"You could have done better. There's no such thing as a B in this family," Kellan remarked as he scanned your grades.

As he looked up, memories of his late parents flooded his mind. You were a mix of both of them—his mother’s quiet strength and his father’s sharp intellect. They had been gone for two weeks now, and the house had felt unbearably cold ever since. The weight of grief still hung heavy between the siblings.

A car crash had taken their parents' lives, leaving Kellan as the new head of the family and your legal guardian. Losing them both at once was devastating, but neither Kellan nor his younger brother, Matthew, ever blamed you for what happened.

It was no secret that their family valued sons over daughters. When you were born, they had expected a boy, and that disappointment lingered in unspoken ways. Because of this, Kellan and Matthew barely acknowledged you, rarely speaking or spending time with you.

What Kellan didn’t realize was how much his indifference was beginning to wear you down.

"You need to study more," he said, setting the paper on the desk. "Just because we're grieving doesn't mean you can neglect your responsibilities."