Chapter 2

"Eugenie, if our family hadn't gone bankrupt, do you think I would have tried to make things difficult for you after my return?

"Or tried to fight you for Mom and Dad's attention, or for the family fortune?" I asked pointedly.

I couldn't understand why they brought me home if they were afraid I would bully Eugenie.

I was just a waitress working in a small town's greasy spoon.

My academic qualifications were dismal, so I didn't earn much.

But I had enough to eat and a place to live. I had a boyfriend whom I had known since my childhood, and my boss and his wife treated me well.

Then, out of nowhere, the Lyndon family showed up and turned my peaceful life upside down.

They claimed that I was their long-lost biological daughter who should be living in luxury and not wasting my life in an obscure town.

So without my consent, they dragged me back to their opulent mansion.

Once there, they pointed at Eugenie, who looked every inch a princess, and told me she was my younger sister. She was the impostor who had been living my life in that family for over twenty years.

*****

Eugenie paused with her soup ladle in mid-air and forced a smile. "Cheri, you're overthinking things again."

"You're Mom and Dad's birth daughter. Back when our family still had everything, you didn't need to fight for anything since it all belonged to you anyway.

"Even if you wanted to make things hard for me, I could only count myself unlucky. After all, I did usurp your life for so many years, didn't I?"

I took the ladle from her hand and put it back in the pot.

Then I said in a firm voice, "So, all of you believed that I'd be resentful, that I'd get back at you, and that I'd take everything you have?”

Eugenie looked a little annoyed by what I said and frowned.

"It's not what we believed. You were really thinking in this direction.

"From the day you came back, you couldn't stop eyeing my room. You put on that phony act about wanting to share a room with me just to please Mom and Dad.

"Then the next day, you started pestering them to give that guy from your hometown a job. You were trying to get our company to hire your friends, weren't you?”

I slammed my cutlery down and stared at her in disbelief. Tears began welling up in my eyes.

"The first night I came home, I was scared to sleep alone. I asked if I could sleep with the nanny, but you guys wouldn't let me.

"I was too old to sleep with Mom and Dad, so I suggested sharing a room with you instead. Yet, all of you thought I was scheming?

"And Jenner Pallister is honestly capable. That's why I asked Mom and Dad to help him get a job."

Eugenie pouted, clearly not buying a word I said. "Cheri, Mom and Dad aren't here right now, so you can drop the act.

"If you say you want to share a room with me now, I might believe you. But back then, we had barely known each other for one day. Who would believe you?

"Anyway, that's all in the past. Let's not talk about it anymore. Come, let's eat. Talking about these things during mealtime will only ruin our appetites.

"By the way, have you received your last six months' wages from the construction site? Just give me a portion.

"Keep the rest for yourself. Maybe buy yourself some perfume and makeup. After all, you are still a Lyndon and should look the part."

I couldn't help giving a scornful snort. A Lyndon? What was so great about being a Lyndon?

If being a Lyndon was really so useful, why did no one care when I was working on the construction site, exposed to the elements?

Why did no one help me when I was harassed and molested by a drunk while working the night shift at the convenience store?

Why didn't anyone feel sorry for me when I worked over 16 hours a day until I was so exhausted that I wished I could escape this world?

Only Jenner would occasionally drop by my workplace with a cup of steaming hot coffee.

He would comfort me, telling me that as long as I lived, there was hope, and that things would get better eventually.

He would remind me to take good care of my younger sister, Eugenie, saying that sisters united could move mountains.

The dizziness caused by my plasma donation washed over me again, and for a moment, I could almost see Jenner's gentle smile.

"Cheri, just try to get along with your sister. Everything will work out," Jenner told me softly.

"If you ever run into trouble, just let me know. I don't have much, but I'll do whatever I can to help you.

"Trust me. As long as your relationship with your sister improves, you'll only have to endure another year at most before the hard times are over..."

I suddenly snapped out of my reverie, only to see Eugenie looking at me curiously.

Realization hit me like a thunderclap. Jenner knew the hidden rules of this bankruptcy game.

The key was that I had to establish a strong sisterly bond with Eugenie.

That was why he kept urging me to be nice to Eugenie and told me to just endure it for another year at most.

I was the only one in this game who knew nothing about the rules or its inner workings. Even worse, I had no idea what the next level would entail.

Thinking of all this, I forced a smile and ladled some soup for Eugenie.

"I don't really need any makeup or perfumes. Here, I'll give you the money, so you can buy more and let me use them when I need to.

"After all, you're my only sister, and I have to make sure you're well taken care of."

Eugenie's smile widened, and she reached out to hold my right hand.