Chapter 2

2

My mom tried to play peacemaker. "Oh, it's just a small misunderstanding. No need to be upset."

Arthur added, "Sera probably just has a bit of a morning temper. She's still adjusting to the time zone. Don't take it to heart."

He gave me a look and then led the weeping Chloe back to her room to comfort her.

I didn't even need to finish my breakfast; I was already full of rage.

My mom looked at me and asked what happened, but I just told her it was nothing.

I wanted to see what other nonsense this woman was going to pull.

Since I was newly home, I was like a hungry animal.

I spent every day out with my old friends, eating everything in sight to make up for the years I spent abroad.

During this time, I didn't have much energy to deal with Chloe.

But then, one of my friends brought her up.

"How are things with that future sister-in-law of yours? She's a piece of work, isn't she?"

It was my childhood friend, Beckett Sterling.

He had that smug look on his face that said, 'I know a secret but I won't tell you unless you ask.'

He's been like that since we were kids.

I gave him a bored look. "Just spill it already."

He grinned wickedly. "That girl was just an intern at your company. She hasn't been there long, but she's already got your idiot brother wrapped around her finger."

I snorted. "Is that it? Everyone knows that. Tell me something new."

Beckett didn't miss a beat. "Did you know her only goal since joining the company was to seduce Arthur?"

"Now she's going around calling herself the future Mrs. Vance. She's using that title to brag everywhere."

I finally turned my full attention to him.

Beckett pulled out his phone and showed me some screenshots.

They were messages between Chloe and her friends.

【I've already got Arthur Vance in my pocket. Rich boys are so easy to tame.】

【Arthur took me home to meet the parents. The Vance mansion is huge! They even have a maid. I'm never letting go of this.】

【Arthur's sister is coming back. Sisters-in-law are always a threat in families like this. Once she's home, I'm going to give her a piece of my mind and show her who's boss.】

How incredibly stupid. To brag about something like that so openly... she was truly reckless.

I judged her silently in my mind before looking back at Beckett.

"And what's your connection to the person who sent these screenshots?"

Beckett gave a greasy laugh. I looked at him with disgust, but he didn't care.

"It's a mutual arrangement. We both get what we want. Not everyone is as naive as your brother."

I realized I had to keep a close eye on Chloe.

From what I could see, she might be small, but her ambition was massive.

On the surface, she was a gentle little flower who wanted nothing.

In reality, she was making sure she got everything.

She got Arthur to give her a permanent position and a promotion to a do-nothing job.

She had basically moved into our house full-time.

She was an expert at acting vulnerable to get what she wanted.

In this house, she was smiles and sunshine to everyone except me and the maid.

She sucked up to my parents because they were the future in-laws.

She coddled my brother to speed up the wedding.

But with me, she didn't even bother to pretend.

She saw the late-night snack Mrs. Higgins made for me and immediately demanded some for herself.

It was very late, and the soup had been simmering for hours.

There was no way to make more quickly, and Mrs. Higgins was ready for bed.

When Mrs. Higgins refused, Chloe put her hands on her hips and started acting like the lady of the manor.

"Excuse me? Are you saying I can't have soup when I want it? Are you a maid or a guest here? Do I not have the authority to tell you what to do?"