My sister and I spent over a decade fighting over the same boy next door.

But he always preferred Effie—talented, versatile Effie.

It drove me crazy. I threw myself into learning everything I could, mastering anything that might make him notice me. Just once. Just a glance.

By twenty-five, I'd clawed my way to a degree from MIT and followed it up with an MBA from Harvard.

But the moment I came home, Patrick Stephens pulled his hand away from mine.

"The only one I like is Effie. Stop wasting your time."

I stood frozen.

My best friend pulled out a tissue to wipe my tears.

I dodged her hand, blinking in confusion.

"Why do I find him so... boring?

"Dull. Tedious. Nothing but a pretty face.

"I can't even understand why I liked him in the first place.

"Am I fickle?"

My best friend laughed.

"You're not fickle. You've grown. He just hasn't."

...

Effie Simmons and I stepped out of the car at the same time.

Without warning, Effie stumbled.

Patrick Stephens rushed forward without hesitation and caught her.

She leaned into his arms and shot me a silent smile. Mocking. Triumphant.

Everyone ducked their heads, stifling laughter.

They all knew what came next—the part where I'd yank Effie away, scream at her for faking it, accuse her of stealing Patrick from me.

Then Patrick would lash out, tell me I was being childish, and the whole thing would end with me in tears.

But a moment passed, and I didn't move.

All those years I'd nearly driven myself insane trying to earn one extra look from Patrick Stephens. School, startups, building a media brand. After navigating the cutthroat world of business—after rubbing shoulders with people who shaped policy—

Effie's little stumble?

It was laughable.

"Glad you're not hurt."

My voice was flat, indifferent. I handed a gift bag to one of the staff.

"From my parents, for Mr. and Mrs. Stephens."

Effie's expression soured.

Patrick frowned and glanced at me.

Inside the villa, I noticed the dining room had only four chairs. Mr. Stephens, Mrs. Stephens, and Patrick already accounted for three.

Effie suddenly broke into a smile.

"Oh, sorry, sis. I forgot to mention you were coming too. Your aunt and uncle didn't set a place for you."

"Why are you explaining yourself?"

Patrick turned a cold gaze on me.

"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.

If I'd known what that "surprise" was, I would have told her to cancel it immediately.

I hadn't planned on crossing paths with Patrick again.

But a family elder had a birthday coming up. Our families went way back, so naturally we'd end up at the same party.

When I arrived with a gift in hand, though, what I walked into was no birthday celebration.

It was a proposal.

Patrick was down on one knee.

He spotted me the moment I walked in. The corner of his mouth curled into something mocking.

Then, slowly and deliberately, he slid the diamond ring onto Effie's finger.

"Congratulations!"

My parents were the first to start clapping.

I stared at them, bewildered. "Isn't today Grandpa's birthday?"

"It is! But your grandfather said he wanted to double the celebration."

I frowned. "You were all in that much of a rush to get them engaged? I genuinely thought this was—"

"Ahem." My father cleared his throat. "The reason we kept it from you was precisely because we were afraid you'd ruin it."

"Did you know? Patrick's been appointed national director of Ascend Group."

Ascend?

I froze.

That was the company my partner and I had founded.

"A son-in-law like Patrick doesn't come along every day. Of course we wanted to lock down the engagement as soon as possible. We know you have feelings for him, sweetheart, but you can't force these things. He's never felt that way about you, not in all these years. It's time to let go."

I said nothing.

I lowered my head and texted my partner:

Please tell me the "surprise" isn't Patrick Stephens.

She sent back a sticker of a cartoon face with its tongue out.

We all know you're crazy about him! I personally handled the staffing for the national division. He reports directly to you as director. You two are going to be joined at the hip from now on~ Haha~

I pressed my palm against my forehead.

"Oh my God, isn't that Celeste Simmons? Patrick's little lovesick puppy?"

"No way. It IS her. She actually had the nerve to show up!"

"Look at her face. She looks miserable. I almost feel bad for her. Almost."

The gossip drilled into my skull like a migraine.

I gave up on the party and slipped away to a private room to sort this out with my partner over the phone.

After I'd finished explaining that I no longer had any feelings for Patrick, I opened the door.

A hand shot out and locked around my wrist.

I was yanked into the stairwell.

"Patrick!"

Pain flared through my wrist. He shoved me away from him.

"You saw what happened out there today."

His voice was ice.

I rubbed my aching wrist and stared at him.

"Effie and I are engaged now. It's time you found someone and settled down."

"Settled down?" I let out a cold laugh. "I have no plans to do that anytime soon."

"Do you really have to keep throwing yourself at me?"

I froze.

Then it clicked. He'd gotten the wrong idea.

"What I meant was, I'm not getting married because my career is still taking off."

Patrick stared at me for a long moment.

Then he laughed.

"You don't think that excuse is a little pathetic?"

I blinked.

"The CEO of Ascend Group is a woman about your age. Even she still thinks about settling down. So what exactly are you pretending to be?"

I couldn't argue with that.

Everyone knew I used to be hopelessly lovesick. So now that I'd actually wised up, nobody believed it. Not even my business partner.

"Let me make this crystal clear, Celeste."

He leaned in.

"I didn't like you before, and now that I'm engaged, there's even less chance of that happening. The more you cling, the more I despise you. Unless..."

His eyes narrowed. "You think you can be my side piece?"

In that moment, I couldn't understand my former self more than ever.

This man standing in front of me.

Shallow. Arrogant. Utterly classless.

Why had I ever fought with Effie over him?

A cold laugh escaped my throat.

I shoved him aside and walked away.

My partner came to apologize.

I stood at the banquet, quietly sipping my orange juice.

A sharp whistle.

Seven or eight men settled into the seats around me, boxing me in.

"Well, well. If it isn't the princess herself. Patrick's engagement party, and you actually showed up."

"We were taking bets on whether you'd be too heartbroken to come."

"Looks like the princess is still carrying a torch."

A hand reached over and pinched my dress strap.

I scowled and slapped his hand away. Hard.

"Ooh, a few years studying abroad and she's got a temper now!"

"This isn't like the old days when you were begging us to put in a good word for you, is it?"

Back when I was desperately in love with Patrick, I hadn't just fawned over him. I'd fawned over his entire crew too. Effie was talented in every way imaginable, and I couldn't compete, so my only hope was getting these guys to say something nice about me to Patrick.

I'd memorized all of Patrick's hobbies. But I'd memorized theirs even better. Every holiday, I'd send expensive gifts, just to get them to help me leave a good impression.

Looking back now, I truly couldn't fathom who I used to be.

I simply hadn't known any better.

"Look, Patrick's engaged now. You've lost your shot. You just can't measure up to your sister in his eyes. That's a fact."

"But... it's not completely hopeless."

The man leaned closer. The stench of cigarettes and liquor filled my nostrils.

"Spend one night with us, and we'll put in a good word. Maybe we can get you a spot in Patrick's bed too. How's that sound?"

I tried to pull away.

But fingers clamped down on my chin. "Don't be shy. We'll keep it our little secret."

"Oh? Patrick?"

Someone spotted Patrick walking past.

"Patrick!" I scrambled to my feet, but one of the men yanked me back down onto the couch.

Patrick had heard everything.

"Patrick! Tell your friends to back off!"

A flicker of nervousness crossed their faces. They glanced at each other.

But Patrick just slid his arm around Effie's waist.

His expression was completely blank.

He turned and walked away.

"Patr—"

"Hey, princess." The man pulled me into his arms, gripping my chin. "How are you still not getting it? In Patrick's world, your little sister ranks above us, above a dog, and above you."