Chapter 1 A Jaw-Dropping Truth
It was a blistering summer day at the Bennett family’s swanky villa.
Kaia Bennett lounged on a sleek leather couch, popping bubblegum with a lazy smirk. Her smooth skin glowed in the sunlight streaming through the window.
With her striking features and effortless grace, she looked like she’d waltzed right out of a fairy tale.
Pop!
Her lips quirked, cheeks puffed, as she blew a bubble the size of her face.
“Kaia’s a total loser. I’m done with this engagement!” Louis stood in the doorway, sneering at her like she was yesterday’s trash.
Kaia’s mom, Ruth Bennett, freaked out. “Louis, come on, it’s not your fault. Kaia’s been a mess—skipping school, hanging with the wrong crowd.
“But your grandpa and hers set this up. You can’t just bail!”
Ruth shot Kaia a look that could kill. “What’re you doing just sitting there? Get over here, apologize to Louis, and promise you’ll stop acting like an idiot!”
Snap.
Kaia sucked the bubble back in, cool as ice, and lifted her gaze, lashes fluttering.
A spark of defiance flashed in her gorgeous eyes. “Me? Say sorry to him? He’s the one who should be begging. Breaking his word and talking smack, saying I’m not good enough.”
Ruth’s face turned beet red, practically steaming.
Before she could snap, Kaia went on, unfazed. “And for the record, I’m not out causing trouble. Him? He’s chasing every girl in sight, acting like a total player. Good riddance to this engagement—saves me from his mess.”
“Kaia!” Ruth hissed through clenched teeth.
“Forget it,” Louis cut in, waving her off. “Kaia’s hot, sure, but that’s all she’s got. I’m not that shallow.
“Even if she begged, I wouldn’t marry her. There’s only one girl for me.”
His gaze drifted upstairs, all soft and mushy. “Andrea.”
“Hi, Louis!” Andrea’s voice cracked with emotion as she raced down the stairs.
“Oh, Andrea!” Louis strode over, arms open wide.
In a flash, they were wrapped in each other’s arms, totally lost in the moment.
Andrea’s eyes welled up. “I can’t believe it—we’re finally getting married!”
“I’m so sorry, babe,” Louis murmured. “I dragged my feet on calling off the engagement. You shouldn’t have had to wait.”
“It’s okay,” she sniffled, clinging to him. “I get it. You had your reasons. We’re good now.”
While the two were lost in their lovey-dovey bubble, Kaia’s phone pinged with a text.
It read: [Dr. Bennett, the project’s in its final stretch. For your safety, we’ve sent an elite team to escort you. We’re at the gate. When can you head out?]
Kaia tapped back: [On my way.]
She spit out her gum, tossed it, and made for the door.
Andrea, who’d been side-eyeing Kaia the whole time, smirked to herself.
‘Bet she’s too embarrassed to stick around,’ she thought. ‘No way I’m letting her slip out before I twist the knife a little.’
“Kaia, hold up!” Andrea called, plastering on her best fake-sorry face. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to steal Louis. Yeah, he was your fiancé, but we’re head over heels. I couldn’t stop myself! If you’re pissed, take it out on me, not him, okay?”
Kaia turned, her face cool and unbothered, like a wisp of smoke. “What, you auditioning for drama queen of the year? Buzz off.”
Andrea’s jaw tightened, but she pushed on. “Kaia, please don’t hate me! If it’ll make you feel better, go ahead—hit me! Whatever it takes to make this right!”
She grabbed Kaia’s hand and tried to slap it against her own cheek.
“Whoa, what’s your deal, Kaia?” Ruth, Andrea’s mom, stormed over and swatted Kaia’s hand away.
Smack!
Kaia glanced at her hand, now stinging red, and went quiet for a second. Then her eyes locked on Ruth.
This was her actual mom, but people’d never guess. Ruth only had heart-eyes for Andrea, the adopted daughter she’d raised, her love so lopsided it was practically in another state.
Andrea fake-sobbed, her eyes red and glistening. “Mom, it’s not her fault. It’s mine. I shouldn’t have taken her fiancé. I—”
“Cut the crap,” Kaia interrupted, her voice ice-cold. “You’re a pro at playing the victim. Born to steal guys, huh? Can’t help it, I guess. It’s in your DNA.”
Andrea’s face went from red to purple faster than a mood ring on a rollercoaster. She was steaming but bit her tongue to keep up her sweet-girl act.
“Kaia, she’s your sister!” Ruth snapped, her glare full of raw disappointment. “How can you talk to her like that? That’s just vicious!”
Kaia’s expression didn’t budge—no anger, no nothing. “She’s not my sister. We’re not related.”
Talk about a soap opera twist. Two decades ago, Kaia and Andrea got swapped at birth.
Five years back, the truth came out, and Kaia was dragged from the sticks to the Bennett family’s fancy life.
But Ruth, too attached to the daughter she’d raised, kept Andrea around.
And as Kaia’s real mom? Ruth didn’t lift a finger to make up for lost time. Instead, she treated Kaia like some country-bumpkin burden, while Andrea got all the love.
“How can you say something so cruel?” Ruth fumed. “Andrea is my daughter! Blood or no blood, she’s family. You pull that talk again, and you’ll be sorry!”
Kaia had heard this spiel so many times her ears were calloused. “I’m swamped. Gotta bounce. Not coming back tonight.”
She turned for the door again.
“Not coming back?” Ruth’s chest heaved like she was about to pop. “Where are you off to now? Out screwing around again?”
“Not screwing around,” Kaia shot back, calm as ever.
“Then what is it? Spill it!” Ruth roared.
Kaia’s brows twitched, and she paused for a beat. “Privlleged information. Can’t say.”
Ruth nearly choked on her own rage. By the time she caught her breath, Kaia was already out the door.
“What did I do to get stuck with a daughter like her?” Ruth wailed, clutching her chest.
Outside the villa, Kaia hit the gate and stopped dead.
A massive convoy of over a hundred military trucks rolled up, engines growling like a thunderstorm.
Above, the whup-whup of a dozen armed choppers sliced the air, kicking up wind.
Kaia glanced up, cool as ever, as the helicopters circled like vultures ready to dive.
Soldiers in sharp camo spilled out of the trucks, snapping into formation and surrounding her in a tight, disciplined ring.
