Chapter 1

On my first day back in the States, my future mother-in-law slapped a check onto my face.

"Five million dollars. Leave my son. We Sterlings have no room for a social climber who tries to sleep her way into a family she doesn't belong in!"

Before I could even speak, a girl in a white dress hiding behind her piped up with teary eyes.

"Auntie, please don't be like that. If she truly loves Beckett, I don't mind sharing him. We can both take care of him together."

I almost burst out laughing.

So, they really thought I was the villainous second lead trying to steal her man? Was she already playing the role of the devoted wife?

But she was right about one thing―calling me her sister.

I picked up the check without even looking at the amount. I leaned forward and stuffed it right into the girl's low-cut V-neck.

"Great performance. Keep the tip."

Then, I pulled out my black Amex card and slammed it on the marble table.

"Beatrice, here is ten million. Keep your son away from me. I don't like playing with trash."

"Oh, by the way."

I pointed at the little white lily she was protecting.

"Just a friendly reminder. That girl in your arms is actually the illegitimate daughter my father brought home last year."

"If you're planning to use her to climb into the Thorne family's good graces, you've really miscalculated!"

1

The moment I finished speaking, Beatrice Sterling's face twisted in a ugly grimace.

However, she was a woman who had seen her fair share of corporate battles. Within a second, she regained her haughty, arrogant composure.

She glanced at the black card on the table with a sneer.

"Ten million? Little girl, you're not a very good liar. Do you think tossing a random card around makes you an heiress?"

"They hand out cards like this at booths on the sidewalk. Your little bluff won't work on me!"

Behind her, my dear half-sister, Willow, grabbed Beatrice's arm with trembling hands. Her voice was weak and shaky.

"Auntie, please don't blame her. She… she probably had a very hard life abroad. That's why she developed this habit of lying to feel important."

"It's all my fault. If I hadn't come back, Beckett wouldn't have noticed me. My sister wouldn't hate me so much…"

What a perfect, innocent little flower she was.

With just a few words, she painted me as a delusional, broke girl whose mind had warped from poverty. She also made sure to mention how intimate she was with Beckett Sterling.

Beatrice was clearly moved by her performance. She patted Willow's hand and looked at me with cold, piercing eyes.

"Did you hear that? Willow is so kind, yet you treat her like this. She's still trying to protect you."

"Compared to a woman with a twisted heart like yours, she is an angel from heaven while you belong in the dirt."

She paused, her eyes overflowing with disgust.

"I'm warning you. Beckett is my only son. The Sterling family is not a place for a liar like you."

"Take the five million and get as far away as possible. Get lost."

I was actually amused watching these two put on a show together.

Just as I was about to speak, the cafe door was shoved open. A familiar yet annoying figure rushed inside.

It was Beckett Sterling.

He marched over to our table and looked at the crying Willow. Then he looked at his furious mother. Finally, his gaze landed on me, his brows furrowing deeply.

"Elara Thorne, haven't you caused enough trouble?"

That single question was even more hilarious than his mother's check.

Before I could respond, Willow threw herself out of Beatrice's arms and into Beckett's.

"Beckett, don't be mad at her… She didn't mean it. She just… she misunderstood us…"

Beckett held her shoulders, his voice immediately softening by ten degrees.

"Willow, you're just too kind. You don't need to explain anything for her."

After comforting Willow, he turned back to me with nothing but coldness and annoyance on his face.

"My mother has a weak heart, and Willow is fragile. If you have a problem, take it out on me. Why do you have to harass them?"

I crossed my arms and leaned back against the sofa, watching him coldly.

"Beckett, which of your eyes saw me harassing them?"

"From the start, your mother was the one throwing checks and telling me to get lost. Your precious Willow has been fanning the flames the whole time."

"You show up and blame me without knowing anything. Is this the man who promised to always believe in me back in London?"

Beckett's face stiffened. He seemed at a loss for words.

Seeing this, Beatrice stepped forward to shield her son.

"You have the nerve to bring that up? If you hadn't used your dirty tricks to seduce my son, he would never have looked at you."

"I'm here to clean up his mess today! Apologize to me and Willow right now. Or don't blame me for being ruthless!"