I was the only one left out.
Jemima didn't notice my face. Smiling, she walked straight up to Warren.
"Warren, Carrie and I have gone over everything. I've already sent her the actual written-exam questions from the last ten years.
"And I begged my father—he's agreed to mark out the key points for Carrie when the time comes."
"Really?"
Warren's eyes lit up, the corners of his mouth tugging up before he could stop them.
Jemima nodded hard.
Warren looked at me. There was disappointment in his eyes.
"Carolyn, we're all family. Look at Jemima."
Jemima's face went pink. She dropped her head, a little bashful, her gaze sliding once across Warren's face.
"Professor Gilbert is waiting on us. Carolyn, if you won't help, at least don't make trouble."
Jemima and Warren brushed past me. As they passed, Jemima turned her head as if by accident and gave me a look. The corner of her mouth curved into something knowing.
I stood there a long time. Slowly, I picked up my phone.
"Hello, Mr. Sullivan.
"About the university-industry partnership project for the East District development. My subordinate Warren Delgado overstepped his authority and reassigned it to Professor Gilbert.
"It never went through proper review. It could cost the company serious losses.
"I'm requesting an emergency revocation.
"And that I choose the partner myself."
A short silence on the other end.
"Handle it however you see fit."
"Thank you, Mr. Sullivan."
I hung up.
I didn't see them again. I didn't want to look at their faces.
I sat in the office. Outside, it had gone fully dark.
I leaned back in my chair. I still couldn't understand it.
My family—why would they treat me like this?
My phone buzzed. A new video on Jemima's feed.
That was how I found out. There'd been a family dinner.
Jemima sat surrounded by Mom and Dad and the rest of the relatives. And a table loaded with food.
She flashed a peace sign at the camera.
【Passed my grad school exams AND together with my family—waah, I have the best family in the whole world!】
Every seat at that big table was full.
They... hadn't even told me.
Someone was sitting in what used to be my spot.
Jemima turned the camera toward him. Warren smiled and waved at the lens.
Jemima's soft laugh made the frame tremble a little.
I froze.
Even my boyfriend was there?
Dad was the first to like it. His comment:
【The best daughter in the world】
Warren liked it too:
【The best Jemima in the world】
Right after him came Warren's sister, Carrie:
【The best big sister Jemima in the world!】
Everyone celebrating. Everyone leaving me out. And yet the post went up so promptly.
They...
This was punishment.
Just like it had been countless times before. Any time I got upset and threw a fit because Jemima got more, they'd leave me home alone and go off traveling. Even when everyone was in the house, there'd be no bowl and chopsticks set out for me at the table.
Within three days, I'd be crying, begging them to forgive me. Kneeling down, swearing I'd never give my sister a hard time again. Begging them to keep a place for me.
But now.
It suddenly struck me as absurd.
This kind of family bond, one I could only keep by groveling. It was so cheap.
It really...
couldn't be called family at all.
A few days later. The ceremony marking Dad's partnership with the company began.
Warren attended as the company's representative.
He didn't say a word to me about it.
