Chapter 1The Price of a Piano: Erasing the Illegitimate Sister

My dad's old friend entrusted his daughter to our family.

She was outgoing and lively, unlike me, who only knew how to study and take exams, quiet and a woman of few words.

Dad doted on her like his own daughter. My brothers drove her to all the trendy spots for photos and bought her the latest gadgets.

Even my boyfriend, the most popular guy in school, only paid lip service to complaining about her being too clingy and whining too much.

But during every club activity, his eyes would unconsciously drift toward her. For the school anniversary gala, he even changed the song he had promised to sing with me to a four-hand piano duet with her.

I looked down at the program in my hand, my name crossed out, and said calmly.

"Let's break up."

* * *

Arthur's hand froze mid-air. He looked at me in disbelief. Before he could speak, Mia, standing behind him, immediately got teary-eyed.

She was wearing a white gauze dress, identical in style to the performance outfit I had prepared.

"Chloe, please don't blame Arthur. It was me... I wanted to perform at the gala so badly, and Arthur took pity on me, so he..."

I ignored her and just looked at Arthur.

"I said, let's break up."

Arthur's brows furrowed tightly, his face full of impatience.

"Chloe, stop making a scene. It's just a song. Is this really necessary?"

"Mia just got here, and it's her first time at the school anniversary. What's wrong with me helping her out as an upperclassman?"

"It's one thing that you're usually dull and boring, but since when did you become so petty?"

I looked at him, didn't say another word, turned around, and walked off the stage.

The audience was buzzing; no one noticed this little episode in the corner.

I threw that voided program into the trash, walked out of the auditorium, and sent Arthur a text.

[I'm not discussing this with you. I'm informing you: we're broken up!]

When I got home, the living room was brightly lit.

Dad, my eldest brother, my second brother, and Mia were sitting around watching the live stream of the gala. On the screen was Arthur and Mia's four-hand piano duet.

The piano music was melodious, and the two of them did look like a good match.

"Wow, our Mia is so multi-talented. She plays so well!"

My eldest brother clapped first.

"Yeah, much better than some people who only know how to bury their heads in books all day."

My second brother shot a pointed glance at me.

Dad's gaze moved from the screen to me, full of scrutiny.

"Why didn't you come back with Arthur?"

I changed my shoes, my voice flat.

"We broke up."

The living room instantly went dead silent.

Mia was the first to stand up, running over to me with tears in her eyes.

"Chloe, I'm sorry, it's all my fault. Please don't break up with Arthur... I'll go explain everything to him right now!"

Dad's face darkened, and he struck the floor heavily with his cane.

"This is ridiculous! Chloe, how old are you? How can you be so willful!"

"Mia is the younger sister. It's only right for Arthur to take care of her. As the older sister, not only are you not magnanimous, but you're also breaking up over such a trivial matter. Where are your manners?"

I looked up and met his gaze calmly.

"My manners are what my mom taught me before she died: never let yourself be wronged."

With that, I walked straight upstairs and started packing my things.

Not long after, my door was pushed open. My eldest brother leaned against the doorframe.

"Chloe, what kind of act is this now? Running away from home? Do you think you're still three years old?"

I folded a few pieces of clothing, put them in my suitcase, and ignored him.

"Enough is enough. Go downstairs, apologize to Dad, and let this pass."

"Mia is a guest and the daughter of Dad's old friend. We should treat her well. Why are you so intolerant of her?"

"I'm not intolerant of her."

"I'm intolerant of you guys."

My eldest brother's face instantly turned ugly.

I pulled my suitcase and walked past him.

Down in the living room, my second brother stopped me.

"Chloe, what's wrong with you? Will you only be satisfied when you've made things completely ugly?"

I looked at him, then at my father on the sofa with a gloomy face, and Mia crying silently beside him.

"I'm tired. I don't want to play the role of the sensible, magnanimous, and understanding sister and daughter anymore."

"Please, let me go!"

I pushed my second brother aside, opened the front door, and walked out without looking back.

Behind me came my father's exasperated roar.

"If you dare walk out that door today, don't ever come back!"

I didn't stop, disappearing into the night.

They all thought I was just throwing a tantrum.

That I would soon come crawling back, tail between my legs, because I had no money and nowhere to stay.

Unfortunately for them, they miscalculated.