8
Sadie couldn’t stand Jenna’s fake act and raised her hand to slap her, but Leo caught her wrist.
In his anger, Leo raised his own hand to strike Sadie, but his wrist was caught in turn by another, much larger
hand.
Sadie turned, her face lighting up. “Nick! What are you doing back?”
Her brother’s voice was a low, magnetic rumble. “If I ever find out you’re bullying my sister again,” he said to
Leo, “you won’t like the consequences.”
He flung Leo’s hand away.
I looked up at him, my eyes sparkling. This was the kind of brother I wanted! I had zero resistance to this
kind of fiercely protective older brother.
I nudged Sadie. “Does your brother need another sister?”
I completely ignored Leo and Spencer yelling “Lila!” in the background.
I’d only ever heard about Sadie’s brother; this was the first time I was seeing him in person. I only came up to
his shoulder. He had a perfect, sharp jawline that was incredibly captivating.
He was seven years older than Sadie and had already taken over the Clark–level powerhouse that was the
White Corporation. A true, bona fide CEO. A total workaholic, always in meetings. Our families did a lot of
business together, so my father dealt with him often.
Despite being so young, he was the man in charge. In Sadie’s words, he was a “sly, calculating fox.”
Suddenly, a woman burst through the crowd and grabbed Jenna by the hair. “You little brat! You’re coming
with me!”
Jenna stumbled, crashing into a nearby trash cart. Leftover food spilled all over her custom–made suit–my
Chapter
custom–made suit. A pang of regret hit me. That was my favorite outfit.
The woman looked familiar. I searched my memory and realized it was her–the woman who had tried to switch me at birth. She looked much older, more worn down. She was wearing a janitor’s uniform.
Jenna fought her off, and Leo shielded her. “She is my daughter! How dare a lowlife like you compare yours-
elf to the Clark heiress!”
Jenna finally snapped. “If it weren’t for you,” she shrieked at the woman, “I would have had a life like Lila’s! A life of luxury! Why were you so cruel?”
“Don’t think I don’t know why you took a janitor’s job at this school! It was so you could see her every day,
wasn’t it?”
The woman, her secret exposed, lunged at Jenna, ready to tear into her. She raised her hand to slap her, a
motion that looked frighteningly practiced.
