Chapter 6
必会 59%台
+38
“Hey, let’s not just stand here. Breakfast’s ready, and Averie’s probably starving,” Robert said, waving everyone inside.
“Yeah, come on, Averie!” Gloria chimed in, grabbing her arm with a big smile.
Solana watched the three of them, a sly grin tugging at her lips.
Last time around, she’d been too naive, swallowing the story that Averie was just some business friend’s kid. She’d missed Gloria’s teary eyes and Robert’s oddly soft tone with Averie. Never thought to dig deeper.
The signs were all there–she’d just been too blind to see.
Wo DNA test yet, but this crew already acted like a happy little family. Solana was the only one not in on it.
In her previous life, they’d been so caught up in their warm fuzzies that they’d dumped the truth on her like a sucker punch.
Averie was already settled in, new life and all, while Solana was left clueless. That truth had nearly crushed her.
She’d only been eighteen.
“Miss Spencer,” Hana said, setting down a palte and fork for Averie.
Robert frowned. “It’s Averie.”
Hana looked confused but nodded.
Solana smirked. ‘Couldn’t even handle “Spencer,” huh?‘
Averie gawked at the breakfast spread, overwhelmed by the options. She swallowed hard, nervous about digging in and looking like a slob.
“Not eating?” Gloria asked, piling food on Averie’s plate with a warm smile, pointing out each dish.
“Tell Hana what you like. She’ll whip it up again tomorrow,” Robert added, actually sitting down for once instead of rushing off to “work.”
Solana watched, stone–faced. From the outside, it was all so clear. The truth had been right in her face.
After breakfast, Robert took Gloria for a hospital checkup, but not before pulling Solana aside. “Get along with Averie, alright?”
“Sure, Dad,” Solana said sweetly. A shot like this? She’d definitely get along with Averie.
Hana lugged Averie’s beat–up tote bag upstairs, clearly struggling. Nothing like the fancy Rimowa suitcases Solana had. Her eyes screamed disdain.
Solana saw it all. People didn’t just turn shady–Hana had always been a status–chasing snob. Now, Solana could read her like a book.
1/4
14:37 Wed, 30 Jul GO
Chapter 6
‘No use feeling sorry for her kind,‘ she thought.
359%
39
Averie’s room was right next to Solana’s. Hana dragged Averie’s bags in and dumped them by the wall.
“Sheets are fresh,” she sneered. “But keep that bag off the bed, got it?”
Averie’s face flashed red, then pale, like she might cry any second.
“Hana, go do your thing downstairs,” Solana said, noticing her sour vibe. “My parents are out. Take a break if you’re not feeling it.”
Hana practically worshipped her with a look and scurried off.
Averie turned to see Solana leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, giving off major boss energy. Robert had sworn the girl at his family was sweet and chill. Yeah, right. Solana was anything but.
Solana nodded at the bag by the wall. “You unpacking or what?”
Averie’s shoulders twitched. Next to this glamorous girl who outshone her by a mile, she couldn’t bear to pull out her shabby clothes and look like a fool.
She forced a wobbly smile. “I’ll… deal with it later. Didn’t Mr. Webb say you’d show me around? Can we do that now?”
“Up to you,” Solana said, already walking off.
Averie trailed behind, gawking like she’d stepped into a mansion. Everything was shiny, new, begging for a second glance. But when Solana looked back, Averie froze, awkwardness oozing from every fidget.
So, Averie wasn’t always that loud, cocky type.
‘When did that shy small–town girl disappear? Probably after that paternity test,‘ Solana thought, smirking.
After looping back, Solana flung open her bedroom door and stepped aside. “My room. Wanna peek? Go ahead.”
Averie’s jaw dropped. A princess bed fit for royalty, sleek furniture, a glitzy crystal lamp–the closet alone was twice her old room. It was a life she couldn’t even dream of.
‘Should’ve been mine.‘ The thought hit like a punch.
Averie’s fists clenched, jealousy and resentment burning through her like wildfire.
Behind her, Solana’s voice hit Averie like a jab. “So, your dad’s some hotshot friend of my dad’s? What’s your family’s deal?”
Averie’s stomach knotted. ‘My dad? Just a sweaty factory grunt. Say that out loud? Hard pass.’
Biting her lip hard, Averie was convinced Solana was trying to humiliate her. No way was she gonna let that happen.
Sneaking a glance at Solana, Averie smirked inwardly. ‘You’re about to choke on that attitude, princess.’
She sucked in a breath. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
2/4
14.37
Wed, 30 Jun
59%
38
Chapter 6
Solana didn’t bat an eye, brushing it off. “Cool. Where do you live, then?”
Averie’s hands shook with rage. Spill her address? Let Solana roast her for her Podunk roots? No way.
‘Who does Solana think she is, acting like the queen of this house?‘ she thought. ‘Does this chick really think I am just some rando kid of her dad’s buddy?‘
Averie shot her an icy stare. ‘Wait till I’m the real Webb heiress. I’ll wipe that smug look off your face.‘
“What, you blanking on your own address?” Solana teased, stepping closer.
Solana’s mind raced. She was done with the Webb family’s drama. All she wanted was to find her real parents and run to them.
Averie’s lips trembled, her face pale as death. That day at the hospital, when she’d overheard the Webbs spill the life- altering truth, she’d ghosted her small–town folks. Lied about
She’d lied, saying she was crashing at a friend’s to slip into the city.
She couldn’t deny it–her poor parents had always been good to her. But still, she wasn’t going back.
‘Who’d ditch being a rich heiress for that?‘ she thought.
No way was she spilling her address. Not until this was locked down. Her country parents couldn’t know squat.
“I… I’m beat. I’m gonna crash in my room,” Averie mumbled, spinning around too fast. Her knee smashed into the bed frame with a nasty thud. She yelped, dropping to the floor, clutching her leg.
“Whoa, you okay?” Solana grabbed some medicinal oil from the nightstand. “Here, use this. Hana got it special.”
The second Averie heard Hana’s name–that snarky maid who always had a jab ready–she felt a wave of disgust. She grabbed the ointment, “accidentally” letting it slip into the trash can.
“Oh, shoot! My bad!“Averie stammered, bolting up. “I don’t need it. I’m good. Gotta go.
Solana watched her scurry off, a sly grin creeping up.
An hour later, Hana woke from a nap and found Solana slouched on the couch, looking like someone stole her favorite shoes. “What’s wrong, Miss Webb?”
Solana glanced upstairs. “Averie banged her knee, so I gave her your ointment. She chucked it in the trash.”
“What?!” Hana’s eyes blazed. “That little nobody dissing you in our house? Oh, she’s done.”
Hana stormed upstairs like a freight train. Soon, a high–pitched scream tore through the hall.
When Solana strolled in, Averie was cowering, tears streaming down her face. Hana had trashed her stuff–clothes, bags, everything dumped on the bed.
3/4
14:37 Wed, 30 Jul G
Chapter 6
Hana spun around. “Caught a whiff of perfume in here. Smells just like that fancy stuff you got, Miss Webb.”
Hana had emptied Averie’s beat–up backpack, and there, in the mess, was her ID.
Solana stepped up, cool as ice, and snapped a pic of it. Bingo. She had her real parents‘ address.
