Chapter 1

On my birthday, my fiancé, Vincent Drake, gave me an expired anti-aging serum.

Meanwhile, my sister, Diana Ashford, wore the luxury diamond necklace he'd given her.

She stood on stage, cutting into a custom cake he'd ordered for her worth over thirty thousand dollars.

Just like every year, my parents and my fiancé were right by her side.

They toasted to another happy year for her.

From my corner, I stared at the anti-aging serum in my hands.

It wasn't even meant for someone my age.

The "sample" sticker on the back hadn't been fully peeled off.

I shared the same birthday as my sister, but I was always the one who got overlooked.

Even the event staff each got a slice of cake.

But by the time they got to me, there was none left.

第1章

To celebrate my sister Diana's birthday, my fiancé Vincent had booked the most luxurious five-star hotel ballroom in the city.

After the custom cake worth over thirty thousand dollars was cut, every single person at the party got a slice, including the cleaning staff.

Everyone except me.

Everyone gathered for a group photo, and the photographer took more than a dozen shots.

Only then did Diana point at me below the stage and call out,

"How come Natalie didn't come up for the photo?"

Only then did everyone notice me in the corner.

"Nat, that was my fault. I forgot to call you over when we cut the cake. I'm sorry I upset you."

Tears shimmered in Diana's wide eyes.

Her lips gleamed with the season's newest gloss.

Her whole face glowed, so delicate that even I felt sorry for her.

Vincent hurried over with a slice of cake and held it out to me.

"Here, take mine. It's Di's birthday today. Don't ruin it for her."

I knew he was only doing it to keep Diana happy.

But this time, I didn't take the cake.

Instead, I lifted my chin and asked in a clear voice,

"But today is my birthday too!"

Diana was my older sister, two years older than me.

But our birthdays fell on the exact same day.

For as long as I could remember, the star of every birthday celebration had always been Diana.

Even though I shared her birthday, I could only stand at the edge of the group photos, smiling awkwardly just to fill the frame.

My job was to clap along and sing "Happy Birthday."

The cake, the gifts, the wishes... none of it was ever for me.

I could make a wish only while Diana closed her eyes before the candles. In that brief moment, I would silently make mine:

To have my own birthday cake. To have a birthday celebration that was truly mine.

My fiancé Vincent knew about this wish.

But year after year, he kept pushing it off.

Last year, he said,

"Di just won an award for her design work. Let's celebrate that for her. I'll throw you a party next year."

The year before, he said,

"Di is turning thirty. Thirty is a milestone. It deserves a proper celebration. We'll do yours next year."

The year before that, he said,

"Di just went through a breakup and she's feeling down. Let the birthday party cheer her up!"

...

Every year, Vincent had a reason to make me wait until next year.

This was the sixth birthday since we'd been together.

And suddenly, I didn't want to wait anymore.

"This year is my thirtieth birthday. You said milestone birthdays deserve a proper celebration. I just got promoted last week. That's worth celebrating too.

"So why is Diana the star of this birthday again, and not me?"

Vincent hesitated for only two seconds before coming up with an excuse.

"Our wedding is next month. You'll be the star then, as the bride.

"Just let Di be the center of attention at this party. You're old enough to give in to your sister!"

He took my hand as he spoke.

I shook him off and pulled out the expired serum sample.

"I didn't even get a slice of cake, and this is what you gave me for my birthday? You couldn't even be bothered?"

Seeing Vincent's embarrassment, Diana rushed over, already unclasping the necklace as she walked.

"Birthday gifts are about the thought, not the price tag. Even if it's just a serum sample, it's Vincent's way of showing he cares. I love whatever Vincent gives me. Here, I'll trade you my necklace."

I looked at Vincent, and a tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it.

He knew perfectly well that I never wore jewelry.

What I cared about wasn't a gift or a slice of cake.

But Vincent walked over to Diana.

"Don't cry, Di. It's your birthday. You should be happy. This necklace was custom-made for you. Once it's on, you're not allowed to take it off.

"I'll make it up to Natalie later. She's always been understanding. She'd never get upset with her own sister over a present. Isn't that right?"

He turned back to me, pulling me into his arms with practiced warmth.

Just then, the emcee called everyone back to their seats for the band's performance.

The party continued. No one cared about the little scene in the corner.

When I turned around, Vincent was already seated beside Diana.

The two of them hummed along with the band, perfectly in sync.

The diamond at Diana's throat was enormous and blinding.

I squeezed the application for the international medical program inside my bag.

My mind was already made up. This only hardened my resolve.

第2章

I left the party early.

Back home, I filled out the application and texted a photo to Dr. Evelyn Morrison, the hospital's deputy director.

She replied almost instantly.

"Natalie, this program could take anywhere from three to five years, maybe as long as eight or ten. Your wedding is right around the corner. Have you talked to your family about this?"

I didn't hesitate.

"Dr. Morrison, my calling is to save lives."

It wasn't until close to midnight that Vincent drove Diana and my parents home.

The moment he walked in and saw me, he remembered to ask,

"When did you leave? You should've said something. I would've had the driver take you."

I didn't answer.

His seat had been right next to mine.

I'd been gone for over three hours, and he didn't notice until the party was over.

It was supposed to be a birthday celebration for both sisters.

But the only star was Diana.

As the younger sister, I was nothing but a ghost. An invisible extra.

Seeing the look on my face, he tried to smooth things over, his breath still smelling of wine.

"I checked with my assistant. He did mess up your birthday gift.

"I asked him to get something ready yesterday, and he thought it was a party favor. He just grabbed whatever was lying around in the storage room."

I scoffed.

"Yesterday? You only asked your assistant to get me a birthday gift yesterday?

"The custom diamond necklace you ordered for Diana must have taken at least six months."

Vincent showed no trace of remorse. The words came out on reflex.

"I figured you don't really like jewelry, so I didn't order anything for you.

"Since you want one too, I'll have my assistant order another necklace for you.

"We're about to get married. Don't blow up over something this small."

My mother, Patricia, cut in impatiently.

"Natalie, honestly, the older you get, the less sense you have. Getting worked up over something this petty.

"How many times have I told you? Give in to your sister. Why can't you just remember that?"

Since I was little, my parents had drilled it into me.

Give in to your sister. Look after her feelings.

Their reasoning went back to the year I was born, their second child.

They had been so busy caring for me that they neglected their firstborn.

"If you'd never been born, Diana would have had all of our love.

"Because of you, Diana got half the attention she deserved from her parents. So you owe it to her. You have to be the one who gives in."

And so, everything in the house, every scrap of love and attention, always went to Diana first.

I never even got to celebrate the birthday we shared.

After Vincent and I started dating, my parents, Gerald and Patricia Ashford, constantly reminded him:

"Nat adores her big sister. If Diana's happy, Nat's happy."

And gradually, even my own boyfriend began putting Diana first in everything.

Six months ahead of her birthday, he ordered a custom diamond necklace for Diana.

Three months ahead, he booked the five-star hotel ballroom.

One day, Diana saw a celebrity showing off a similar cake on social media.

She mentioned it casually.

"Can you believe some cakes cost over thirty thousand dollars?"

Vincent spared no expense, hiring an entire team of master pastry chefs just so she could try one.

The next morning, Vincent was waiting for me downstairs.

"This pearl bracelet is to make up for yesterday's gift."

I glanced at it. The thing looked so dated that even Patricia wouldn't wear it. I pushed it back without warmth.

"No, thank you."

When I turned to leave, he chased after me.

"I ordered the necklace and the cake for Di because they made her happy.

"When Di's happy, your parents are happy. And when they're happy, you're happy, right? I love you, so I go out of my way for your sister. Besides, you don't even like those things."

He reached for me, but I stepped back to avoid him.

"You say you're doing it for me, but you end up forgetting I exist?"

Vincent had nothing to say to that.

After a long silence, he spoke.

"Next year. Next year, I promise I'll have your birthday gift and cake ready well in advance. Okay?"

I gave a humorless laugh and shook my head.

"Next year again. I've been hearing that for six years."

I turned and walked away.

On the way to work, memories came flooding in.

The first year we were together was the year of my graduation trip.

Vincent and I had planned to go scuba diving.

Instead, we changed it to the European vacation Diana wanted.

The third year, the music festival I'd been dying to see was finally back.

But it clashed with Diana's favorite idol's concert, and the plans were changed again.

Last year, for once, Vincent and I had time off at the same time.

I'd been dreaming of Universal Studios, of getting lost in the magic.

But in the end, he dragged me along to Disneyland with Diana instead.

Vincent's excuse was always the same:

"Everything I do for your sister, I do because I love you."

And Diana only needed a few teary-eyed words to make everyone feel sorry for her:

"I'm so envious that Nat gets to be the baby of the family. Mom and Dad spoil her the most.

"Nat is so lucky. She has Mom and Dad's love, and a wonderful boyfriend like Vincent on top of it."

I used to hear Diana say things like that all the time.

Every time, I felt a wave of guilt, as though I owed her something.

But over time, I realized she was the one reaping all the benefits.

I was the one getting overlooked, every single time.

I was done sacrificing myself to make everyone else's life better.

At the hospital, I handed the application to Dr. Morrison in person.

She gave me a teasing smile and asked,

"No regrets?"

I nodded firmly. "None!"

Dr. Morrison handed me the itinerary.

"Go home and get ready. You leave next week."

第3章

Before I could look over the itinerary, I started my emergency-department shift and worked straight through until afternoon.

A colleague came to find me.

"Dr. Ashford, the patient we just brought in says she's related to you."

I hurried over and found Diana in a wheelchair, pushed by Gerald and Patricia.

Patricia started in immediately.

"Natalie, the older you get, the less sense you have. How could you hold a grudge against your own sister? Getting upset over a birthday? You wouldn't answer her messages, and she twisted her ankle from worrying about you."

I had no idea what she was talking about. I was completely lost.

Vincent had just arrived, and the first thing out of his mouth was also a complaint.

"I brought you a gift first thing this morning. What more do you want?

"Di sent you apology after apology in the group chat. Dozens of messages. You didn't reply to a single one. She's your sister. How can you be so petty?"

Rosa Bennett, the head nurse in the emergency department, had heard enough.

She stepped right in front of me and raised her voice for everyone to hear.

"Dr. Ashford has been on her feet all morning without so much as a bathroom break, let alone time to check some group chat!

"This is the emergency department. Are you here to see a doctor or not? If not, clear out!"

Diana wheeled herself closer to me.

"Nat, don't be upset with me. I'll give you the necklace. It'll go perfectly with the dress I picked out for your wedding next month.

"I already scolded Vincent, too. Told him he needs to put you first. He shouldn't keep spoiling me all the time. It's all my fault. Please don't be mad at Vincent."

Listening to her, you'd think I was the outsider.

With everyone right there, I made my announcement.

"Since Diana picked the wedding dress, Diana can keep it and wear it herself. The wedding next month is canceled!"

At those words, Vincent was livid.

He clamped a hand around my arm, barely containing himself, and growled under his breath,

"Natalie, you're thirty years old. How can you still act like a child? A wedding isn't something you just call off on a whim!"

I looked at him steadily.

"Actually, it is. Marriage is my call to make. I say it's off, so it's off!

"Yesterday you fawned over my sister, two years older than me, wishing she could stay eighteen forever, carefree and childish.

"Today you come and tell me that at thirty, I'm not allowed to be impulsive. Don't you see the double standard, Vincent?"

Patricia lashed out.

"The older you get, the less sense you have! You really had to make a scene at your own workplace and embarrass your sister and Vincent?"

I looked at her coldly, picked up the chart clipped to the wheelchair, and asked,

"You already saw the orthopedist at the clinic. Diana's ankle is fine. So you made a special trip to my hospital to air your grievances. Tell me, who's embarrassing whom?"

Patricia sputtered with fury and snatched the chart from my hands.

Gerald, who rarely spoke up, suddenly opened his mouth.

"Nat, can't you just give in to your—"

Before he could finish, I cut him off.

"No!

"You and Mom chose to have a second child. You two were the ones who neglected Diana because you were busy with me.

"If there's a debt to pay, it's yours. Why should I spend thirty years giving in to Diana on your behalf?"

Gerald and Patricia were struck speechless. Diana sobbed against Vincent's chest as though her heart would break.

I turned and followed the next patient into the emergency room.

第4章

The next morning, I came off the night shift and went straight to bed.

I didn't wake up until the afternoon, hungry. I headed to the kitchen to find something to eat, passing through the living room on the way.

Diana was trying on clothes in front of the mirror when she called my name.

"Nat, look at the wedding dress I picked for you. Isn't it gorgeous? Too bad you don't want it.

"But it's fine. Vincent said I could have this one. I picked out another one for you. He says I look good in it too."

That was when I realized Vincent was also there.

He gazed at Diana with adoring eyes.

"Di has such great taste. Every dress she picks looks stunning."

I said nothing.

Two wedding dresses. I hadn't tried on either one.

He'd only seen Diana wear them and already decided they were beautiful.

It never crossed his mind whether they would actually suit me.

I choked down two slices of bread in the kitchen and headed back to my room for more sleep.

Diana suddenly blocked my path and shoved a dress into my arms.

"Nat, just look at it. The new one I picked for you. The design is so clever..."

I tried to push the dress away and repeated myself.

"I already told you. The wedding is canceled."

Vincent frowned, his voice sharp with irritation.

"All this because your birthday gift wasn't good enough? You'd throw a tantrum and cancel the wedding over that?"

My answer was firm.

"It is!"

He glared at me.

"Over something this trivial?"

I stared back, expressionless.

"It's not trivial to me.

"Six years, Vincent. It's not just six birthday gifts and six birthday cakes. That was six years of hope.

"In the beginning, you gave us matching gifts. One pair of pearl earrings each.

"Over six years, the gifts you gave Diana got more and more extravagant. Watches, designer bags, a car, a condo, jewelry...

"And the gifts you gave me? Do you even remember what they were? Last season's sunglasses. Shoes in the wrong size. You even gave me men's cologne once. Two years in a row, the same exact monogram scarf. And this year, an expired serum sample."

Vincent stared at me blankly. He had no memory of any of it.

Every one of my gifts was something he'd casually told his assistant to grab.

After a pause, he fell back on the same old trick, softening his voice.

"Nat, I promise. Next year, I'll make your birthday really special!"

I laughed.

I'd heard that promise every year for as long as I could remember.

When I was little, it came from my parents.

For the past six years, Vincent had been the one saying it.

I was sick of it. And I didn't believe it anymore.

My parents and their favoritism were something I couldn't change.

But I'd always believed that I would be the one Vincent put first.

In the beginning, his deep, dark eyes truly held only me.

That was the security I'd been craving since I was a child.

Six months into our relationship, I brought him home to meet my parents. That was the day he also met Diana.

Gerald and Patricia told us to bring Diana along whenever we went out.

Otherwise she'd be lonely.

Diana started turning up on my dates with Vincent more and more often.

And little by little, I was no longer the only one reflected in his eyes.

I looked Vincent squarely in the eye.

"I've decided to call off the engagement. Next week, I'm leaving to join Doctors Without Borders. I don't know when I'll be back.

"I have surgery tomorrow, so let me head back to my room and—achoo! Achoo!"

Before I could finish, I broke into a fit of sneezing, my eyes and nose streaming.

Vincent grabbed tissues, but within a minute I was gasping for air, my face turning red.

Then came a meow.

I turned toward the sound and pointed a trembling finger at the kitten in the corner.

A second later, I couldn't breathe and blacked out.

Before my eyes shut, I saw Diana collapse to the floor in shock.

Vincent rushed over to steady her.

He left me lying crumpled on the floor.

In the last moment of consciousness, I pressed the emergency call button on my phone.

第5章

After they resuscitated me, I woke up in the middle of the night.

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Diana, right in front of me, sniffling and teary-eyed.

"Nat, I'm so sorry. The kitten was just so adorable. I couldn't bear the thought of it out on the streets all alone, so I brought it home."

Weak as I was, I felt strangely calm and asked in a low, steady voice,

"But you know I'm allergic to cat fur."

Diana blinked through her tears, glanced at Vincent, then at our parents.

Then she whimpered out an answer.

"I thought you'd give in to me, the way you always do. I was sure you'd agree to me keeping the cat."

Vincent jumped in right away.

"You can't blame Di. She kept the cat in her bedroom upstairs. We had no idea your allergy could be triggered even when you weren't in the same room."

Gerald and Patricia rallied to Diana's defense too.

"Your sister didn't mean to hurt you. Just give in to her!"

"You're getting married next month and moving out anyway. What's wrong with your sister keeping a cat?"

...

Fighting through the pain, I reached over and pressed the call button.

Rosa pushed through the door immediately.

I forced the words out. "Get them all out of here!"

Then I squeezed my eyes shut, my insides churning.

Every one of them knew about my cat allergy, and they still expected me to give in to Diana.

It was as if Diana keeping a cat was the only thing that mattered.

And my going into anaphylactic shock was just a minor inconvenience.

But I knew my reaction shouldn't have been that severe. Not unless I'd inhaled a large amount of cat fur in a short span of time.

That was when Dr. Morrison brought me a report.

When I was admitted, my clothes had been covered in cat fur.

I thought back. After waking up, the only place I'd gone was the kitchen for some bread.

The only thing I'd come into contact with was the wedding dress Diana had shoved into my arms.

Then my phone buzzed with a flood of messages from the family group chat.

Vincent:

"We read Dr. Morrison's report and went back to check the house. There was a lot of cat fur on the wedding dress. The kitten must have gotten into it. It's not Di's fault."

Gerald:

"Nat, don't be unreasonable. The allergy is your own health issue. Your sister just likes animals. What did she do wrong? She already gave the cat away that same night. She was devastated. Give in to your sister for once!"

Patricia:

"You were allergic to cats back in elementary school when Diana had one. How are you still allergic at your age? And you call yourself a doctor? What was the point of all those years of medical school!"

Diana:

"Nat, Vincent and I talked it over. I promise I won't keep any more cats. He's already forgiven me. You're not still upset with me, right?"

...

Every person in that group chat was either my own flesh and blood or the man I loved.

And not one of them showed the slightest concern for the woman who had just been pulled back from the edge.

After dawn, I checked myself out early and went home alone.

Just as I expected, the house was empty.

A poster that Diana's team had designed was being unveiled at the city's main plaza today.

They had all gone to see it and celebrate Diana.

It was a poster her team had designed.

Diana was one of the forty people who worked on it.

But Gerald, Patricia, and Vincent had all rushed out to celebrate her achievement.

They threw a party, set off fireworks, gave her gifts...

Meanwhile, there were all my own milestones: matching into a surgical residency, performing my first solo surgery, becoming an attending physician, leading emergency resuscitations, publishing medical papers, winning an international medical award...

None of it had ever mattered to them. They couldn't have cared less.

But by now, I no longer cared about them either.

I packed up all my documents and a few changes of clothes.

Half an hour later, I walked out the front door, suitcase in hand.

Dr. Morrison had already taken care of everything.

She'd rebooked me on an earlier flight. I was leaving that night.

I would report early to the Doctors Without Borders International Office in Geneva.