Chapter 2 Stop Putting On A Show

The word "trash" froze the smile on Jessica's face. Her sweet look twisted into something ugly.

Sienna's cool, superior stare hit her harder than any insult—like everything Jessica had fought for suddenly meant nothing.

"And that whole Fairbank family heiress title?" Sienna's eyes skimmed the gilded hall, cold and thin. Her smile turned sharp. "And Ernest, the one you worked so hard to win over—keep them. Hold on tight. Don't drop anything."

Jessica went pale. She clenched her jaw; shame and rage warped her features.

She raised her hand to slap Sienna—then, seeing someone from the corner of her eye, she changed her act. She stumbled back two steps and collapsed to the floor, eyes filling with fake tears. "Sienna, I just wanted to say I'm sorry. Please don't hate Mom and Dad. How could you—"

"Sienna!" Hazel rushed out and saw her precious daughter on the floor. Fury lit her face as she ran over. "The Fairbank family raised you for years, and you push Jessica, huh?"

Sienna watched Hazel scoop Jessica into her arms and saw the heartbreak on Hazel's face. A tiny flash of mockery crossed Sienna's eyes.

If this had happened before, it would have gutted her. She would have replayed everything she'd done wrong, wondering how she'd come up short beside Jessica. But now she felt nothing.

"Perfect timing." Sienna reached into her canvas bag, pulled out a red velvet jewelry box, and tossed it at Hazel's feet. The lid popped open, and a cheap pearl necklace tumbled out. "Returning this to you."

That necklace had been the one Hazel had tossed to Sienna on her eighteenth birthday. It was never special—everyone could tell—but she'd treasured it then. Now she didn't want it.

Hazel stared at the necklace, frowning. She couldn't even remember when she'd bought it or given it away.

Still, Sienna's gesture felt like a slap.

"What are you doing, Sienna?" Hazel snapped. "You stole Jessica's identity and lived in luxury for twenty years. Who made you angry enough to act like this?"

"I was just a baby. How was that my fault? Mrs. Fairbank, maybe you should check your memory—or your brain. Maybe whatever's wrong with your judgment is hereditary," she sneered.

Hazel's face darkened. Her voice went high and sharp as she yelled, "You were always an act! Now that we don't want you, you can't keep pretending. Ungrateful brat. You can go back to the countryside and live that low, poor life you came from. Don't you dare beg to come back."

Sienna met Hazel with a cold, indifferent look. Her lips curled in a scornful smile that made Hazel's anger falter and her face go pale. Hazel took an involuntary step back.

"Who wants it?" Sienna asked slowly, disdain in her voice.

Sienna watched them groan on the carpet with a look that was part pity, part triumph. Her smile lifted, bringing a bright, dangerous life to her cold face.

"You said I could hit you," she said. "You wanted to keep your innocent act—fine. I'll help you."

After Jessica returned, Sienna had tried to get along with her. She'd been completely obedient, doing everything she could to build a good relationship.

But Jessica always wore that innocent face and used it to scheme against her, to turn the family against her. Sienna had kept quiet for the family's sake.

She'd cared once. But that was over. So was her patience with Jessica.

"You said I could hit you," Sienna repeated, voice mocking. "So take it. Or were you only saying that so Mrs. Fairbank would hear?"

Jessica's face froze, her hand over her red, swollen cheek. "Of course not. I just didn't want you to—" she started, voice trembling.

Sienna cut her off, "If you mean it, then take it. Stop putting on a show for me. The Fairbank idiots might buy your act, but I won't. From now on, stay out of my way. Don't make me hit you again. Got it?"