Chapter 2

The guards dragged Kamila right past me. She locked eyes with me, pure hatred burning through her tears. "You. This is your doing. You set me up."

I blinked, all innocence. "Kamila, don't make things up. You said you were fine leaving the family. You said you didn't care if you ended up with nothing.

"It looks like Mom and Dad were helping you get what you wanted."

"You—!" Kamila was so furious she nearly fainted.

The guards hauled her out of the glittering ballroom like garbage. The world finally felt quiet again.

After Kamila disappeared, the atmosphere in the room shifted.

The whispering guests went quiet, their eyes darting between my parents and me with something like awe or fear.

My parents approached, their smiles tight and uncomfortable. "Serena, that must have been overwhelming for you," my mother said.

"We should have found you sooner," my father added.

I looked at their manufactured concern and felt absolutely nothing. This was the Wishmaker Protocol's help. An hour ago, they were ready to tear me apart for breathing the same air as their precious Kamila.

"It's fine." I didn't bother with more.

They hovered awkwardly for another minute, then melted back into the crowd to work the room.

Fine by me. I found a quiet corner and pulled up the system interface in my mind.

The Wishmaker Protocol didn't just make Kamila's lies come true. It redirected all the benefits to me.

Those hundreds of millions in assets that had been sitting in her name were mine now.

Not bad. Best wish-granting machine ever, and it only works for me.

I was so pleased that even the boring petit fours tasted good.

After the party, they showed me to Kamila's old room. A massive pink princess suite, drowning in ruffles and stuffed animals.

Ugh, what a tacky mess. I wrinkled my nose. Tomorrow, I would certainly have this place completely revamped.

*****

The next morning, I transferred to St. Aurelia Academy, the exclusive private school Kamila had attended.

When I walked into my new classroom in my standard-issue uniform, every head swiveled my way.

"That's the real daughter? The one who got Kamila kicked out?"

"She looks so plain. Not even close to Kamila."

"Quiet. I heard she's ruthless. Even the Lanes are scared of her."

I ignored them all and walked to an empty desk.

Good. Let them talk. There would be less annoying company.

I'd barely sat down when a girl slid into the seat next to me, practically vibrating with gossip.

"Hey, Serena. We heard you made quite a scene at the party last night. You got your parents to throw Kamila out on the spot, huh?"

I glanced up at her, but didn't say a word.

She didn't need encouragement. "Don't get too comfortable, though. Kamila might be gone, but she's got people here, especially Jason Rivers.

"He's the hottest guy on campus. He's been obsessed with her forever. Now that you've taken her spot, he's going to come for you."

I remembered Jason. At the party last night, he'd stood next to Kamila the whole time, glaring at me as if I'd personally offended him.

Right then, a stir broke out at the classroom door. A tall, ridiculously good-looking guy walked through.

He was rocking a perfectly tailored uniform, his vibe cold and distant. That was Jason.

As soon as he stepped in, he zeroed in on me and headed straight over.

The whole class held its breath. The gossip girl next to me looked like she might combust.

He stopped at my desk and looked down at me. "You're Serena Lane?"

I nodded. "What do you want?"

"Did you get Kamila kicked out of the Lane family?" His tone was accusatory.

Ha, the interrogation came.

Before I could answer, the door opened again.

Kamila stood there in a cheap uniform that didn't fit right, with tear tracks on her cheeks.

She must have heard Jason's question, because her eyes lit up and she rushed over. "Jason! Please don't blame Serena. This isn't her fault."

She grabbed his arm, tears starting fresh. "It's my fault. I never should have taken what wasn't mine. If Serena hates me, I deserve it."

Jason's jaw tightened. He pulled his arm away from her and fixed those cold eyes on me.

"Serena. I don't know what game you're playing. But here's what's going to happen. You're going to apologize to Kamila. You're going to make the Lanes take her back. And if you don't, you won't last a day at St. Aurelia."