Ariana raised her hand like she was about to hit herself, but George quickly stopped her. He shot me an angry look.

"Tamsin, she already apologized. Can you stop making a big deal out of this?"

Mom got even angrier in my head. "That little brat! My girl hasn't said a single word, and this whole thing is just that little actress putting on a show. Sweetheart, don't you let this slide again!"

I had always listened to Mom.

So I raised my hand and shoved Ariana hard. Then I looked at George. "This is what 'making a big deal' looks like. My mom taught me that."

Sitting on the ground, Ariana was completely stunned.

George was just as shocked. A flicker of anger showed on his young face. "Tamsin, you…"

I then shoved him too. "This is what crossing the line looks like."

Ever since I'd known him, I had always gone along with whatever he wanted. I had never pushed back.

That one move completely threw him off.

George stared at me in disbelief, his face flushing red with anger. "Fine. Fine. You've got guts. Just don't regret this later. Ariana, I'll take you to the infirmary."

Mom scoffed coldly. "Not a kind word for you, even when you're hurt, yet he's worried about the one who ran into you. If you really bring someone like that into your family, that's when you'd regret it. Oh, my poor girl… that must hurt so much."

I looked down at my scraped, bleeding palms, and the hurt I'd been holding in finally spilled over.

Every time I got hurt before, George would panic, wishing he could take the pain for me. Maybe that concern hadn't all been fake. But now, he didn't even see my injuries. All he cared about was protecting Ariana.

Even if he really became my brother, it would probably just end tragically all over again, the same way as Mom said.

I wiped my tears and went to the infirmary to have a nurse treat the scrapes on my hands.

A few nurses were gathered by the window, peering out toward the playground. Curious, I looked too.

Ariana and George were hiding behind the basketball hoop, whispering to each other. Then, Ariana tugged on his sleeve, acting cute.

"George, if Tam finds out you pretended to lose your memory just so you could hang out with me, she'll definitely get mad."

George casually ruffled her hair. "So what if she gets mad? She likes me the most anyway. Even if I pretend not to remember, she'll still come begging to be my friend."

"In your dreams!" Mom snapped in my head. "My girl didn't pick you this time. Just wait until the announcement. You won't be so smug then!"

My face scrunched up unhappily as I clutched my bandaged hand and headed back to class.

Suddenly, screams broke out across the playground.

"Some older kids are fighting! Go get a teacher!"

The whole place descended into chaos.

I instinctively tried to run, but one of the older boys crashed into me, knocking me to the ground. The broomstick in his hand swung toward my head.

Though I had learned a few self-defense moves from Dad, I was still small and not strong enough. When I saw George notice the commotion, I shouted, "George! Help me!"

He was about to come over, but Ariana grabbed his arm tightly. "George, I'm scared. Don't go, okay?"

That moment of hesitation was enough for the broomstick to strike my arm, reopening my freshly bandaged wound. Blood seeped through, and the pain made my eyes water.

"This is outrageous! That brat's fake amnesia has wiped out his conscience too! After everything you've done for him, he just stands there and lets you get hurt!" Mom fumed.

I could barely stand, but I forced out one last cry, "George, it hurts… Please help me!"

Before I could finish, Ariana suddenly screamed.

Another older kid had rushed toward them. George immediately pulled Ariana behind him, and without looking back, he ran off with her.

I watched their backs disappear, my chest aching like it was being stabbed.

Even if he didn't like playing with me anymore, we had grown up together. When things got dangerous, why wouldn't he even help me?

Suddenly, someone rushed over and kicked the older boy away from me.

Clyde pulled me to my feet and shielded me as he hurried me toward the school building. "Let's go!"

By the time the teachers arrived and broke up the fight, I was still shaken. Sitting by the flower bed, I trembled.

Clyde silently handed me a bottle of water, his expression complicated.

I noticed his sleeve had been torn open during the chaos, revealing a scar underneath.

"Your arm…" I said softly.

He quickly pulled his sleeve down. "It's nothing. Drink some water."

I thanked him quietly, warmth rising in my chest.

The incident quickly reached Dad. He was furious and went straight to confront the families of those boys.

The Rogers family immediately grounded Ariana at home as punishment and even sent over a box of imported chocolates as an apology.

That night, George came to see me, but he clearly didn't want to be there. He tossed a bag of snacks onto the table.

"Tamsin, what happened today wasn't Ariana's fault," he said. "Why did you get her grounded?"

I raised my bandaged arm. "Look carefully."

George froze for a second, then argued, "But you're fine, aren't you? Everyone knows your dad dotes on you, so someone would've helped you anyway. But Ariana only has me to protect her."

He added, "You saw it too. She almost got hit today. Please stop targeting her all the time, okay? Go talk to your dad and get her family to stop grounding her. Otherwise, I won't agree to be your brother."

He sounded completely confident, like he was sure I'd give in.

"So shameless!" Mom snapped.

I was completely disappointed in him now, so I didn't even want to argue. "I have homework to do. You should go."

As the housekeeper escorted him out, he angrily shouted, "Tamsin, you'll regret this!"

Dad hosted a lively gathering at the military hall and invited all the kids.

I wore my favorite floral dress and walked in, only to be surprised to see Ariana there too. She was supposed to be grounded, yet she was here in a brand-new dress, smugly making faces at me.

"George must've gotten her out. Funny how he never went this far for you in the past life," Mom said, scoffing.

When George saw me, he immediately turned away and started laughing loudly with Ariana on purpose.

The other kids whispered among themselves.

"Why is George ignoring Tam? Is he sticking with Ariana now?"

"Doesn't Tam like George the most? She's definitely going to pick him as her brother, right?"

Clyde stood quietly in the corner. When he heard them, he shot them a cold look, and they quickly scattered.

Dad smiled and led me to the center of the stage, handing me a small red megaphone. "Tam, today you'll tell everyone yourself who you've chosen as your brother."

"Okay."

I took the megaphone and noticed George staring at me nervously, while Ariana clutched his sleeve tightly.

I gave him a small smile, took a deep breath, and spoke clearly. "Thank you all for coming to my ceremony!"

The hall fell silent with all eyes on me.

George straightened unconsciously. Ariana tugged at his sleeve, looking uneasy.

My clear voice echoed through the hall. "Now, I'm going to announce that my brother is…"