Chapter 1

With May came summer. At the Cole residence in Mirelen, the maid set the last dish on the table.

Out of habit, Matthew Cole reached to put a chicken wing on the plate of the daughter he'd raised for 17 years, Natasha Cole. But when his eyes shifted to his biological daughter, Emilia Ward, whom he'd just brought home, he hesitated.

As a fake heiress who'd spent years living under someone else's life, Natasha picked up on that hesitation right away, and her eyes welled up.

She slammed her utensils on the table and yelled, "I'm not eating!"

Then she ran upstairs.

Seeing this, Emilia's biological mother, Katie Poole, called, "Natasha!"

When Natasha didn't turn around, Katie quickly set her utensils down to follow, but Matthew held her back by the arm.

Emilia's youngest brother, William Cole, noticed the quick exchange between Matthew and Katie and huffed. He slapped his utensils down on the table and went upstairs after Natasha, scowling at Emilia as he passed.

"We had peace in this house, and you had to ruin it!"

Seated at the head of the table, Edith Perkins, Matthew's mother, shot Emilia a hard look. She planted her hands on the table and stood. "I've lost my appetite. Eat without me."

With that, Edith turned and left. Suddenly, it was as if the whole mess was on Emilia.

She'd meant to let it go, but just then Matthew forced a laugh and said, "Emilia, don't mind Natasha. We're the ones who spoiled her."

"Yeah, this all happened pretty suddenly," Katie said, looking at Emilia, not quite sure how she felt.

They had three sons and one daughter. As the only daughter, Natasha had always been the apple of their eye, doted on so much that even William couldn't compare.

But today, Emilia turned up with proof and family keepsakes, claiming she was the Cole family's real heiress, and the daughter they'd cherished for 17 years—Natasha—was a fake!

It wasn't just Natasha. The whole Cole family couldn't handle it. They ordered a DNA test right away, and sure enough, the results confirmed it.

"It's fine," Emilia said.

Under the table, her fingers traced a quick, familiar pattern, reading the day's luck. A crease formed between her brows as she said, "Tell her to be careful tomorrow. It's best if she stays in."

She could see the day drawing petty trouble toward Natasha's way. It was nothing life-threatening, but plenty of arguments, and she could get banged up. It'd be safer not to go out.

"What?"

Matthew and Katie froze, wondering what that was supposed to mean.

William was halfway down the stairs when he heard it, and his face darkened. He was at Emilia's side in two strides. "Are you threatening Nat? Who the hell do you think you are?"

He drew his fist back, ready to put a scare into this country bumpkin who didn't know her place. He'd show her he wasn't an easy mark, and she could forget about waltzing in here and pushing Natasha around.

Before he knew what hit him, Emilia caught William's fist with one hand, turned his momentum, and flipped him face-first onto the floor.

He yelped and staggered up, only then realizing something was off. He wiped his mouth and gaped at the blood on his hand. "Blood! I'm bleeding!"

"William!" Katie cried.

She went blank for a beat at the sight of blood all over his face, then lunged forward to steady him. She turned to the others, still stunned. "Quick! Get an ambulance, now!"

Everyone finally snapped out of it and hurried to call the ambulance.

Before long, Matthew and Katie helped William into the ambulance, his knees wobbling and his face bloodied.

Even Natasha, who'd been sulking, rushed downstairs and climbed in after them before the ambulance pulled away.

Left alone, Emilia returned to the table, picked up her utensils, and lifted a piece from her plate.

Chewing, she muttered, "Blood breaks the curse and rattles the wards. William caught a break this time."

His curse was easy enough to break. The rest of the Cole family, though…

Emilia remembered stepping into the house and seeing a gloom on all their faces, enough to make her skin crawl.

She had never seen anything this terrifying in her life. Reading the Coles' death marks, she found that no one had more than a year left to live. William had only hours.

She would've stayed out of it if her mentor hadn't warned that if the Coles didn't turn things around, she might not survive and could pull her adoptive parents down with her.

Her adoptive parents had been good to her, after all. Growing up, whenever she wanted to learn something, they brought in the best people in the field right away.

All these years, it never mattered to them that she wasn't their biological child. For their sake, she couldn't sit out this Cole family mess. The only question was where to start.

Emilia swept her gaze around the lavish house, opulent yet tinged with something eerie in every corner, and narrowed her eyes.

…

Meanwhile, at Mirelen Hospital, William looked in the mirror and froze at the gap where his front tooth should've been.

He was sure he was doomed. At 14, and ranked the third-best-looking guy in Mirelen, he figured his looks were ruined. It felt like the end of the world.

Just then, his phone rang. Something flashed in his eyes when he saw the caller ID. He said he needed the restroom and ducked aside to take the call.

A punky guy's voice crackled through the call. "William, don't forget about tonight's race! We're all hyped to see you in action!"

"Thee my ath! I…" William said, a thin whistle threading the gap in his teeth as every "s" turned "th".

He touched his lips and grew even more furious. He couldn't even get the words out clean, and they were still going on about seeing him in action.

In the end, he barked, "I'm not going! Beat it!"

Then he ended the call and spat, "Damn it! I won't s-spare her!"

The guy on the other end of the line panicked.

Why wasn't William coming? What about the setup they'd put together just for him? Did he figure out they'd taken money to screw him over? That shouldn't be possible. What happened?

…

It was already dark when the Cole family returned home. William stormed in and took the stairs two at a time, touching his mouth as he went. He hated Emilia's guts.

Natasha hurried after William. She caught him reaching for his mouth and swatted his hand away. "Hands off! Doctor's orders!"

He looked up at her and curled his lips. See? She was the one who actually cared! No way he was calling Emilia his sister, not that violent little jinx!

"Huh?"

A voice came from the top of the stairs. William and Natasha looked up at the same time and saw Emilia a short distance away.

Emilia's gaze slid from William's face to Natasha's, her brows knitting.

What was going on?

She'd broken the curse with blood to rewrite William's death mark. So why was that mark on Natasha now, and even worse than it had ever been? This wasn't what her reading showed before.

Natasha's heart skittered under Emilia's gaze. Uneasy as she was, she knew she'd been taking the place that should've been Emilia's all these years.

She looked Emilia over—plain clothes, hardly any jewelry, jeans faded to chalk.

When Emilia first showed up at the Cole residence, she carried a bulging, scuffed, dingy yellow crossbody bag that had no style at all. The warding sigil on it was so caked with grime that it had turned a dull gray.

Who could say how old it was, or how many hands it had passed through?

"Move it!" William barked, pinning Emilia with a glare.

Fresh hate lit his eyes when he heard the whistle from his missing tooth.

Emilia kept quiet and moved aside. Only then did William pull Natasha along with him.

As Natasha passed, Emilia said, "Be careful tomorrow. Better stay home."

Chapter 2

William blew up. "You still got the nerve to threaten Nat?"

He was just about to rush over and get in Emilia's face when Natasha yanked him back. William kept baring his gap-toothed snarl at Emilia as Natasha dragged him away.

William was hopping mad. "Nat! Why are you holding me back?"

"Let it go. She's got it rough, too," Natasha said.

She lifted her chin, wearing the authority of an older sister. "I've got a school event tomorrow and will be out all day. Don't start anything!"

Hearing that, William curled his lip, still not having it.

Natasha knew his temper and just sighed. She ruffled his hair and told him to get some rest, then headed back to her room.

…

Early the next morning, Natasha slipped into the green dress she and her best friend had agreed on and headed out. The school had organized a visit to the orphanage, and as the student representative, she would be speaking onstage.

From the third-floor bedroom window, Emilia watched Natasha get into the Cole family's car, brow furrowing as she clicked her tongue.

People begged her for a single word of advice and still came up empty. And yet Natasha wouldn't hear a word of it.

Before long, Natasha arrived at the orphanage, and the school bus rolled in at the same time.

"Natasha!"

Her best friend, Charlotte Vance, got off the bus and made a beeline for her. Seeing Natasha in the green dress they'd agreed on, she finally relaxed.

"Natasha, how's your younger brother?"

"William?" Natasha asked, not sure why she'd suddenly brought him up.

Charlotte clung to Natasha's arm. "I think my younger brother just hit his rebellious phase. He's driving me nuts!"

Hearing that, Natasha didn't question it and gave her a once-over in that school uniform. "Didn't you say we were twinning today? Why are you in…"

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "It's Iron Lady! I was wearing it this morning, but she made me change out of it! She said we're students and shouldn't be so flashy! You wear it today, Natasha. We'll be twinning next time."

"Okay."

Natasha knew Central City High ran a tight ship. It was an elite school, where most of the students were geniuses. The school had strict rules too.

Her homeroom teacher, nicknamed "Iron Lady", did everything by the book, so that was exactly the kind of thing she'd do.

"Man, I'm jealous. You get to pull up in your family's car. The rest of us don't get that kind of treatment," Charlotte said, shooting a glance at the Cole family's Porsche and clicking her tongue.

That model was one of just 25 worldwide. In all of Mirelen, only the Cole family—the richest in town—had one. They sent it for Natasha every day, which was hard not to envy.

"I can't help it. I get carsick on buses," Natasha said with a wry smile.

Just then, a teacher began taking attendance, so Natasha took Charlotte by the wrist and hurried over.

The orphanage visit went smoothly. The schedule was set, and they were done by late morning.

Natasha finished her speech to a round of applause. As she stepped offstage, a sudden haze washed over her, a bad feeling rising out of nowhere.

She could almost hear Emilia's warning in her head. "Be careful tomorrow. Better stay home."

Natasha knit her brows, not for a second believing Emilia would lay a finger on her. She thought Emilia was just mouthing off like a street punk.

She snorted to herself, brushed it aside, and carried on with the event.

In the end, as the group left the orphanage to a chorus of goodbyes, chaos broke out. A van parked at the curb suddenly roared to life and barreled toward the crowd, making everyone jump.

Then, masked men with weapons poured out, targeted Natasha in her green dress, and hauled her toward the van.

Natasha went blank with fear. All she could think of was Emilia's words. She couldn't believe Emilia actually sent people after her.

A heartbeat later, someone yanked a black hood over her head.

"We've got the daughter of Mirelen's richest man. Move!"

The van peeled out before anyone could react, leaving a trail of exhaust.

"Natasha!" Charlotte screamed in the crowd, then her eyes rolled back and she passed out.

The school staff who were about to give chase caught her instead. By the time they looked up, the van was gone.

The van had just left the city and was about to head up the mountain road when a pickup came out of nowhere and slammed into it right before a speed bump.

"What the hell?"

The driver slammed on the brakes, and the van skidded sideways to a stop.

"Damn it! Some teen in a pickup just hit us!"

"Forget her! Go! We have to get the hostage there now!"

Huddled in the back of the van, Natasha was terrified. She had no idea what was happening. When she heard the crash, she thought she was done for.

The chaos and shouting that followed only made things worse. Her heart was in her throat, and her head swam with motion sickness.

One by one, the Cole family's faces flickered through her mind. Last of all, she thought of Emilia.

An instant later, the black hood was ripped off Natasha's head. Emilia's face was suddenly right in front of her, and she jolted. "Emilia! It's you?"

"Didn't I tell you to stay home? Do you not get simple instructions?" Emilia demanded, her eyes cold.

She hauled Natasha out of the van like a kitten by the scruff.

Natasha's voice shook. "Why should I listen to you? D-Do you think this will make me give in? You…"

Natasha wasn't going to listen, huh?

Emilia arched a brow, seeing Natasha as a brat who needed a lesson. She made up her mind, pulled Natasha over her lap, and spanked her hard. A sharp smack rang out.

"Are you going to listen?"

Natasha's eyes went wide, disbelief written all over her face. "You!"

Another smack landed.

"Are you going to listen?"

Just then, a black car with a license plate starting with "B" came down the mountain road.

Phillip Langley, the man in the back seat, took in the scene, and for once, a flicker of surprise crossed his usually impassive face.

One teenage girl had another bent over her lap, spanking her, while a circle of masked men lay sprawled on the ground.

The driver, Russell Hoffman, had never seen anything like it. He looked over at Phillip. "Mr. Langley… this…"

Phillip raised a brow, watching Emilia's hand held high. "Mirelen… is more entertaining than I expected. The locals… are truly down-to-earth."

Russell stared, clearly not following.

Down-to-earth? In what world?

Chapter 3

Natasha was dying of embarrassment, her face flushed bright red.

She bit her lip and stayed quiet, taking each smack as it landed harder than the last. The sharp smacks carried along the empty mountain road.

"Are you going to listen?" Emilia demanded.

She was about to bring her hand down again when she saw a car with a license plate starting with "B" roll to a stop under ten feet away.

Emilia lifted Natasha off her leg like she weighed nothing.

As soon as Natasha found her footing, she cut Emilia a wounded, angry look and looked away. Her eyes had gone red.

Only then did Natasha notice several burly, masked men sprawled on the ground. Realizing they were the ones who'd just abducted her, she shot Emilia a wary look.

"They… you…"

Natasha wondered if Emilia had saved her.

Emilia glanced at the car, then looked back at Natasha. "Can you yell?"

"Y-Yell?"

"Yell for help."

"What?"

Natasha didn't follow right away.

Still, the moment Emilia's hand shot up, Natasha instinctively shielded her butt and cried out, her voice cracking with fear. "Help! Help! Help!"

Russell turned to Phillip in the back seat, looking a little helpless. "Mr. Langley, they're shouting for help."

Like everyone else, Russell knew Phillip never interfered. He was so aloof that even if someone died in front of him, he wouldn't look twice. If those two teenage girls turned to him for help, he'd probably just see them as a bother.

Phillip's gaze slid past Natasha and settled on Emilia, who looked calm, and said, "Since someone's asking for help, let's give them a hand."

Russell blinked. "Huh?"

What? Give them a hand? Russell wondered if he was hearing things. Did those kind of words actually come out of Phillip's mouth?

Russell had a running commentary in his head, but he didn't dare let any of it show in front of Phillip.

Russell opened the door, hopped out, and asked what was happening. When he found out Natasha had been abducted in broad daylight, he was shocked.

He hurried back to the car and filled Phillip in. "Neither of them has a phone, so they're asking us to call the police."

Phillip snorted.

Natasha and Emilia didn't look like they needed anyone to call the police for them. Maybe they didn't have phones, but the abductors surely did. Bottom line, they were after witnesses.

Anyway, he'd only just reached Mirelen and had already come across something interesting. He decided he could spare a little time.

"Call the police," Phillip said, then, after a beat, added, "Invite them into the car."

"Huh?"

Russell was dumbfounded, wondering if he was hearing things again. Shocked as he was, he did as he was told, asking Natasha and Emilia to get into the car.

After a morning at the orphanage, being abducted, and getting swatted on the butt by Emilia, Natasha was wiped out and starving.

When she heard she was invited to rest in the car and that there were snacks and drinks, she thanked Russell and started to follow him. But she'd barely taken a step when Emilia grabbed her by the collar and yanked her back.

Emilia shot her a glare. "Do you ever learn?"

What was Natasha thinking? She'd just been abducted, and now she was about to get into a stranger's car.

"Thanks for the offer, but we've got our own ride. Just call the police for us," Emilia said, pulling Natasha to her pickup, where a dozen watermelons filled the truck bed.

"Sit with the melons," Emilia said.

"Why?"

"Fine. Stand, then."

Emilia didn't bother saying anything else. She slid into the driver's seat, laced her hands behind her head, and leaned back to gaze at the sky, perfectly at ease.

"Seriously…" Natasha muttered.

Stung and sulking, she could only climb into the truck bed, wedge out a spot among the melons, and ease herself down.

"How could she do this to me…" she grumbled in a little pout.

"How interesting," Phillip said, a smirk tugging at his lips.

He hadn't expected someone to make use of him and still turn him down.

Russell wiped the sweat from his brow. "Mr. Langley, I already called the police, and, um…"

Phillip ignored him and opened the door. Then, he stepped out and headed straight for the pickup.

Emilia sensed someone approaching and slowly opened her eyes.

Phillip was approximately six feet two inches tall, dressed in a plain white T-shirt and dark jeans.

It was a simple outfit, but he made it look different. With broad shoulders and a trim waist, his proportions looked runway-ready.

He had a clean, chiseled face, and eyes that seemed to see straight through people. His nose was sharp and straight, and his well-shaped lips held no hint of a smile, leaving him cool and aloof.

His hair was kept short, with loose bangs that barely hid a tiny mole between his brows.

"A mole between his brows points to money or status. Full earlobes say he was born lucky. Luck runs thin in his family, though. He'll keep running into schemers," Emilia murmured.

She sat up and turned to Phillip as he came closer. "Do you want some watermelon?"

"Huh?"

At his puzzled look, Emilia slid out of the driver's seat, went to the back, hefted a melon, grabbed a knife from the back seat, and split it open.

She handed him the largest slice. "Thanks for calling the police."

Taking it as thanks, Phillip took the slice.

Emilia handed the other, slightly bigger piece to Natasha. "Here, have some."

Natasha was thirsty, hungry, and tired. It was too hard to refuse the juicy melon.

"You're annoying," she muttered, but took it and tore in with big bites.

The sweet watermelon juice slid down her throat, easing her motion sickness. Tears pricked her eyes. After such a rough day, every hurt she'd swallowed kept her eating.

Noticing how messy Natasha was eating, Emilia brushed the watermelon seeds off her cheek. "You've got seeds on your face. Slow down."

Natasha froze. When she looked up at Emilia, her awkward look melted into something shy.

She had two older brothers and a younger one. If she'd had a sister…

Natasha blinked, the words dying on her tongue. In the end, she couldn't bring herself to say anything embarrassing. She ducked her head and kept eating, taking big bites of watermelon.

Seeing how much she was enjoying it, Phillip took a bite too. The watermelon was juicy and sweet. It really was good.

Before long, a patrol car pulled up, and the officers surveyed the scene. An officer took notes as he asked, "So they're all abductors? And what about that pickup?"

"I drove it here," Emilia answered truthfully.

"Captain, we found the report for the abduction. Also, this pickup looks like… the one the watermelon farmer reported stolen right off the street."

That stopped everyone cold, and all eyes swung to Emilia.

She nodded, unfazed. "Yeah. I grabbed it off the street."

The captain's face hardened. "You! What else have you done?"

"I cut up a melon," Emilia said, pointing at Natasha, then Phillip, then Russell, who looked shocked. "They all had some."

Natasha's head buzzed. She shouted, "What? Emilia! Y-You fed me stolen stuff!"

Phillip's face darkened. He hadn't expected Emilia to have such nerve.

Emilia frowned. "Stolen? But you looked pretty happy eating it, didn't you?"

She didn't see anything wrong with having some watermelon.

If she hadn't grabbed the farmer's pickup right then, he would've blown the red at the next light and slammed into a woman pushing a stroller. That could be dangerous.

And what? Was she supposed to chase the abductors who'd taken Natasha on foot? She'd just saved a bunch of lives, and she couldn't even have some watermelon?

Natasha was so furious at Emilia's words that she couldn't get a full sentence out. "You! I…"

The captain looked drained. "Enough. All of you, with me. Take them in! Every one of them!"

Phillip's face had gone so dark that Russell shook all over. "M-Mr. Langley…"

He knew they were toast.

Chapter 4

The second William heard Natasha had been abducted, he lunged for the door, ready to throw himself into a fight. Luckily, Matthew held him in place.

Matthew had called the police the minute he heard the news. Then he shelled out a small fortune to hire a private investigator and was still waiting to hear back.

"We Coles have always done our best to be kind…" Katie said, her eyes red from crying.

Worried sick about Natasha, she got halfway through a sentence before her throat tightened and the rest died in her mouth.

"Where's Emilia?" William asked.

With Matthew still holding him, William shot to his feet like something had clicked. "She threatened Nat yesterday. It had to be her!"

"What the hell are you talking about? Quit stirring things up!" Matthew snapped.

His head was already a mess, and hearing William say it only made his temples throb. Even at her worst, Emilia was still his daughter. He didn't buy that she'd really do something like that.

William quickly called in the butler, Steven Brown, and asked where she was.

After they learned Emilia had left not long after Natasha went out that morning, with her whereabouts unknown, Matthew and Katie fell silent. Could it really be…

William was hopping mad. His words came out in a whistling lisp, thanks to the missing tooth, as he barked, "I told you! That jinx is up to no good! If Nat comes back with so much as a scratch, I'll skin Emilia alive!"

Right then, the police called Matthew and Katie to say they'd found Natasha.

After Matthew and Katie confirmed Natasha was okay, they both let out a breath and were about to hang up when William suddenly thought of something and snatched the phone.

"What about Emilia?" William asked.

"Emilia? She's here too. We found them both."

Hearing that, William lifted his chin with a smug look that said, "See? Told you!"

Matthew's and Katie's faces fell, their expressions suddenly turning grave.

Could Emilia really have done something that awful? Then there was no way they were keeping her around!

…

After cooperating with the officers and completing their statements, Emilia and the others waited for the Coles to pick them up.

Meanwhile, the students who'd visited the orphanage had finished giving their statements about Natasha and were getting ready to leave.

Someone grumbled, "I'm starving. Natasha brought this on herself with all that showing off, and we're the ones paying for it!"

Someone else whispered, "We still don't know where she is. You shouldn't say stuff like that."

"What's wrong with me saying that? It's the truth. We busted our butts all morning, and we're still stuck at the station and haven't eaten a thing. We're not criminals!

"She's the student rep. She just had to pose for photos. We're the ones who watched those kids all morning! I'm beat and starving!" that person replied.

After hearing that, everyone went quiet. Maybe it was the hunger talking, but people started grumbling about Natasha. Before long, others voiced their discontent as well.

"Everybody took the bus, while she rode in a luxury car. Everyone wore uniforms, while she showed up in a green dress. She's so showy it's like she wants everyone to know she's the richest man's daughter. Who else would abductors target?"

The resentment spread like a cold. One by one, they caught it, and their words grew meaner.

Charlotte rubbed her eyes, still red from crying, and said, "Forget it. Let's just say it's on Natasha this time. I'll apologize for her and cover everyone's meal. Please forgive her just this once."

When she said that, the students who'd been grumbling finally fell silent, though they still curled their lips. People nearby were singing her praises, calling her pretty, kind, and generous.

Charlotte simply smiled and led the group out of the police station.

By the corner, Natasha tightened her grip on the cup. She'd just come over for some water. She lowered her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Just then, someone poked her in the forehead. She snapped her head up and met Emilia's gaze.

The last thing Natasha wanted was for anyone to catch her at her most vulnerable. Her gaze flickered. That entitled streak of hers kicked in, and she snapped, "What are you doing here?"

"You took forever just to fill a cup. I thought you'd been abducted again," Emilia said lightly, taking the misshapen cup from her and draining it.

"That was my water!"

Emilia grabbed a clean paper cup, filled it, and handed it to Natasha. "Are we even now?"

"Who said we're even?"

Natasha curled her lip and took the cup from Emilia without a shred of politeness. She took a sip. The dryness in her throat eased, but the heaviness in her chest didn't lift.

Emilia looked toward the group of students filing out and narrowed her eyes.

Soon, Matthew and Katie arrived at the station with William. The moment he saw Emilia, William charged, fists swinging, but she caught him in a quick wrist lock and pinned him to the wall.

"Don't you dare touch Nat, jerk! Ask around and you'll find out who I am. Let go!" William bellowed, thrashing but unable to break free.

"William! You've got it wrong!"

Natasha hurried over and explained that Emilia had saved her, leaving out the part about the spanking and the stolen watermelons.

When the police chief, Harry Emerson, confirmed Emilia had helped with the rescue, Matthew and Katie finally breathed easier. Even at her worst, they knew, Emilia wasn't the type to break the law.

"That said…"

Harry changed tack, chuckling awkwardly as he explained that Emilia had taken the watermelon farmer's pickup on the street.

"She meant well, and the farmer's willing to settle since he knows she did it to save someone. It's just… she still needs a little guidance. Grabbing a pickup on the street isn't fine. She could use a little guidance.

"This time, we're sticking to a verbal warning and calling it good."

Matthew and Katie were dumbstruck. They turned to Emilia, calm as ever, their emotions all over the place. After they wrapped up the paperwork, they took Natasha and Emilia back to the Cole residence.

Once home, Matthew and Katie fussed over Emilia and Natasha, all concern. Off to the side, William felt left out.

"Emilia saved the day!"

William jutted his chin, refusing to yield. "If I'd been there, they never would've had a chance to grab Nat!"

"You did great, Emilia. What do you want to eat?"

"I busted my butt, too! I was so wound up, and I skipped lunch. I want barbecue pork ribs!" William said.

When no one answered, he practically shouted, "I want barbecue pork ribs!"

"Emilia, you're not hurt, are you? If anything feels off, tell us right away."

A thought flashed through William, and he clutched his jaw. "Oh, my tooth. Why does it suddenly hurt? It's killing me!"

"Why don't you two head upstairs, grab a shower, and change?"

"Enough!"

Fed up with being ignored, William closed the distance, jabbed a finger in Emilia's face, and yelled, "I've seen right through you! You staged this, didn't you? You might fool everyone else, but you won't fool me!

"You just showed up to fight us over the inheritance, didn't you?"

As soon as William finished talking, he got smacked on the back of the head.

Matthew's face went dark, and he barked, "I'm still alive, and you're already talking about the inheritance?"

William realized he'd misspoken and tried to explain. "Dad… uh… I didn't—"

"Go back to your room!" Katie cut him off, her face hardening as she thought they'd spoiled him rotten.

William stared in disbelief at how harsh Matthew and Katie were, then glared at Emilia, who hadn't said a word.

"Happy now?" he shouted, then bolted up the stairs without a backward glance, eyes brimming.

Emilia blinked, not seeing any reason to be happy.

"William!" Natasha cried, running after him, worried sick.

The mood at the Cole residence turned awkward all over again.

…

Meanwhile, a crowd poured into the police station. The man up front wore a dark suit and stood about six feet one inch, his hard-set features making it clear he wasn't someone to mess with.

"We're the Shaws from Mirelen. I heard our cousin was asked to come down to the station, so I brought the Shaw family's entire legal team."

Hearing the introduction, Harry drew a sharp breath. How did this end up involving the Shaw family? Luckily, he cleared it up in no time.

When he heard that Phillip had been brought in to "assist with the investigation" over a single bite of watermelon, the tough-looking guy almost cracked a smile, but professionalism kept him from laughing.

He was a professional, after all.

Phillip's face darkened. Just before leaving the station, he asked, "Where is she?"

"Do you mean the Coles?" Harry asked, letting out a dry laugh. "Mr. and Mrs. Cole took them home earlier. You—"

"The Coles?"

Phillip arched a brow, ignored Harry, and walked out without looking back.

Emilia used him, then turned him down. After stringing him along, she dragged him into it and made him look like a fool the minute he got to Mirelen. In the end, she left without a word.

He couldn't believe she'd be that bold!

Emilia's cool, above-it-all, unfairly pretty face flashed through Phillip's mind.

"I'll remember you!"

Chapter 5

That night, Matthew and Katie had a heart-to-heart.

"Emilia's a good one. It's just…" she trailed off, her temples pounding.

Raised to follow the rules, she just couldn't wrap her head around Emilia stealing a pickup in broad daylight.

"Like Chief Emerson said, she needs the right guidance," Matthew said.

He took a deep breath and made up his mind. "Darling, I don't want Emilia going back to her adoptive parents yet. I want her here with us."

He couldn't begin to imagine what her adoptive parents had raised her to be. The Coles were Mirelen's richest family, yet Emilia was out there stealing a pickup in broad daylight. How was that even acceptable?

After all, Emilia was Matthew's own flesh and blood. If he didn't keep her on track and she ended up doing something awful down the line, he'd never forgive himself.

In the end, Katie figured Natasha's feelings mattered too, so she decided to talk to Natasha first.

Katie soothed Natasha and only then brought up Emilia stealing a pickup in broad daylight. "I have no idea how she was raised to think that's okay."

If Emilia had really been a lost cause, Katie and Matthew could have hardened their hearts and let her go. But the fact that Emilia went to save Natasha showed she still had their goodness in her.

At that, Natasha drew a sharp breath. She remembered Emilia telling her to eat the watermelon out of the stolen pickup as if it were nothing.

Even when the police questioned them, Emilia couldn't have cared less. She was basically an outlaw. If she kept spiraling like this, where would it end?

Since Katie had already said as much, Natasha couldn't in good conscience say no. And even if Natasha wasn't fond of Emilia, she couldn't stand by and watch Emilia drift into crime.

In the end, Natasha nodded and took Katie's hand. "Okay, Mom! We'll do this together. We'll turn her into…"

She was about to say she wanted to turn Emilia into a well-mannered woman, but when she remembered how Emilia had pulled her over her lap and spanked her, her face went hot.

A woman from a good family wouldn't do that!

In the end, Natasha had to settle for second best and said, "We'll make her a law-abiding citizen!"

Katie nodded hard, emotion thick in her throat as she looked at the daughter she'd raised. Natasha was so warm and kind. She'd always known Natasha was the gentlest, most well-behaved child.

She just wished Emilia could be more like Natasha. And if that was asking too much, then let Emilia have even a tenth of Natasha's kindness.

…

Meanwhile, Emilia sat cross-legged in the bedroom and was talking on the phone when she suddenly sneezed.

A crisp male voice came through the phone beside her. "Did you catch a cold, Ms. Ward? That can't be right. Aren't you the indestructible one who never gets sick?"

"Where are your manners?" Emilia asked as she reached for a tissue and wiped her nose. "It's just a little itch. How's that thing I asked you to look into?"

"I hacked into Mirelen's transit network and pulled the logs for that day. It turns out there was a ferry headed for the lawless region at that time, so they might've been planning to sell Natasha off."

"Any luck figuring out who did it?" Emilia asked, a slight furrow between her brows.

"No. They were careful," the voice on the other end said with a quiet huff. "But the ferry is owned by the Shaws out of Mirelen."

Emilia narrowed her eyes. "The Shaws?"

"Yeah. Should I keep looking into it?"

"Keep looking."

On the other end of the line, the man let out a smarmy chuckle. "About my uncle's condition… Don't worry, Ms. Ward. No one knows your rules better than I do. I already wired the five million dollars for the consultation to your account. My uncle…"

"Death isn't taking him yet," Emilia said, then rattled off a list of medicinal herbs and dosages. "Follow the prescription I gave you. Bring the herbs to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.

"Repeat this three times, cooking each batch from about three cups of water down to one cup. Then combine the three batches, divide into three doses, and take them in the morning, at noon, and at night.

"Check back with me in seven days. A slow-acting toxin has been poisoning your uncle for years, so it's done deep damage, and we can't rush this."

The voice on the other end brightened. "Got it. Thanks, Dr. Ward! Leave the Shaws to me. I'll dig up everything, right down to which color underwear the Shaws' patriarch wears on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays! Bye!"

Emilia was about to say she didn't care about his underwear, but the caller had already ended the call before she could get a word in. How impatient.

She shook her head, ready to close her eyes and begin her breathing practice, when a knock sounded at the door. It was Matthew.

Small talk wasn't his thing with Emilia, so he thanked her for saving Natasha and got straight to the point.

"I talked to the principal at Central City High. Tomorrow you're going with Natasha and starting in her class as a transfer student. We'll see how it goes."

Emilia blinked. "Huh?"

Study? Her? Was there anyone in all of Mirelen who could teach her?

Emilia was about to turn him down, then remembered Natasha's classmates she'd seen today. She thought it over and said yes.

The moment William's curse broke, it latched onto Natasha. That proved someone had the Coles in their sights and wouldn't stop until one of them was dead.

The abduction at the orphanage gate went off without a hitch. That alone proved someone close to Natasha was pulling strings. Emilia decided she'd better go herself and look into it.

…

By the next morning, the plan for Emilia to attend school with Natasha had William reacting more than everyone in the Cole residence.

"Here's what I think. Nat's whole mess is Emilia's setup! Emilia is just looking for a legit excuse to stay. And you're not throwing her out, but sending her to school with Nat? Absolutely not!"

He pointed at Emilia, eyes bulging. "She's probably after our… uh… estate! Kick her out!"

Realizing he'd almost blurted out "inheritance" again, William pressed his lips together, suddenly a little afraid.

Katie's expression hardened. "William, don't be rude! Who taught you to talk like that?"

William hunched his shoulders but still mouthed off, "A-Anyway, I disagree! Kick her out. Out!"

He looked ready to drop to the floor and throw a fit until Matthew kicked him in the butt, and he stormed upstairs to sulk.

Katie stopped Natasha, who was about to charge upstairs to talk sense into him, and shook her head. "It's time. You should head out."

They couldn't keep indulging William, or he'd never grow up.

"I told the school you two are cousins," Matthew said, then glanced at Emilia.

Seeing she was as unfazed as ever, he continued, "Emilia, you're there as a guest student. Your classwork won't count toward your grades, and you don't need to take the SAT. Just go get a feel for the place."

Central City High had a reputation for rigorous academics, especially in Natasha's elite class. A little exposure to that environment might help Emilia rein herself in.

Emilia waited for Matthew to finish, then shot Natasha a playful look, lifting a brow. "Cousins? So who's the older one and who's the younger?"

Meeting her gaze, Natasha shrank a little and instinctively covered her butt. "Y-You're the older cousin, okay?"

Emilia simply nodded and headed out. "Works for me."

Natasha stopped Emilia. "Hang on. Leave that bag. If you don't mind, I have one for you. I only carried it for a couple of months last year, and I've already stocked it with the stationery and supplies you'll need."

Emilia looked at the bag in Natasha's hands, a calfskin backpack that had to be worth over 300 thousand dollars. It was pristine. She clearly loved it.

Worried Emilia would mind a used bag, Katie walked over with a smile. "We're in a rush, Emilia. I'll take you shopping this weekend. For now, just use this."

"Whatever."

Emilia didn't care about that kind of thing. She took Natasha's bag, slipped off her canvas tote, and handed it to Steven to take back to her room.

Steven glanced down at the bag, so worn its original color was anyone's guess. He started to say something, then thought better of it.

When he met Emilia's indifferent gaze, he gave a small nod. "Yes, Ms. Ward."

Starting today, Emilia was introduced as Natasha's cousin, who was temporarily staying at the Cole residence.