Chapter 2My Brother and I Got Our Wires Crossed

It wasn't until the Sterling family's eldest daughter, Serena, and her brother, Arthur, showed up at our door with their hands full of expensive gifts that my mom finally shut up.

My brother and I exchanged a glance, reading the exact same thought in each other's eyes.

Right off the bat, Serena shoved a bank card into my mom's hand. It held a neat two million dollars.

She turned to look at my brother, flashing a perfect set of white teeth, and then smiled at me—a smile that could literally steal a soul: "Mrs. Vance, this is a little welcome gift for Liam."

Not to be outdone, Arthur shoved a card into my dad's hand: "Mr. Vance, this is a welcome gift for Chloe."

Immediately after, Serena dumped a pile of gift boxes into my arms. She looked apologetically at my brother and my parents: "I'm so sorry, I really didn't know what boys like, so I just bought some things that girls like for little Chloe. Liam, you don't mind, do you?"

Serena was very tall and wearing stiletto heels. When she leaned in close to me, I had a perfect view of her beautiful, pale collarbones. Her chest rose and fell slightly with her breathing, and the fresh scent of jasmine radiating from her was incredibly intoxicating.

I stared so hard my eyes practically crossed. My heart was pounding frantically against my ribs.

Unable to hold back, I blurted out: "Sister-in-law, you smell so good."

The moment the words left my mouth, my brother jolted in terror. He jumped up and clamped his hand over my mouth.

He glared at me viciously, terrified our parents would realize something was wrong.

My parents were cringing so hard their toes could have curled through the floorboards.

But Serena suddenly burst into laughter. She leaned her face right in front of mine. Her voice was as melodic as a clear spring, yet even though it was a perfectly normal sentence, I heard it through a dizzy haze. It was like I was being tempted by a demon from the depths of hell, and I couldn't stop my legs from tensing up.

"If little Chloe likes it, next time you come to my house, I'll give you some."

I lowered my head shyly, not daring to look her in the eye.

Serena's long hair brushed gently against my cheek, feeling like thousands of tiny ants biting at my heart—an agonizing, unbearable itch.

Right before they left, Serena's fingers lightly trailed across the back of my hand. Those beautiful, captivating peach-blossom eyes stared straight at me: "Don't forget to come to my house, little Chloe."