dinner with you and Eleanor!" Before I could refuse, she slipped past me into the apartment. "Wow, so much food! And it's all seafood? You're so good to her, brother. You never cook for me like this." Chapter 2 25.00% She picked up her chopsticks and reached for the food, but I stopped her. "I didn't invite you. Please leave." She froze, lips trembling, eyes wide with hurt. "Brother... I didn't mean any harm. I just wanted to eat with you." My voice was flat. "You get to eat with him twenty-nine days a month. This one day is mine." Ethan frowned, hesitating mid-step. Suddenly, tears spilled down Amelia's cheeks. "I... I see." "You're blood relatives. I'm the outsider who doesn't belong. I'll go." Sobbing, she turned and ran-only to trip over a potted plant at the entrance. Ethan's hand tightened on the shoe cabinet. He strode over and pulled her up, his tone harsh. "Amelia, enough with the drama. Today was always for Eleanor. Who told you to come?" "Don't think that just because Eleanor isn't back yet, you've replaced her as a Crawford." "If you're hurt, go to the hospital yourself. I'm not taking you." Biting her lip, Amelia held back tears until she finally broke and ran off crying. Ethan stared after her, then shut the door firmly and sat back down. "Ignore her, Eleanor. She's been spoiled rotten. I'm not going anywhere tonight." I quietly looked down, noticing he was holding his chopsticks upside down. Within ten minutes, he checked his phone over twenty times. Then came a call-after which he turned to me, full of apology. "Eleanor, something urgent came up at the office. I'll pick you up tomorrow to try on your dress." He left in a hurry before I could respond. I set down my chopsticks and scratched at the hives rising on my arm. The allergy meds in the drawer were gone, so I pulled on a jacket and headed to the hospital. At the stairwell, prescription in hand, I saw her -Amelia, weeping pitifully, with Ethan soothing her in a low voice. Chapter 2 25.00% Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!