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~Rose's POV~

For most of the family beach trip, I made sure not to trouble Spring too much, knowing fully well that Eryx hovered around her like an eagle circling its prey.

His watchful eyes followed her every movement as though waiting for the smallest slip.

And besides, Spring wasn't naive anymore, she wasn't the gullible girl who would fall for my usual tricks. She had grown sharper, warier, and I knew if I tried anything too obvious, she would catch on immediately.

So instead, I decided to change my tactics. If the straightforward approach would not work, then I would weave something different, more subtle.

I focused on building a softer, more dependable image in her eyes.

I played the games fairly, without bending the rules, without scheming.

I offered her smiles that weren't laced with hidden intentions. I laughed when appropriate, not forced, and I even let her win sometimes just to keep the atmosphere light.

Bit by bit, I noticed it was working. My brothers' guards, which had always stood tall like fortified walls around Spring, began to drop.

Not all at once, but gradually, stone by stone, their suspicion loosened.

I could see it in the way Rhys stopped scrutinizing my every word, in the way Kaius sometimes softened his expression when he caught me helping with little tasks, and in the way Eryx's hostility dimmed, if only for brief moments.

So when the time came, I was sure that if I proposed the idea of Spring returning to the house, my parents wouldn't raise objections.

That much was expected. But my brothers… I wasn't certain about them. They were the true obstacle.

I kept my silence, letting time pass quietly, until Sunday afternoon arrived.

After our family photo shoot on the beach, with the sea breeze still lingering in our hair and the sand clinging faintly to our clothes, my plan kicked in.

We were still dressed in our carefully coordinated outfits for the shoot, all of us gathered in one place before slowly beginning to disperse.

I folded my hands together, almost as if making a prayer, and let my voice spill out in what I hoped sounded like an innocent wish.

"Wouldn't it be great to have this even more… if we moved back home?"

I caught Spring's figure stiffening ever so slightly. She halted mid-step, but she did not turn to look at me. Her shoulders tightened, and I knew she had heard.

Instead, it was Eryx who reacted. He spun sharply on his heel, his glare cutting into me like a blade. "You said?"

"Think of it," I continued, pretending not to notice his hostility, letting my tone soften as if I were sharing something vulnerable.

"Because of Spring, you came home more often. And when she left, I barely got to see you guys anymore. Now that Dad and Mum are always busy, I… I'm mostly lonely at home."

A scoff followed almost instantly. "I didn't think you'd ever be capable of being lonely."

I blinked, feigning disbelief at Spring's mockery. "What?"

"You have so many friends. I just can't believe you'd ever be lonely," she repeated.

An awkward laugh slipped from me, one that trembled on the edge of sounding forced.

I shook my head quickly, brushing invisible dust off my dress, avoiding the stares now directed at me.

Everyone's eyes shifted toward my brothers, and I felt their judgment pressing heavily on me.

"No, they just… you know, they aren't like you guys," I said, lowering my gaze, trying to sound sincere. "I… I just…" My eyes drifted to Mum, silently pleading for her support, but she wasn't even looking at me.

Instead, Kaius spoke more like declared. "Spring wouldn't be coming home anytime soon."

"Why is that? Does she have somewhere to be that we do not know about?" Dad's deep voice broke in, stern but calm.

Rhys stepped forward then, tugging at his tie before loosening it as if the conversation itself were stifling. "Yes. Because we have decided Spring will move in and spend a month with each of us."

"What?" Mum gasped.

My eyes darted around, lingering on each of my brothers' faces one by one.

But their expressions were stoic. Their sharp gazes told me everything, they weren't falling for my carefully crafted image. Not at all.

"There's nothing absurd about it," Eryx added smoothly, his lips curling into a smirk as he strode closer, daring anyone to challenge him. "She isn't comfortable in the house. And she has three other wonderful options."

I forced my voice to waver as I asked, "But I'm also your sister. Aren't I invited to your houses?"

I let it sound almost broken, as if on the verge of tears.

That was when Mum finally moved. She placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.

And when she spoke, her voice was tinged with concern. "That's true. Why are you favouring only one sister and leaving the other out?"

"There's no truth in that," Eryx countered swiftly. "Spring has been neglected for too long because of our busy schedules. We've been showering Rose with attention all this while. Now that Spring is finally getting some of it, Rose shouldn't make a fuss."

"Eryx," before Mum could continue, Kaius stepped forward, his presence alone deepening the tension. "Kaius?"

"Mum," Kaius's dark tone carried a weight that chilled the air. "When Rose enjoyed herself while Spring was sidelined, you claimed Rose had a hard life and needed all the pampering. We bent over backward to give her the best, all while ignoring the sister we already had."

"Besides," Rhys added coldly, "if Rose's manipulative behaviour had truly changed, we wouldn't even be having this debate. She is only reaping the consequences of what she sowed."

Their words were knives. My teeth clenched together, my jaw aching as I forced myself not to snap back. I stood there, humiliated.

Finally, Dad raised his voice. "Enough," he said firmly. "We are a family. Families make mistakes, yes—but families also forgive, forget, and move on. That is how we stay together."

He swept his gaze across all of us, holding each pair of eyes in turn. "Let bygones be bygones."

"As you wish, Dad," I answered quickly, eager for the lifeline.

"I really hope you can do that, Rose," Spring added with a smirk, baiting me.

I forced a smile, replying, "Worry not. I have a big heart. It's your little one I should be concerned about."

"Wow," she shot back, "you must really be jobless if you think of me that way."

"I…" I started, but Kaius's voice cut me off before I could dig deeper.

"Enough."

After that, Dad raised his hand again. "Fine. Have it your way."

"But Dad," I groaned, letting a hint of desperation leak into my tone.

He silenced me with a look. "They are right to do as they please. Work on your relationship with your siblings, Rose. And the rest of you, cut her some slack."

"Yes, Dad," they chorused in unison.

Dad's gaze softened slightly before turning to Spring. "Now, before you spend a month with your brothers, you must visit home first. Stay a week, or at least four days."

Spring didn't look pleased, but she gave a reluctant nod.

"Four days," Kaius insisted immediately.

"Three days," Eryx countered smoothly.

"What? Do you want to steal your sister all to yourself?"

"Not like you want to spend time with her anyway," Eryx muttered, though his voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. "So why can't I shorten the days and have her?"

Dad groaned in frustration. "I know you two were inseparable when you were kids, but she is grown now. You can't keep her to yourself, Eryx. You need a life of your own."

"Don't worry, Dad," Kaius interjected dryly. "I've already set him up on a blind date. He'll be dating soon enough."

Dad chuckled and nodded in approval. "Fine. Four days it is. Now, enough of this impromptu meeting."

Everyone seemed satisfied with the conclusion—everyone except me. My plan had failed, at least partially.

Still, as the conversations drifted into lighter topics, I let a small, wry smile curve across my lips.

Three days. Three days of Spring's return home at intervals. That was more than enough to ruin her image with our parents.

Then, I'll be the favoured one.

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~Spring's POV~

The rest of the family trip became a blur after that showdown with Rose and Eryx.

The next day, we did a family photoshoot on the beach by the shore; Kaius and Rhys couldn't stop making dumb poses, and Mum kept trying to make us stand still while Rose pretended nothing had happened the night before.

After that, Rose became Rose, trying to bring me back home.

She succeeded midway but I still managed to escape and remain with my brothers.

Later, we had a picnic under the pine trees, followed by dinner at a fancy seaside restaurant Dad insisted on, where the waiters brought out trays like we were royalty.

By Sunday evening at about 9:07 p.m., we capped it all with a slow walk in the park before driving back home, everyone too tired to argue anymore.

I drove with Kaius since Rhys had to drop by the hospital first, and it was a peaceful moment.

However, when he dropped me off at Rhys, he ended with a statement that made me halt in my step.

"Ignore Rose and Eryx."

"Eryx?"

"Forget Eryx, I will handle him. As for Rose, try to ignore her. I will have a talk with her too."

I turned, smiled at him and replied. "You do not have to worry about Rose. I can handle her. Thanks Kaius. Good night."