Chapter 1
“Mom, no way is this my sister!” Ariel Nweburn whined, her voice sharp with disgust.
“My brothers are total rockstars–a movie star, a quantum physics prof, a painter, the campus heartthrob, a model, and my little bro’s basically set to inherit the whole Newburn fortune,” she ranted. “And her? She’s just some backwoods nobody!
“If word gets out she’s my sister, I’ll be a total laughingstock!”
In a grimy, dimly lit diner, Ariel perched on a creaky bench covered with crumpled newspapers, her preppy designer dress screaming money.
She pouted, shooting daggers at the girl sitting across from her.
The girl didn’t even look up. She was too busy eating, focused on her food like nothing else mattered.
Her face was small, delicate, with flawless skin that seemed to glow.
Her slanted eyes were soft, almost dreamy, with a tiny red mole under her right eye that made her stand out. Her neck was long and graceful, her wrists so thin they looked fragile.
She was delicate, like a breeze could knock her over, but stunning in a way that hit one hard.
She held fork in slender fingers, eating slowly from a plain bowl. Every move was calm, almost elegant, like she belonged in a painting.
Her long, blonde hair fell down her back, smooth as silk.
Ariel couldn’t believe it. ‘My sister? This backwoods girl is prettier than me? How is that fair?!‘
She stewed in silence, her blood boiling. ‘And acting all high and mighty? What’s she got to be so smug about? She’s just some broke, clueless chick!‘
Huffing, Ariel slammed her fork down and spun to her mom. “Mom, look at her! She’s so rude–she’s totally ignoring me!”
Samara Newburn’s face tightened as she looked at her daughter–the one she’d left in the village with her grandparents.
Her voice softened, but it felt fake. “Joanna, I’m sorry. I wasn’t there for you. But I’ve remarried into a good family now, and they’re okay with me bringing you back for a real education. I’m here to take you home.”
Joanna’s fork paused. She looked up at Samara, her gentle eyes so soft they could make anyone feel guilty.
But Samara didn’t like those eyes. They felt like a silent jab, calling her out for abandoning her kid. And–maybe it was her imagination–she swore she saw a hint of sarcasm in them.
Samara rushed on. “Got any stuff to pack? Say bye to your grandparents, and we’ll get going. It’s late.”
Joanna stared at her, then said slowly, “Grandma and Grandpa died five years ago.”
Samara’s face went pale. “What?! They’re… gone?”
Joanna’s lips twitched into a faint, amused smile. Every move she made was somehow captivating. “Your parents died, and you didn’t know?”
Samara’s mouth opened, then shut. “Well… nobody told me…”
1/2
Chapter 1
Joanna’s voice was soft, like a kitten’s, but her words cut deep. “I called you. Your number was dead. You didn’t leave any other way to reach you. So I buried them myself.”
Joanna was only eighteen now. Five years ago, she’d been thirteen, alone, burying her only family.
Nobody could grasp how terrified and alone she felt.
Samara hesitated, her voice shaky. “Look, I had it rough too, okay? Raising kids on my own, starting from scratch–that’s no walk in the park. And I sent you money every year, didn’t I?”
“Money?” Joanna gave a soft, mocking laugh, her eyes flicking over Samara and Ariel’s designer clothes and bags. “A hundred fifty bucks a year? That wouldn’t even cover a button on that purse.”
Ariel shot up, jabbing a finger in Joanna’s face. “Who do you think you are, talking about my mom like that? A hundred fifty’s plenty!
“That’s, like, a fortune in your Podunk town! Know your place, you redneck!”
“Ariel…” Samara tugged Ariel’s sleeve weakly, then turned to Joanna. “She’s just a kid. She speaks her mind.”
Joanna stayed quiet. Then, quick as a flash, she grabbed Ariel’s pointing finger and twisted it.
Crack. The sound made everyone freeze.
Ariel screamed, flailing her hand as tears and snot ran down her face. “Ow! It hurts! Mom, she hit me! She hit me!”
Samara glared at Joanna, furious. “What the hell are you doing?!”
Joanna picked up her bowl, slow and calm. She looked up, her misty eyes flashing with fire.
“She’s not clueless,” she said coolly. “She just needs a reality check.”
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
