- 2.
In the end, I still went home with them.
Because in this world, everything is fake,
except money. Don’t get on the wrong side of
money.
But this time, I made sure to speak my mind in
front of the cameras. Now, my parents were all
nice and careful around me.
In their mansion, my mom, Elizabeth, gave
Harlow a big hug and introduced her to me:
“Olivia, this is Harlow, your sister.”
Harlow gave me a fake smile and held out her
hand.
I turned to Elizabeth. “So, this is the
<
replacement kid, huh?”
The room went silent, awkward as hell.
I looked at my dad, Charles. “No need for
introductions. I agreed to come here because
you promised a better learning environment. If
you can’t deliver, I’m not interested in staying.”
“It’s been over a decade, I can’t pretend to feel
any connection here. I’ll try to make this work,
but don’t expect any warm family moments.
“And frankly, I don’t give a damn who you
adopted or how many dogs you own.”
The Sterling family was well–known in town,
and thanks to the earlier news coverage, they
knew they couldn’t just kick me out. Not
without some serious backlash. Especially since
I had already presented myself as the smart,
hardworking underdog.
<
When I said that, I saw Elizabeth and Charles
exchange angry looks. Harlow seized the
opportunity to play the victim, tears welling up
in her eyes.
My hothead twin brother, Jake, couldn’t take it
anymore.
“Who the hell do you think you are? Talking to
my sister like that!”
“So you’re smart? Big deal. You’ll probably end
up stripping at some dive bar.”
“What are you playing at? Think you’re too
good for us? I could have some buddies take
you out back and teach you a lesson.”
“Stay if you want, leave if you don’t! Trashy gold digger thinks she’s hot shit.”
I turned to my parents. “Is this what passes for
good brooding in the unner class? le this how
<
good breeding in the upper class? Is this how enlightened people speak?”
My dad’s face turned red, and he slapped Jake
so hard he stumbled.
“Dad! You hit me? For her? Some random hick
off the street?”
I crossed my arms. “We’re twins, dipshit. If I’m
some ‘hick off the street,‘ what does that make
you? A defective product?”
“Or,” I turned to my mom. “Are you implying
something about your own slutty past?”
Elizabeth slapped him too. “Shut your mouth!”
Harlow sobbed, throwing herself in front of
Jake. “Mom, Dad, don’t fight anymore! It’s all
my fault. I shouldn’t have taken Olivia’s place.
It’s all my fault, hurt me instead.”
L
I stepped up to her. “I heard you had some big
adoption ceremony. All over the news. They
said you had a weak heart. That too much
excitement could kill you.”
“So, you’re crying this hard on purpose? Trying.
to show me who’s boss? Or just trying to
remind everyone how fragile and precious you
are?”
Elizabeth and Charles eyed Harlow suspiciously.
She stopped crying, shaking her head. “No, no!
I didn’t mean anything by it! Don’t listen to
her!”
See? Spineless. Easy to manipulate.
I
Last time, as soon as I walked in, those two
started throwing shade. I never even had a
chance to defend myself. I didn’t get my
footing and I gave my parents the wrong
impression.
This time, I shut them down fast and won over
my parents in the process.
I was done with this nonsense. I turned to my
mom. “I’m tired. Where’s my room?”
