Chapter 1

I hit the jackpot for twenty million dollars. I quit my job and prepared to move back to my hometown.

My boyfriend, Kaden Sterling, reminded me not to show off my wealth to my family.

I laughed at him for being so paranoid. Kaden didn't say anything, but he changed my emergency contact on my phone to his number.

At the station, I called my dad to pick me up. He asked me why I was coming back so suddenly.

I joked that I was sick and was coming home to be a leach and recover.

I waited until evening, but he never showed up.

I caught a ride home in the pouring rain. As soon as I reached the door, I heard my sister-in-law complaining. "Can we please not let her in? I don't want to live with a sick person. It's bad luck!"

1

"You have to promise me. Do not tell them about the lottery when you get back!"

My boyfriend, Kaden, held my hand. He looked incredibly worried as he gave me one last warning. "Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?"

I thought he was overthinking things. I wanted to tease him for being so cautious, but then I saw the deep concern in his eyes.

He had actually taken time off work to accompany me because I get terrible motion sickness on the bus. He was worried I couldn't take care of myself alone.

I patted his hand. "Go back to work. You need to keep an eye on that project at the office. I promise, I won't tell them about the money. Don't worry!"

After getting my word, Kaden changed my emergency contact to his number. I finally nagged him into heading back to the station. He kept looking back at me as he walked away.

I sighed and stood at the station entrance. I called my dad, acting a bit spoiled, and asked him to come get me.

On the other end, my dad paused for a second. He asked why I was back so unexpectedly.

I intentionally used a weak voice. "I worked myself sick. I quit my job to come home and recover. I want to see what it feels like to live off my parents for a while."

The phone went silent for a few seconds.

For some reason, a faint feeling of unease stirred in my heart. I tried to comfort myself, thinking maybe he was just shocked that I was ill.

"I'll come get you after work," he said.

He hung up immediately. I sat on a bench outside the station, feeling a bit let down.

But it was a weekday. My dad was known for being a serious worker. It made sense that he couldn't leave early to pick me up.

I waited from three in the afternoon until seven in the evening.

The sky turned dark, and a heavy rain began to pour. My dad wouldn't pick up his phone. There were fewer and fewer people at the station.

I started to feel scared. I had to run out into the rain and hail an Uber.

The town wasn't very safe at night. I caught the driver watching me through the rearview mirror with a creepy look. I gripped my phone tightly the whole way.

I didn't breathe a sigh of relief until the car stopped safely. I bolted toward my front door like I was escaping something.

"Can we please not let her in? I don't want to live with a sick person. It's bad luck!" My sister-in-law Mindy's voice drifted out.

My hand froze right before I could knock. Then came my brother Rusty's impatient voice.

"Mom, Mindy is five months pregnant. I won't let her stay in the same room as a walking biohazard!"

I let out a cold laugh. I gave up on knocking and pulled my keys from my bag. I opened the door and walked right in.

"This is my house. I don't need your permission―"

"This is Cassie's house! You have no right to talk like that―"

My mother and I spoke at the same time.

My mom was standing by the kitchen door. She looked at me and smiled, though she seemed a bit surprised. "Cassie, you're home."

She saw that my hair was soaked. She quickly explained, "Your father had to work late tonight. He didn't have time to go get you."

I cursed myself for being inconsiderate. I should have just taken a car earlier instead of expecting my dad to leave work for me.

"Why didn't you knock? Where are your manners?" Rusty frowned and started nitpicking. He watched me struggle with my heavy suitcase, but his butt didn't move an inch from the sofa.

"I told you, this is my house. Why the hell would I knock on my own door?" I had never gotten along with Rusty. Every word we exchanged was a barb. My mom sighed and went back into the kitchen.

Mindy leaned into Rusty's arms. She didn't hide her annoyance as she glanced at me.

"So, Cassie's back to leach off the family? Coming back from the big city is really something. You're so proud of being a burden."

I didn't feel like wasting my breath on her. I walked past her toward my old bedroom.

There was a little rabbit-shaped air freshener hanging on the door. I reached out, ripped it off, and threw it on the floor.

"Cassie Ross! Why are you throwing my things?" Mindy got angry. She stood up and screamed at me. "Don't you dare go in there!"

I ignored her and pushed the door open.

The entire room had been painted pink. There was a soft rug on the floor and fairy lights everywhere. Near the window sat a crib.

My room had been completely turned into a nursery!

"What is the meaning of this?" I pointed into the room and demanded an answer.

Mindy walked over with a scowl. She grabbed a bottle of disinfectant and started spraying it wildly into the room. "What does it look like? Are you blind? This is my baby's room!"

"Get away from here. You're covered in germs. Don't stay in this room and infect my baby!"

"Who are you calling full of germs?!" I was truly furious now. I had paid for this house in full. Even if I didn't come home often, keeping a room for me was only right!

Now, they hadn't even bothered to tell me before turning it into a nursery.

"You're the one who said you were sick and came back to recover... Who knows what kind of nasty disease you have..." Mindy muttered. Seeing my face darken, she quickly backed away and turned to Rusty for help. "Rusty―!"

"Can you stop making a scene, Cassie?!" Rusty stepped in and shielded Mindy. "You just came in from outside. You haven't showered or disinfected. Your sister-in-law is carrying the Ross family heir! It's been six months; how did you become so selfish?"

I rolled my eyes. "Are you serious, Rusty? If I were selfish, would I have let a loser like you leach off me in this house for years?"

"Who are you calling a loser―?"

"Shut up!"

My father stood at the door with a grim expression. He glared at Rusty. "Rusty, Mindy! Apologize to Cassie right now!"

Rusty snorted. He grabbed Mindy and stormed off into the master bedroom, slamming the door so hard it shook.

The living room fell silent.