I thought that after twenty years with the Sterlings—even as an adopted child—I'd at least count as family. But the day they found their biological daughter Victoria, they announced they were throwing me out and planned to humiliate me at the family gathering. Based on what right?

Even more disgusting was how my almost-fiancé Blake immediately started fooling around with Victoria, eager to watch me get kicked to the curb!

When everyone was lining up to step on me, it was Alexander—the one I'm supposed to call "stepbrother"—who protected me. In his apartment, when he stood behind me gripping my hand as I chopped vegetables, his breath grazing my ear before he finally bent down to kiss me... my heartbeat went completely erratic.


Betrayed by All, Loved by My Stepbrother 

Scarlett
At two in the morning, I sat on the edge of my bed, tears long dried up.
Scenes from dinner replayed in my mind like knives repeatedly cutting into my heart.
Emily's tenderness toward Victoria, Harrison's doting affection, and those words that stung me—"This should have been my room."
"...

Chapter 5