Chapter 3
I followed them back to the Hartwell mansion.
Soon as I walked in, I passed this tiny room off the kitchen and saw a beat–up backpack inside. I smiled: “This is my room, right? Pretty sweet
setup.”
Everyone behind me stopped dead.
For a hot minute, nobody said anything.
Things got awkward real fast.
Finally, Willow broke the silence with her fake crying: “Maybe… maybe she should have my room back? I know it has all my childhood stuff in
it, but it’s fine…”
Crocodile tears rolled down her cheeks.
Mrs. Hartwell immediately swooped in for the hug: “Baby, relax–ain’t happening.”
Camden looked ready to explode: “Are you fucking kidding me? We let you stay and you want more? You trying to take Willow’s room from
her?”
Jaxon was shaking his head at me, looking disappointed: “Could you be any more selfish?”
I was genuinely confused by this attack.
But I waited patiently for this family’s performance to end before speaking, sounding totally sincere: “Um, are you guys confused or something?”
I pointed at the maid’s room: “I’m just a foster kid. Isn’t this exactly where I should be staying? Like, isn’t this normal?”
Mrs. Hartwell and Camden’s brains short–circuited.
Then it hit them.
Oh right. I’m their foster kid now.
Everyone looked at each other, faces cycling through fifty shades of embarrassment.
I was laughing my ass off internally.
They freaked out because they remembered when I first came back to the Hartwell house, I briefly stayed in Willow’s room.
Back then, the Hartwells were hell–bent on kicking Willow out.
But she camped outside the door for days, refusing to leave.
When Willow finally collapsed from exhaustion, I became the heartless monster.
After that, I moved downstairs myself.
And then came today’s shitshow, where they ganged up and pushed me down the stairs.
Right now, Camden and Jaxon were keeping their mouths shut.
Mrs. Hartwell uncomfortably pushed Willow away and looked at her husband like she wanted to say something but couldn’t.
Mr. Hartwell cleared his throat, trying to save face: “Look, you’re hurt and need to rest up. We’ll get you set up in the guest rooms upstairs.”
Dlats Family I’m the Real Heiress Here to Wreck the Game!
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Chapter 3
“NO!”
Willow shook her head like a crazy person, eyes all red: “She can’t stay in a guest room! She should take my room instead. I really don’t mind, I swear I don’t mind…”
She successfully got everyone’s attention back on her.
Watching this rerum, I internally sighed but muttered under my breath: “Do other rich families treat their foster kids this good?
Camden and Jaxon both went stiff.
Camden tried to save face: “Willow’s just got a big heart–she can’t stand seeing people suffer. Don’t push your luck!”
Mr. Hartwell wanted to end this soap opera: “You’re staying in that room. Final answer.”
Mrs. Hartwell’s mouth moved like she wanted to protest, but one look at weepy Willow and she just patted my hand: “Let me know if you need anything, okay?”
I nodded casually.
Mr. Hartwell gave an approving nod, satisfied I wasn’t making a scene: “Tomorrow the driver will take you and Willow to school”
Drama over.
Mrs. Hartwell was swimming in her own touching maternal feelings.
Camden thought I was finally “behaving.”
Jaxon figured things had calmed down.
They all had their little schemes going.
What they didn’t know was this setup was exactly what I wanted.
My stepping stone was ready.
