Chapter 1My Outstanding Adoptive Brothers Are Supporting Someone Else

After graduating from college, I set out to make a new life in Kingshaven with my parents, who had just wrapped up over two decades of teaching in an underserved rural community.

To our surprise, as soon as we stepped off the train, we ran straight into Kingshaven’s infamous little tyrant.

She clearly had a woman’s appearance, yet she kept insisting she was a man.

Of course, I glanced at her a couple of times.

“What are you staring at? Never seen a man before? I can’t stand women like you, using your looks to seduce men wherever you go.”

We had only just arrived in the capital, so I did not want any trouble. I took my parents by the arm and turned to leave.

As I turned, however, she spotted the little wooden bird hanging from my backpack.

She suddenly grabbed me and tossed a switchblade at me.

“So, you’re another one of my brother’s pathetic admirers. Do you women ever know when to quit? Cut your face so you can’t seduce men anymore, and I’ll let you go.”

Mom’s expression darkened with anger, while Dad stepped protectively in front of me.

I did not back down.

“What makes you think I need your permission to leave?”

The tomboy reacted as though I had just told the funniest joke in the world. Even the thugs gathered behind her burst out laughing.

“Because my eldest brother, Damian Kane, is the richest man in Kingshaven. My second brother, Antonio Cross, practically owns this city, and my third brother, Julian Reed, is a top superstar.

“I’m the beloved little sister of all those men, Sienna Quinn.”

Hearing that, my eyes widened in disbelief.

Those three names she had just said were the ridiculous names I had jokingly invented for my foster brothers ten years ago.

* * *

When Sienna Quinn saw the disbelief on my face, her smug smile widened.

“Well? Scared now? Be a good girl and do exactly as I told you.”

I was still reeling from the revelation. Mom and Dad were also stunned upon hearing those three familiar names.

A food cart vendor behind us took pity on me and whispered, “Listen, miss, you folks aren’t from around here, so you don’t know how things work in Kingshaven.

“Maybe you should just swallow your pride and apologize to Ms. Quinn. Tell her what she wants to hear, and you may get out of this with your face intact.”

I stood still and even straightened my back without thinking.

When the onlookers saw how “stubborn” I was being, they shook their heads and turned on my parents instead.

“She may be young and foolish enough to cross Ms. Quinn, but her parents are old enough to know better.”

“You can tell they’re ignorant country bumpkins who have never been anywhere. They have no idea how things work around here.”

“At their age, they still have no common sense. Maybe Ms. Quinn should teach them a lesson.”

The murmuring around them made Mom look troubled.

She tugged gently at my arm.

“Cassie, maybe we should let this go. Your dad and I are just teachers. We have no power. Let me apologize to her. We can’t afford to cross people like them.”

I took Mom’s hand, ready to refuse, but the sight of my parents’ graying hair and lined faces stopped me.

I could not bring myself to put them through any more of this.

From Sienna’s attitude, she had no intention of letting us go unless I gave in.

Even though I knew the three men she mentioned were the very adoptive brothers who had watched me grow up, there was no way they would magically show up to stand up for me and my parents.

Taking the humiliation quietly was better than making my parents worry.

“Mom, I’ll apologize to her.”

I took a deep breath. Then, I swallowed the humiliation and walked over to Sienna.

I lowered my head to make myself appear as meek and respectful as possible.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Quinn. I didn’t know any better, and I never meant to offend you. Please forgive me.”

I was just about to raise my head to look at her when she slapped me.

The next second, my left cheek was burning with pain.

The force of the blow knocked my head to the side.

Still dazed, I instinctively covered my cheek. Something warm and slick spread beneath my palm.

When I pulled my hand away, my palm was covered in blood.

Sienna’s long, pointed acrylic nails had left several deep gashes across my face.