Chapter 1The Stepsister's Stepmother

My stepsister, Ashley, hit the jackpot landing Ethan Miller, the sole heir to the Miller Industries fortune. Invitations to their engagement party went out to every relative imaginable—except me.

But on the big day, the party hit a snag. Things couldn't get started because, apparently, the legendary Mrs. Miller, Ethan’s stepmother and the boss’s wife, hadn't shown up yet.

Suddenly, my phone was blowing up. Ashley was practically begging, pleading for me to grace them with my presence.

Me? The person she deliberately left off the list?

* * *

It was the weekend, so I drove back to my dad’s place. Mom and Dad split when I was in high school. Two years later, Dad remarried. My stepmom, Linda, came with a daughter, Ashley, five years younger than me.

Tonight, during dinner, Ashley dropped the bomb: she was getting engaged.

And not just to anyone—to Ethan Miller, the Miller Industries heir.

The engagement party was just a week away, at the most expensive six-star hotel downtown.

Dad had actually mentioned it briefly when I called him a while back. He said Ashley—oh right, she changed her last name to match Dad’s not long after he married Linda—was dating this guy, a few years older than her. Rich family, powerful connections. Apparently, he treated Ashley like gold, chauffeured her everywhere, catered to her every whim. Just sickeningly sweet, according to Dad.

"Seriously? I hear that hotel is insanely expensive. An engagement party there must cost tens of thousands!" Linda exclaimed.

"Mom, Ethan's the only heir to Miller Industries. A little money like that means nothing to him," Ashley said, preening. "He just doesn't want me to feel slighted. He wants it to be a huge, grand event."

"Oh, well, that's very thoughtful of him. So, what do we need to do to help?" Linda asked.

"Nothing, Mom. Ethan's handling everything. I've already sent out invitations to all our relatives. You guys just need to show up."

"Well, isn't that nice!"

"Oh, and Mom," Ashley added, "there will be a lot of guests. Ethan said to make sure everyone brings their invitation – it's one per person – to keep out any party crashers. Remind Uncle Joe and everyone, okay?"

Ashley and Linda were buzzing, chattering excitedly back and forth. Dad, quiet as usual, just sat there watching them, looking pleased.

I thought back to what Ashley just said. All relatives got an invitation? Because I definitely didn't get one.

"Ashley," I piped up, "what about mine? I didn't get an invitation. Am I not family?"