Chapter 3

On Eleanor's birthday, I ended up going to the Sterling estate anyway.

Chloe sat in the passenger seat, turning around to smile at me.

"Sera, I thought about it, and this is actually a great opportunity for your exposure therapy."

"Make sure you keep your mask off today!"

When we arrived, there were over twenty relatives sitting in the living room.

The moment the front door opened, all conversations died instantly.

Every single pair of eyes landed heavily on my scarred right cheek.

Chloe quickly linked her arm through mine.

"Don't worry, everyone. Sera has actually accepted her condition really well."

The moment she said that, a little boy ran to his mother, pointing at me and crying, "Her face is scary!"

The mother quickly covered his mouth.

"Kids say the darndest things, Sera. Please don't take it to heart."

Though she apologized, she immediately pulled her child back two steps, away from me.

Liam's face darkened. "Make him apologize."

Eleanor tried to smooth things over.

"He's just a child, he doesn't know any better. Today is my birthday, let's not make everyone uncomfortable."

Chloe also tugged at Liam's sleeve.

"Forget it, Liam. Sera has to learn to face these things eventually."

Liam glanced at me, but ultimately let it go.

At dinner, my seat was placed in a corner right next to the side door.

Chloe sat directly next to Liam, helping him pour drinks and entertain the guests.

I looked at her. "Why am I sitting all the way over here?"

She quickly explained, "It's quiet here. If you start feeling uncomfortable, you can slip out easily."

Liam pulled her behind him.

"Chloe is sitting next to me to help out. Don't make a big deal out of it."

I didn't say another word.

Halfway through the dinner, Aunt Claire suddenly asked, "Can Seraphina even eat normally with her mouth like that?"

Before I could speak, Chloe answered for me.

"She can't chew anything hard, and water leaks when she drinks. But Liam is already used to taking care of her."

The table fell dead silent for a second.

Aunt Claire looked at Liam, her voice filled with pity. "You've really had a tough time."

Another relative chipped in, "After an accident like that, a man with a conscience can't just abandon her."

Liam frowned. "Sera got hurt saving my life."

Aunt Claire sighed.

"That's why you have to take responsibility for the rest of your life."

Chloe, wanting to break the heavy silence, playfully nudged Liam's arm.

"Did you hear that? You have to treat Sera right forever."

Liam pushed her hand away. "Just eat your food."

They bantered back and forth like a bickering couple, making the whole table laugh.

Someone looked at them and joked, "Honestly, Chloe and Liam look like the actual couple."

Chloe blushed. "I'd never date him."

Liam smirked. "Mutual feeling."

They didn't bother to correct anyone. I sat alone by the side door, completely shut out of their world.

After dinner, Chloe played a birthday tribute video she had made for Eleanor.

The car crash from seven years ago was only shown for a few seconds.

There was no footage of me throwing myself in front of the truck.

Instead, the screen showed Chloe staying by Liam's side outside the operating room, bringing him food, and helping him home when he was drunk.

Over the last seven years, she was in every single memory.

She celebrated Eleanor's birthdays, attended family dinners, and went to the hospital to visit me.

I only appeared in a single, old group photo taken before the accident—standing at the very edge of the frame, my face still whole.

When the video ended, Eleanor wiped her tears and squeezed Chloe's hand.

"All these years, you were the one who truly helped Liam get through it."

Chloe quickly looked at me.

"Mrs. Sterling, Sera was the one who had it hardest."

But she never explained why my seven years had been reduced to a single photo.

When we took a family photo, Eleanor pulled Chloe to stand next to Liam.

I was pushed to the far right.

When the photo was sent to the family group chat, Eleanor cropped it and set it as the group's profile picture.

In the cropped version, Liam and Chloe stood side-by-side.

The entire right side, where I stood, was completely cut out.

On the drive back, I asked Liam, "Did you see the new group chat photo?"

"I was cropped out."

He stared at the road ahead, his voice sounding exhausted.

"It's just a crop, Sera. Don't be so sensitive."

"Didn't you say you hate people looking at your face?"

I opened my mouth to say more, but he snapped, "Chloe goes out of her way to make you feel comfortable. Why are you always looking for faults in everything she does?"

Chloe's eyes welled up immediately. "It's my fault. I'll re-edit it."

Liam reached over and locked her phone. "No need."

He caught my eye in the rearview mirror.

"Seraphina, today was my mom's birthday. Did you really have to ruin it for everyone?"

I didn't reply.

There was no place for me in the Sterling family photo.

And soon, there wouldn't be a place for me in their lives either.