Chapter 1

When the billionaire couple arrived at our university to give a speech, my childhood friend, Hayden Shaw, was dragging me away. He wanted us to sneak off to the dining hall for our work-study shift.

He told me to grab some empty buckets from the top shelf. Just as I moved, glowing bullet comments suddenly flickered before my eyes.

[Don't touch that bucket! Hayden put boiling hot soup inside to disfigure you!]

[Three years ago, Hayden let his first love take your place as the long-lost daughter of the Sinclair family. Now he wants to ruin your face so you can never go back.]

[You were supposed to suffer severe burns and die after a series of painful, failed surgeries.]

[That jerk would then marry into the Sinclair family and steal their entire fortune!]

[Go back now! Let Mrs. Sinclair see your face. This is your only chance to reclaim your life as the real heiress!]

I heard Hayden urging me to hurry up. I looked at the bucket, then at the floating text, and froze in my tracks.

1

Stella, what are you waiting for? Grab the bucket! I can't hold these bags of rice much longer!

Hayden was standing thirty feet away, shouting at me. The bullet comments continued to scroll frantically across my vision.

[My poor girl, stay away from that bucket!]

[Run! Your face is identical to Mrs. Sinclair's. If you're disfigured, you'll never find your way home!]

My legs began to tremble as I slowly backed away. Hayden called out again, moving a few steps closer.

Stella, what is wrong with you? he asked, sounding annoyed.

I forced myself to look away from the shelf. Hayden, I heard the billionaire speaking today found his daughter a few years ago. Is that true?

His eyes widened for a split second before he shrugged. How should I know what rich people do?

He kept pressuring me. All I know is that if we don't finish this shift, we won't get paid.

I sat down by the door, refusing to move. I'm tired. I need to rest for a minute.

Hayden grew frantic. Just move the bucket first, then you can rest!

The more he rushed me, the more suspicious I became. I pulled out my phone and searched for news about the Sinclair family from three years ago.

There she was. The girl being hugged by a sobbing Mrs. Sinclair was our childhood friend, Sienna Brooks!

No wonder Sienna changed her name to Sienna Sinclair right before freshman year. She told me a psychic had recommended it for good luck.

I bit my lip and shoved the phone screen in front of Hayden. Isn't this Sienna?

He looked away, his throat tightening. Maybe. I've been too busy working to pay attention to that stuff.

Just listen to me and move the bucket. I'll take you out for burgers once we're done.

He was trying to change the subject. He was guilty.

My heart felt like it was being squeezed before being tossed off a cliff. I was kidnapped when I was only two years old and abandoned by my foster parents a year later.

I met Hayden at the orphanage when we were both kids. We grew up together and even got into the same university.

He had always taken care of me, saving money for my snacks and taking me on trips. When other kids bullied me, he learned how to fight just to protect me.

Five years ago, he confessed his love to me with a bouquet of lilies. He promised to be my only family forever.

I thought we would get married after graduation. But two years after I said yes, he had already sent another girl to steal my life.

Hayden, am I really your first love? I asked, my voice cracking.

He looked down, dusting off a rice bag. Of course, Stella. You've always been the one.

[He's lying again! This man is pure evil!]

My eyes stung with tears as I lowered my head in disappointment.

Sienna came to the orphanage when we were ten. She was pretty and sweet, always following Hayden around and calling him her hero.

At first, he seemed annoyed, but eventually, he made sure she was included in everything we did.

I clenched my fists, thinking of the girl who used to call me her sister. They had been plotting behind my back this entire time.

And today, because the Sinclairs were on campus, Hayden wanted to burn my face so they wouldn't recognize me.

I couldn't let them keep lying. I had to go back.

Hayden, my stomach hurts. I need to find a restroom.

I didn't wait for his answer and bolted straight toward the auditorium.