Chapter 4

Paul and Tiffany exchanged a look, uncertainty flickering across their faces.

After all, in their eyes, Zelda had always been the perfect daughter—sweet, thoughtful, and never once giving them any trouble.

"Mom, Dad, if you don't believe me, you can ask Harry," Zelda added, her voice steady and confident.

There was a glint of certainty in her eyes. She knew Harry would always have her back.

I scoffed to myself.

Ever since Harry found out Zelda wasn't his biological sister, he'd had some feelings he shouldn't have for her.

That was why he always spoiled her rotten, never saying no to anything she wanted.

It wasn't until I got a second shot at life that I realized Zelda had confessed to Basil Alvarez, the school heartthrob, and got turned down. So she roped Harry into pretending to be her boyfriend, going along with her schemes just to mess with Basil.

Once Zelda spoke up, Harry, even though he was sick, still rolled up with bodyguards and a luxury car, making a grand entrance to back her up and play along with her little show.

But he had no clue Zelda was just using him; he honestly thought she wanted to do all those romantic things with him for real.

No wonder, in my previous life, no matter how hard I tried to win Harry over after I joined the Andrus family, he was always cold and distant toward me.

It was all because Zelda couldn't stand me, so he just followed her lead, even though I was his real sister, and I'd even saved his life.

So even if Paul and Tiffany went to ask Harry, they'd never get the truth out of him; he'd just cover for her and take it all on himself.

Thinking about that, I pulled out my phone, found the video, and hit play.

The video showed Harry, looking kind of weak, trying to keep Zelda, who was totally wasted, from falling over as they made their way out of the bar. He gently loaded her into the red Lamborghini waiting at the curb.

I'd shot this video back in my previous life when I was working at The Grill.

Back then, I had no clue who Harry or Zelda were. I just thought that ride was insanely cool, so I snuck a quick video.

Who would've thought it'd actually come in handy now?

Paul and Tiffany's faces fell as soon as they finished watching the video.

Tiffany's voice was icy. "Zelda, Harry has always been good to you, but he's so sick right now, and you can't even show a little concern for him?"

Paul added, "You're so reckless. You've really let us down."

Zelda was too overwhelmed to even care about hating me anymore.

With the proof right in front of everyone, she didn't dare argue. She just kept crying and apologizing, "I'm sorry. I was selfish and spoiled, and I dragged Harry into this. I swear I'll never do something like this again."

Paul and Tiffany's expressions softened a lot when they saw her all teary-eyed and looking so pitiful.

After all, she was the kid they'd raised themselves since she was little, and they really did love her.

Plus, now that I was back with the Andrus family, and Harry was about to get my kidney, he'd be healthy again soon. So there was no point in being too harsh on Zelda anymore.

So they let out a sigh, stepped forward, and gently helped Zelda to her feet. Wiping away her tears, they comforted her, "It's enough that you realize your mistake.

"But don't let it happen again. You can't do anything that could harm your brother from now on. From now on, your brother's health comes first in this family."

Zelda nodded desperately, then buried herself in Paul and Tiffany's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

*****

The next morning, I slung my backpack over my shoulder and hopped into the Andrus family's luxury car with Zelda, heading to school together.

After I gave a quick self-introduction, the homeroom teacher sat me right up front.

It was the only open spot in the classroom.

My desk mate was a drop-dead gorgeous guy, fast asleep with his face buried in his arms on the desk.

I didn't spare him a second glance.

I was here for one reason: to get into the Ivy and win that scholarship.

"Look at her, such a loser. How did she end up sitting next to the school heartthrob?"

"Seriously, ever since she walked in, the whole vibe of our class just got so lame."

A few girls were gossiping behind me, but I just smirked and kept reading.

Turned out my desk mate was none other than Basil, the school heartthrob himself.

Zelda had been crushing on him forever, but he never gave her a chance. And now, out of all people, I ended up sitting right next to him.

Zelda must be hating me even more now.

"Hey, Zelda, I saw you two getting out of the Andrus family's ride earlier. Who is she, anyway?" someone asked, curious.

Zelda paused for a moment, then shot back, her tone full of disdain, "She's just our maid's kid. My folks felt sorry for her, so they let her tag along to school with me."

Honestly, that was a savage move.

After all, Paul and Tiffany never announced to anyone that I was really their daughter, and they hadn't even bothered with a DNA test. There was no way for me to prove I was actually their real daughter.

"Ugh, the maid's kid thinks she belongs in our school?"

"She's such bad news. We better keep our distance from her!"

Just then, Basil was jolted awake by all the chatter around him. He came to, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, still half out of it.

He turned to glance at me, the girl sitting right beside him.

But when he got a good look at my face, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"Hey, didn't you use to work at The Grill?" he asked, sounding genuinely surprised.

I was a little taken aback, but quickly nodded.

For the trust fund kids at this fancy school, having a part-time job was the ultimate shame. But for me, it was just about staying alive.

If I didn't get out there and earn my own money, I'd literally starve.

So I couldn't care less if he made fun of me.

"You're Emily, right? I finally found you," Basil exclaimed, his voice bursting with excitement.

Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed my sleeve, his movements urgent and full of energy.