Chapter 2Chasing Freedom

Pushing open the heavy oak doors, I found the atmosphere in the living room thick enough to cut with a knife.

My dad, my mom, and my older brother, Carter. The three of them sat on the genuine Italian leather sofas in a perfect, rigid triangle.

Well, triangles are known for their structural stability.

"Dad, Mom, Carter."

I greeted them one by one, the picture of a perfectly raised socialite.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the manila folder containing the DNA report resting on the glass coffee table.

I kept my face entirely blank.

Inside, I was doing backflips. Which limited edition designer bags should I take with me tonight?

My dad didn't notice the absolute joy dancing in my eyes. He cleared his throat in a tactical maneuver.

"Jenica, sit down. We have some news to share with you..."

"I'm the fake daughter swapped at birth, the real heiress has been found, and she's on her way home right now, correct?" I answered before he could finish. "Where is she? I'll go greet her."

The sprawling, cavernous living room fell into a dead silence.

My entire family looked like they had just swallowed sour lemons.

Carter narrowed his eyes at me. "Are you okay, Jenica? Did the shock break your brain?" He paused, his voice softening just a fraction. "If you need to cry, just cry. Don't hold it in."

"Sweetheart, Mom knows you must be devastated..."

"Stop right there. I am absolutely fantastic." I raised a hand to halt their pity party. "When does my sister get here? Do you need me to help decorate her room?"

My dad's brow furrowed into a deep V. "Jenica, you... you aren't upset? Daddy still loves you, you know."

"Why would I be upset?" I blinked innocently. "Getting a new sister is amazing."

Three pairs of eyes stared at me with heavy suspicion.

They clearly didn't buy a single word.

In the script they had written in their heads, my reaction should have been:

A. A total mental breakdown with ugly crying.

B. Flipping the coffee table in a fit of jealous rage.

C. Passing out cold on the Persian rug.

They had even prepared themselves to keep Lily waiting outside until I calmed down from my inevitable tantrum.

"Lily is coming home. Your status here..."

Carter let the sentence hang, his voice low and warning. It was bizarre. He was actually waiting for me to lose my mind.

Too bad.

I just blinked at them again, refusing to take the bait.

Nobody can exploit me if I make myself completely useless.