Jolted back to the present, I fixed my gaze on Andrea. "Sorry, can't make it. I've got a business trip lined up right after this."

Her hand shot out to clutch mine, and she pleaded, "Come on. This is our one special day together every year. Are you really going to skip it?"

Andrea was away at art school most of the time, and our 'sisterly' moments were rare, making her plea even more manipulative.

Brent's face darkened with disapproval. "Andrea is bending over backward here, and you're gonna play hardball?"

Fiona pulled Andrea into a protective embrace, sparing me not even a glance. "Only Andrea would bother to include you. What kind of dead-end job drags you away on a birthday?"

My career wasn't flashy. I ran an online clothing boutique.

In the early days, I'd rise before dawn to source inventory, often standing at my stall until dusk without a single sale.

Then I'd ridden the e-commerce boom, scaling up into a thriving business that lifted our family out of hardship.

Andrea burrowed deeper into Fiona's arms. "Ease up on Claudia. She is the breadwinner of our family."

Her words were like gasoline on Brent's macho pride, his face contorting as veins pulsed in his forehead.

"Breadwinner? What's a few bucks from peddling rags gonna do?" he snorted.

My eyes met Andrea's, and I caught the triumphant sparkle in them.

She always knew how to stoke his ego into a blaze, but I kept my tone neutral, refusing to take the bait. "Yeah, maybe I got ahead of myself."

Andrea had mastered the art of puppeteering our parents since childhood.

When she whined about school cafeteria food, they yanked her out for home-cooked meals, while I, enrolled in the same school, got stuck as a boarder.

My dorm mates assumed I hailed from some distant town, unaware that my home was a mere mile away.

As the distance grew, so did the emotional chasm between my parents and me. I became a ghost in my own family.

I pivoted to leave, but Fiona hurried after me, tugging at my sleeve. "Claudia, are you upset? Birthdays are for family time. Put work aside for a while."

"I'm not," I replied, my words clipped and emotionless.

The room fell silent, shock rippling across their faces.

That was because, in my past life, I'd have erupted, yelling, slamming doors, and shattering vases for their attention.

Now, their opinions held no power over me.

Fiona shifted uncomfortably. She fished out a dainty bracelet and slid it onto my wrist with forced enthusiasm. "Don't think we play favorites. You're our daughter, too. We love you both equally."

Her words rang hollow.

No sooner had they settled than a deliberate clatter echoed from the table.

Andrea clutched her hand, whining, "Ow! This bracelet is way too clunky. It bashed my hand."

Her smug glance at me spoke volumes.

The burn on my hand from the wax still throbbed, but I ignored it, slipping out as they swarmed around her in a frenzy of concern.

I had just arrived home when my phone buzzed.

It was my best friend, Joyce Roy, her voice tentative on the line. "Claudia, about that guy I mentioned last time... you up to meeting him?"

She paused, then confessed, "Honestly, I already showed him your picture, and he's totally smitten. I get that you and Steven are engaged, but let's be real. Anyone can see he's not treating you right."

"Sure, why not? Set it up," I replied without hesitation.

Joyce paused, then squealed with delight. "Hallelujah, you've finally seen the light! Wait for my good news."

Just then, a pair of arms encircled me from behind, pulling me close.

"What's the big excitement about?" a familiar voice murmured.

I knew it was Steven without turning, but I wriggled free from his hold, stepping away.

"Nothing important." I shrugged.

The chill in my voice caught him off guard.

He tried to probe further, but his phone pinged with a notification from Andrea's social media.

In the post, she posed cozily between our parents, the trio radiating joy as if they were the only family that mattered.

[Swim plans fell through today, but who needs that when you've got your loved ones? PS: My hand is killing me. Fingers crossed for zero bad vibes this year.]

Steven's face flushed crimson as he jabbed a finger at me. "You know Andrea counts on that annual swim with you. Why did you flake out this time? And what about her hand? Was that your doing? She is your sister. How could you hurt her like that?"

In my past life, he'd been chomping at the bit to crash my birthday dinner. I'd naively thought it was about bonding with me and my family.

Only later did I piece it together. Despite my repeated reminders that my real birthday was a week earlier, he clung to today's date.

It wasn't a mix-up of calendars, but of people.

His face contorted with rage. This wasn't the first time he'd unleashed on me like this.

Once I'd brought him into the family fold, our alone time evaporated. He'd always insist, "Let's include Andrea. She'd be so lonely otherwise."

Our romantic outings devolved into me trailing behind their laughter. Even movie nights had her wedged between us on the couch.

We'd bickered endlessly about it, but he'd brush me off with a sneer. "She is your sister. I'm just being nice. Why are you so paranoid?"

To him, I was the bitter shadow of Andrea's radiant light. Pampered and adored, she could never be at fault.

His casual indifference only amplified my supposed pettiness. Joyce had spotted his lack of commitment ages ago, but in my previous life, I'd ignored the red flags and buried my doubts.

This time around, I was done with him.

"Yeah, I guess that's just who I am," I replied flatly.

Steven's accusing finger hung suspended in mid-air.

Coming to his senses, he let out a derisive snort. "Forget the birthday gift. You don't deserve it. I'll pass it to Andrea as an apology on your behalf."

Little did he know that I was aware he'd never gotten me anything. This was just a convenient excuse. To him, I was a fool he could string along.

He bolted out, his face etched with urgency.

Moments later, my phone chimed with a message from Joyce.

[Date set for three days from now.]

...

I arrived fashionably late to Andrea's art exhibition.

From across the room, I spotted her linked arm-in-arm with Steven, posing for the press like Hollywood royalty.

When a reporter asked about their relationship, Andrea blushed coyly. Steven just gazed at her, his expression dripping with fondness.

The reporter nodded knowingly, jotting notes.

Nearby, my parents observed the scene, their faces glowing with pride.

As I drew nearer, Fiona's voice carried over the hum of the crowd. "Don't they just look perfect together?"

Brent nodded with a wistful sigh. "Steven is a catch. It's a shame he's stuck with Claudia."

Fiona's tone turned regretful. "If not for his fertility issues, Claudia wouldn't stand a chance."

Brent scanned the area warily, hushing her. "Shush! That's hardly something to shout about. Good thing we peeked at his medical report. His family is loaded, and his parents expect grandkids. You really want Andrea to go through IVF hell?"

Fiona exhaled heavily. "You're right. She is too fragile for that ordeal."

My fingers trembled uncontrollably, and I staggered backward.

A deafening crash erupted as a framed painting dislodged from the wall, tumbling down and gashing my ankle. Blood welled up, soaking my shoe in warm stickiness.

Fiona whirled around at the noise, her eyes widening in alarm. "Claudia? When did you get here?"

I bit back the throbbing agony in my leg. "Just got now."

Relieved, she forced a smile. "Your dad and I had a chat. We're concerned about you rattling around in that apartment alone. We've got space to spare now. Why don't you move back?"

It was her classic move, offering crumbs to ease her guilt.

I shook my head. "It's fine. I've bought a house. It's all set up and ready."

Brent's expression soured. "Well, look at you, all grown up and independent. Buying property without so much as a heads-up to your folks?"

His words hung unfinished as a stinging slap connected with my cheek, nearly sending me reeling.

Steven's glare was venomous. "Are you here to sabotage Andrea's day? Can't see her in the limelight? Forget the wedding! I'd have nightmares sleeping beside someone so twisted."

I laughed bitterly, pulling out my marriage certificate and waving it before him. "Funny thing. I had no intention of marrying you either."

The whole room froze.