Chapter 2

I ignored the murderous looks on their faces and held the bank card up toward the stunned reporters in the crowd.

I cried harder, and every tear looked more sincere than the last. "I hope every missing child in this world finds their way home! And I hope my birth parents come find me soon!"

Camera flashes exploded across the room. The reporters smelled the story of a lifetime, and every lens swung toward me.

Linda's face was twisted with rage, but she forced out a smile that looked worse than a grimace. "Caroline, you're just too kindhearted for your own good."

I wanted them pinned to the wall in front of everyone, and that was exactly what I got. I had nailed them to the moral cross right there on stage.

That two million was gone, and they had no choice but to smile and own it.

The party had barely ended, and the Carters' car had just pulled out of the hotel when Linda's hand cracked across my face.

Linda snapped, "Caroline! Have you lost your mind? Who told you to donate that money on your own?"

My cheek burned, and I tasted blood at the corner of my mouth.

Linda screamed inwardly, 'Two million. That was two million dollars. This little brat has gotten too bold, trying to play games with me!'

I held my cheek and stared at her coldly. "Didn't you say it yourself? That money was mine, and I could spend it however I wanted. I was trying to bring good fortune to this family. How is that wrong?"

Richard sat in the front seat with a dark expression and watched me through the rearview mirror. His voice came out ice-cold. "Caroline, you're out of line. That money was meant to set you up for life."

He sighed inwardly, 'This is a problem. Without that money, how am I supposed to get her to go through with the surgery?'

I sneered inside, but I kept a wounded, stubborn look on my face. "Dad, I don't need money. I just want what's best for all of you. Sophia just came home, and she's not well. As her big sister, it's only right that I pray for her."

I put extra weight on the words "not well."

Sure enough, Richard and Linda's expressions darkened even more.

Back at the Carter Villa, Sophia was lounging on the couch and snacking on some grapes.

She spotted the handprint on my face and raised an eyebrow with a smirk. 'Serves her right. A fake like her actually thought she was somebody.'

She walked over and grabbed my hand, feigning concern. "Caroline, don't blame Mom. She's just looking out for you. You lost everything overnight, and she's worried about you."

I took her hand in mine and looked at that face that bore no resemblance to my own. I said softly, "I'm the one who should be sorry. I never should have taken twenty years of your life. Don't worry. From now on, anything I have is yours. All you have to do is ask."

I paused and added with a pointed smile, "Whether it's money or something else, like, say, a healthy kidney?"

Sophia's eyes went wide, and her inner voice was filled with panic. 'She knows? How does she know? Did Mom and Dad tell her?'

She tried to pull her hand away on instinct, but I held on tight and wouldn't let go.

Michael followed them into the room a moment later.

He spotted my swollen face and frowned immediately, then walked over with concern in his eyes. "Caroline, what happened to you?" He turned to Linda. "Mrs. Carter, how could you hit her?"

His thoughts, though, told a different story. 'Good. That should teach her to behave. But looking at her like this, she'd be even more sexy to watch cry in bed.'

He reached out to touch my face, but I stepped back and pulled away.

I kept my voice cold and said, "Michael, we're done. There's nothing between us anymore."

Michael froze for a second, then softened his tone and said, "Caroline, don't be like that. I know you're upset, and I—"

I cut him off and turned to Sophia with a knowing smile. "I'm not the one who should be upset. Sophia is. After all, she's about to lose a perfectly healthy fiancé."

Michael and Sophia both went pale at the same time.