Dying Wish: All Of Us Together

"If you'd been a little more sensible, you wouldn't have gotten Dad so worked up." Sean seemed genuinely relieved, even a little surprised that I didn't snap back. "Ophie, just try to listen from now on. Dad and I are your family. Everything we do is for your own good."

I clenched my jaw and nodded slightly, though I thought to myself, "As if there's still a future for me."

Marcus stepped forward, carrying a birthday cake. "Ophie, don't be upset. Happy birthday."

He looked calm, and I could tell he truly meant it.

"Thanks…"

The bitterness I'd been suppressing surged all at once, spreading through my chest.

This was the guy I'd loved for five years, the one who'd pulled me out of countless dark moments when my family left me gasping for air. And now…

Marcus' face lit up a little. "There's actually something I wanted to talk to you about. Lexi's going on her graduation trip. She'll be by herself, and she's never been as healthy as you.

"I don't feel right letting her go alone, so I'm going with her. Let's put the engagement on hold for now. We'll talk about it after we get back. You can come if you want to. We're leaving early tomorrow."

His words hit me like a punch. I froze, stunned, barely registering anything. I just stared at him, unable to find my voice.

Alexia spoke up. "I remember Ophelia hates traveling. This trip involves hiking and going out to sea for whale watching. It'll be exhausting. She should stay home and rest instead."

She coughed lightly, pretending she was looking out for me, but I knew she just didn't want me to interfere with her and Marcus' private time.

I should've realized it sooner.

From the first time I brought Marcus home, Alexia had always been unusually friendly toward him, and she'd deliberately tried to make me look bad.

At first, he didn't pay her any attention and always stuck by me. But somewhere along the way, his focus had shifted.

Growing up, Alexia couldn't bear to see me happy. If I liked a toy, it would vanish the next day or get destroyed. If a dance instructor praised me in class, I'd find needles hidden in my shoes the following lesson. Any friend who got close to me would cut me off entirely after spending just one recess with her.

So how could Alexia have resisted trying to win over my boyfriend, who everyone admired for his intelligence and good looks?

I should have expected this by now. Whether Marcus had really changed or not, it didn't matter anymore.

Marcus nudged me lightly, a hint of impatience on his face. "Ophie, say something! It's just a postponement, not a cancellation—"

"Fine."

I cut him off, keeping my voice calm. "I'm not going on the graduation trip. The engagement doesn't need to be postponed either. Marcus, we're done."

He froze, then panicked. "Ophie, I'm just going on the trip with Lexi. You can come as well! After all these years, does it matter if the engagement is delayed by a couple of weeks? Why are you making a big deal out of this?"

Dad slammed his hand on the table. "You let a few nice words go straight to your head. We're family, yet all you think about is yourself. Marcus just wants to go with Lexi, and you're threatening to break up with him over that? Honestly, someone like him is way out of your league."

I turned on my heel and started walking away.

Sean called after me, "Ophie! Lexi has never gone anywhere alone. Marcus has friends abroad, and he's just being helpful. Don't you care about Lexi at all?"

Marcus' frustrated voice followed. "Ophelia, why are you being so stubborn? You think I'd go this far if it weren't for you?"

I whirled around, facing the four people before me. Some of them were on their feet, while the others were seated. Yet they all wore expressions of anger and disappointment.

I couldn't hold it in any longer. Bursting into tears, I grabbed the table and flipped it over in a fit of anger.

"Then go ahead! Marcus, I hope you and Alexia will be happy together! Till death do you part!"

I bolted for the door, desperate to get as far away from them as possible.

But I hadn't even taken two steps when Sean grabbed me, and a loud slap landed across my face.