After her rebirth

How could Clara even ask that? Hadn't she been living as Katniss all these years?

To make Clara feel like she belonged, they spoiled her even more, sometimes even ignoring Katniss. They catered to her every whim!

Clara was their little princess. Hadn't they done enough for her?

He regretted his ignorance, realizing how much he'd hurt Katniss with his words.

Nathan suddenly stood up, a bit unsteady. His handsome face went pale as he looked at Clara with disappointment. "Katniss is my sister too. Why can't I feel sorry for her? Is that not allowed? Are we all just supposed to care about you?" Nathan couldn't figure out what had gone wrong.

From the birthday party to this hospital visit, something just didn't sit right with him.

As Katniss's brother, he barely paid attention to her. He didn't even know she hated plum blossoms or anything about her childhood.

It wasn't just him; their parents and other siblings never cared about Katniss either.

Everyone's focus was always on Clara.

That day, Katniss stormed into the house with people, and the servants described how she smashed all of Clara's things.

Everyone scolded Katniss, but no one questioned why Clara's unwanted stuff was in Katniss's room.

The night before last, Nathan got up for water and, on a whim, opened Katniss's bedroom door. He found out her room was actually a storage closet.

The room was tiny, smaller than his bathroom. The corners were piled with junk, and a narrow, crappy single bed was shoved against the wall, so small one could barely turn over.

Nathan stood there, stunned. All that talk about the Manners family being kind to Katniss? A lie. They did the bare minimum, just enough so she didn't starve.

A wave of regret and self-mockery hit Nathan. How could he have told Katniss, "The Manners family treated you well, don't be ungrateful, don't fight with Clara for things that aren't yours." Nathan shot her an angry, cold look, then turned and left.

Clara stood there, staring at Nathan's back, her face pale. She slowly clenched her hands, digging her nails into her palms.

She chased after him, panicking. "Did Katniss say something to you? Or are you mad because I went to the dance with Desmond instead of taking care of you in the hospital?"

"I was wrong. Will you forgive me?" she cried.

Simon, having changed his clothes, came downstairs and saw Clara crying. He rushed over. "Nathan, what's wrong with you? You're a grown man, and you're making Clara cry!" "Simon," Clara said, tears streaming down her face.

Simon clenched his fists, feeling heartbroken. He quickly turned to Nathan, "Nathan, apologize to Clara right now!"

Nathan turned his head, his handsome face cold.

"Simon, where did you pick up the habit of making people apologize to Clara without knowing the full story?" Nathan sneered, his face darkening. "Did you do the same to Katniss, making her apologize to Clara for no reason?" Katniss again!

Simon, already pissed because Nathan made Clara cry, got even more heated. "Nathan, just because you're sick and everyone babies you, you think you can do whatever you want?"

"You've been sick too long and your mind is clouded with misguided empathy. Katniss brought her problems on herself. What does that have to do with Clara? Are you out of your mind?" Simon added.

Hearing this, Nathan started coughing violently, his fingers trembling as he pointed at Simon. "Misguided empathy? I did have too much empathy, but to you, not Katniss! Don't think I don't know the crap you've pulled!" Simon's temper flared, and he rolled up his sleeves. "Then tell me, what crap have I done?"

Clara lowered her eyes, sensing trouble. She quickly pulled Simon back. "Simon, stop it. It's my fault. I should've taken care of Nathan in the hospital, but Desmond wanted me to go to this important party, so I hired a nurse for Nathan. He has every right to be mad."

Simon muttered under his breath, "A grown man still needs someone to take care of him, how pretentious!"

"Clara, shut up!" Nathan, done coughing, his face pale as snow. His dark eyes stared straight at Clara, full of mockery, then turned to Simon.

"Do you think I don't know because you helped Clara hide it? Clara calls Katniss her sister, but she stole Katniss's pencil case at school, almost making her miss her transfer exam. She even wrote a letter to the school, accusing Kathniss of seducing Maximilian. Is that what a sister does? Did Clara ever really consider Katniss her sister?"

Nathan pointed at Simon. "And you keep saying Katniss brought it on herself. Is it fair to treat her like this? Katniss is your sister!"

Hearing Nathan spill all this, Clara trembled, biting her lip and shaking her head desperately.

Seeing Clara like that, Simon felt heartbroken and jumped to defend her. "What do you mean by stealing her pencil case? Everything Katniss uses now was bought by the Manners family. If Clara wants it, of course, she can take it back! And did Katniss ever talk to us about her transfer exam? Katniss stopped considering herself part of this family a long time ago. Why should we treat her like a sister? Even if she was reported, she deserved it!" Nathan was stunned.

His whole worldview felt like it was collapsing.

That was Katniss's stuff! How dare Clara think she could just take it back? And how dare anyone say Katniss deserved to be reported for things she didn't do!

When did the whole family start spoiling Clara so much?

No wonder Clara had turned into such a selfish, malicious person!

Seeing Nathan standing there, looking dazed and about to collapse, Simon felt a bit regretful. He shouldn't have been so harsh; Nathan had just come back from the hospital. What if he got sick again?

But Nathan's sudden bias towards Katniss annoyed Simon. "Nathan, don't forget, it was Katniss who heartlessly sent me to the police station. I still have a record!"

"You deserved it!" Nathan snapped.

Nathan suddenly felt that his family was too strange and twisted, which made him feel sad.

Was this really what a normal family should be?