Chapter 1After My Stepmother Kicked Me Out, My Sister Suffered

On my first day back in the States, I walked straight into a scene I’d dreaded for years: my estranged sister, Lily, being publicly humiliated.

Smack!

A sharp, stinging slap landed squarely on Lily’s face, the sound echoing, drawing every eye in the crowded college quad.

“Lily, I considered you a sister, how could you be so cruel? You take everything from me, even my boyfriend?!” The girl shrieked, her voice morphing into a simpering whine after delivering the blow.

“Huh, I always thought Lily seemed hard to get along with, but a home-wrecker? Didn't see that coming.” Whispers rippled through the onlookers.

…

My first day back in the country, my immediate thought was to visit my sister at her university. I also planned to scout the campus, considering a potential investment. I never imagined I'd arrive to such a spectacle.

Lily was trapped, encircled by a hostile crowd, her face a mask of weary helplessness. I recognized the ringleader: Chad Worthington, her boyfriend. Next to him, a girl clung to his arm, looking utterly helpless and demure.

“Lily Ellis, you’ve gone too far! We tolerate you bullying Lily, but now you’re accusing her of ruining your watch? What kind of cheap watch is worth five million dollars, anyway?!” Chad lectured my sister, his voice dripping with self-righteous indignation.

“Oh, Chad, she copied my senior thesis! It almost kept me from graduating, but thankfully, Principal Evans saw through her plagiarism.” The girl, Lily, simpered, batting her eyelashes.

“Lily, that’s a lie! You copied my senior thesis!” Lily’s voice was barely a whisper, weak and trembling.

Lily. Her name jolted my memory. That was Lily, the daughter my stepmom brought into our lives.

Lily was my full sister, born of the same parents. Not long after our mother passed, Dad brought home my stepmom, along with a little girl Lily’s age. Looking back, Dad must have already been having an affair while Mom was still pregnant with Lily.

Later, under my stepmom’s relentless manipulation, Dad sent me away. She’d claimed our horoscopes clashed, that I’d jinx the family business, even curse Dad’s luck. He’d believed her, banished me abroad, leaving me to fend for myself. In truth, I never brought him bad luck; our family business had only boomed after I was born. My stepmom’s real fear was that Dad, always favoring sons, would leave her own daughter with nothing.

“Lily Ellis, if I copied your work, why was it your graduation status that was revoked? If you get on your knees and apologize to me, I’ll let it go.” Lily’s arrogant tone snapped me from my thoughts.

“Ben,” I said to my assistant, “get Principal Evans here. Now.”

“Right away, sir,” Ben replied, nodding.

“Lily Ellis, that broken watch of yours was already garbage, and now you’re trying to frame me, demanding five million dollars? Are you out of your mind? I’d say you’re worth more than that watch. If you want money, why don't you just sell yourself?” Lily giggled, a cruel gleam in her eyes.

“Lily, do you think this is worth five million dollars? Oh, wait, no. I'd say it's worth ten million.”

Chad pulled out his phone, a few taps, and then, a series of revealing photos flashed before everyone’s eyes.

“Wow, Lily Ellis, who would’ve thought she’d take pictures like that? She always seemed so innocent, but look at her, playing dirty.”

“Man, if I could spend just one night with her, I’d die a happy man!”

The students surrounding them jabbered, their voices growing louder.

“Ben, find out the truth about those photos.” I couldn't believe my sister would do something like that. I had to know.

“Now,” I added, my voice tight.

“Yes, sir, immediately.”

More and more people gathered, their faces alight with morbid curiosity.

“Lily, how about a little game? For every minute you delay paying Lily, I’ll post one of your photos in the campus group chat.” Chad’s grin was sickeningly lecherous.

“Yeah! Post 'em! Post 'em fast!”

“Go, Chad!”

“Wait, isn’t Chad Lily’s boyfriend? Why would he share his own girlfriend’s private pictures?” Finally, someone asked the obvious question.

“Boyfriend? Please. Chad and Lily are the real couple. Lily was just a plaything.”