Just as I expected, I couldn’t open the door when I got home. The smart door lock had erased my fingerprint, and the code had been changed.

Undoubtedly, this was their way of pressuring me, hoping I’d just give up.

Inside, the villa was shaking with loud music. I could see Rachel dancing, surrounded by Elijah and Alex, her laughter echoing through the room.

She flopped onto the couch, pretending to catch her breath, then said with a mock-concerned look, “Isn’t this a bit much? What if Nina gets upset later?”

From the window, I watched Elijah hand her a towering four-tiered cake, grinning.

“Come on, it’s a big day!” he laughed, brushing her comment aside. “Make a wish!”

Watching them like that, I couldn’t help but remember my birthday. They’d completely forgotten about it, deciding instead to spend the day out somewhere else.

Meanwhile, I’d waited at home, candles burning, dishes going cold, the cake melting—all while waiting like an idiot. When they finally showed up, they handed me a tiny, four-inch cake, barely looking me in the eye.

It’s funny how they’ve forgotten that they once begged me to celebrate birthdays with them.

I turned away from the window and sat by the door, letting the cold night air cut across my face. I shivered, the fever creeping over me, fogging my thoughts.

In that daze, I instinctively dialed their number. But they didn’t pick up.

I sank to the ground with a bitter laugh as the realization hit hard.

'From now on, I won’t rely on Elijah and Alex for anything.'

When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed with an IV drip in my arm. Elijah rushed over, looking concerned.

“Nina, how’re you feeling?” he asked, his voice full of worry.

Alex stood nearby, rubbing the back of his neck, a guilty look on his face. “We meant to let you in, Nina. We just… forgot.”

I almost laughed.

If they’d really forgotten, then I didn’t matter to them. But I couldn’t bring myself to care anymore.

I shook my head, managing a soft smile. “It’s fine. I understand.”

They looked stunned, and for a moment, my calmness made them uneasy. Maybe they expected me to get angry, to demand that they choose between Rachel and me.

But I just didn’t have the energy.

Elijah sat down beside me, looking serious. “We’re not leaving you alone today. We’ll stay and take care of you.”

But barely a minute later, his phone buzzed. Rachel’s voice came through the speaker, sugary-sweet.

“Elijah, I’m freaking out! There’s a cockroach in my house. I can't kill it,” she whimpered.

He hesitated, glancing back and forth between me and the phone.

I forced a smile, my voice calm. “You’re going to go, aren’t you?”

A thick silence hung between us, neither wanting to break it.

With a sigh, I tried to look unbothered. “It’s okay. I’m fine. Go ahead.”

And just like that, they turned and walked out.

At the door, Elijah paused and looked back, smiling to reassure me. “I’ll be back soon. Just wait for me.”

I nodded, putting on a smile like I believed him. “Sure, I’ll wait.”

That night, though, they didn’t come back. Instead, Rachel posted on social media.

In the photo, Elijah and Alex have clay on their faces while they work on a sculpture in grubby aprons.

The caption read:

[All this for one plate I wanted, and they brought me here to make it myself! We’ve made, like, a hundred, and they’re still not satisfied. It’s exhausting, honestly!]

I clicked the like button, feeling strangely numb.

'It’s fine. If you three are that close, I hope you stay together forever.'

After finishing my IV drip, I headed home alone. The door code had been reset so I could get in, but the house was empty. A glance at the clock showed it was already one in the morning, and they were still off somewhere, wrapped up in their little world.

The next day, around noon, I was heading downstairs just as they walked in.

The moment Alex saw me, he froze, looking flustered and fumbling for words. “Nina… you’re back! Why didn’t you give us a call? We could’ve picked you up!”

Elijah quickly chimed in, trying to sound casual. “Yeah, exactly! We were actually working on something for you yesterday. We wanted it to be a surprise.”

When they finally showed me this “gift,” my heart dropped. The plates were just leftovers from yesterday’s project—raw, unfinished, and most hadn’t even been fired. Evidently, I was only worth whatever Rachel didn’t want in their eyes.

I forced a smile, hiding my disappointment as I took the gift. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

Just then, the doorbell rang, cutting through the awkward silence. They both scrambled to answer it. When the door opened, there was Rachel, holding two big bags of groceries and flashing a bright smile.

“Nina! I heard you were sick yesterday, and I was just so worried,” she said as she walked in. “I thought I’d come to check on you. Sick people should really eat light, so I’ll cook for you!”

Without waiting for a response, she made a beeline for the kitchen. Elijah immediately grabbed an apron and tied it around her waist while Alex washed the vegetables.

Watching them together in the kitchen, laughing and moving around easily, I felt an unexpected pang. The scene was so serene and cordial, making me suddenly feel like a stranger in my home.

Sitting at the table, I glanced over the dishes they’d prepared, feeling a sting of bitter irony—they were all foods I was allergic to. Rachel certainly knew how to hold a grudge.

Standing up politely, I said, “I’m not really hungry. You guys go ahead.”

Rachel’s face fell dramatically, her eyes brimming with feigned tears. “Nina, I made this especially for you. Are you really still mad at me? I know you’ve always had something against me, but you should at least try it. We worked on this all morning.”

So that was her game. Rachel set a trap with food I couldn’t eat. When I still didn’t sit down, Alex’s patience snapped. He slammed my chair on the floor, breaking it to pieces. “Are you done with this attitude?” he shouted. “You’re supposed to be an adult but still act like a spoiled kid!”

He glared at me, his voice sharp. “If you’re not going to eat, then don’t bother coming back. Get out and stop being an eyesore!”

I didn’t argue. Calmly, I picked up my phone and walked out.

Soon, they wouldn’t have the chance to throw me out—I’d be gone for good.

Barely down the street, I got a call from my aunt. “Hi, Nina. How’s everything? Did you ever meet up with that blind date I mentioned? He’s free today. Why don’t you two get together?”

Smiling to myself, I replied, “Sure. Have him send the location.”

Following the address he texted, I arrived at a cozy, warmly lit French restaurant. The date went well.

His name was William Craven. He is polite, humble, good-looking, and even well-off.

By the end, we agreed to meet at the Civil Affairs Bureau in two days to get married, then head abroad for a honeymoon.

Afterward, I wandered the streets, feeling lighter than I had in ages. Suddenly, the sound of cheers and laughter drifted my way.

In the distance, I spotted Elijah and Alex handing Rachel the keys to a luxury villa, beaming as they celebrated. The crowd's murmurs of envy pierced my thoughts.

“I’m so jealous of that girl! If only I had her luck,” someone nearby whispered.

“Yeah, if someone treated me like that, I’d marry him on the spot,” another voice said.

I thought of the cheap, unfinished clay plates they’d given me. The contrast stung as the difference between love and indifference was painfully clear.

Just as I turned to leave, Rachel spotted me.

Her face lit up as she approached, practically glowing with pride.

“Nina, you’re here too! I’ve got amazing news. I finally have a home here!” She grinned. “No more bouncing from place to place.”

An idea sparked, and I replied, “Actually, why don’t you just move into our place? That way, you could live together like one big happy family.”

Rachel’s face went blank for a moment, but before she could respond, Elijah draped an arm around my shoulders, putting on his usual act.

“Now, that’s not possible,” he chuckled. “There are only three bedrooms, and the rest are filled with storage. We can’t exactly kick Nina out, can we?”

Suppressing a laugh, I shrugged off his arm, disgusted by his fake sincerity.

“Excuse me,” I said, walking away without a second glance.

But when I got back home, I was met with an unpleasant surprise. Rachel had already taken over my room, and everything was tossed carelessly in the living room.

Alex didn’t even look up, speaking in an offhanded tone. “The villa has too much formaldehyde. Also, it’s not safe for Rachel yet. You can stay in the attic for a few days.”

I didn’t argue. Instead, I went out onto the balcony and made a call.

“Yes, sir,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “I’ve thought it over carefully and decided to resign.”

As I hung up and turned, I saw Elijah standing there, stunned.

“Resign…?” he stammered, barely able to process it. “You’re resigning?”