Chapter 2

Time seemed to freeze.

I could even hear my teeth chattering.

But the explosion of anger and the security guards dragging me out never came.

I peeked through my lashes, just a tiny bit.

I saw Charles, the man with the most intimidating aura in the Wellington family, wearing an expressionless face.

He just stared at me, his gaze intense.

Then, he walked straight toward me.

He took one step, and then another.

His leather shoes echoed crisply on the marble floor.

Each sound pressed down on my heart, making it beat faster.

Terrified, I shut my eyes tight again.

He stopped right in front of me.

I caught a faint whiff of cedar.

It smelled nice, but it had an intimidating edge.

A deep, amused voice came from right above my head.

"Here to snatch the inheritance?" Charles said, his voice low and laced with amusement.

"That's pretty bold," he said.

I started shaking even harder.

"I... My mom's sick... We need money..." I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

"How much do you need?" he asked, his tone calm and steady.

I froze, my eyes snapping open in shock.

And suddenly, I was staring straight into a pair of brown eyes.

There was no anger in them, no contempt, just... Pure curiosity.

His question caught me completely off guard.

I had no idea how much I should ask for.

Should I ask for one hundred thousand dollars or one hundred and fifty thousand dollars?

To me, either number was already beyond imagination.

Charles looked at my panic-stricken face, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

He reached into the inner pocket of his suit and pulled something out.

It was a sleek black card, etched with gold patterns.

He held the black card out to me.

Charles grinned, "Call me your brother."

He said, "This card, and everything in it, is yours."

I was completely stunned.

I could not understand what was happening.

I recognized it as the legendary black card with no spending limit.

I stared at him, totally lost.

"You... You're not mad?" I stammered, still in shock.

Charles raised an eyebrow.

"Why would I be mad?" he replied, sounding genuinely puzzled.

"Looks like I've got myself a little sister. Honestly, I'm thrilled," Charles said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

I could not believe he called me his sister.

I was still in shock.

Just then, Edward, another heir with the gold-rimmed glasses, walked over.

He pushed up his glasses, the lenses flashing with a cold gleam.

Edward pushed up his glasses and said, "Come on, Charles, don't just throw money at our little sister who just got home. That's way too tacky."

A sharp twist clenched in my chest.

I thought he was about to play the strict brother.

But instead, Edward crouched down so he could look me in the eye.

His gaze was gentler than Charles', almost reassuring.

Edward looked at me and asked, "You're Anna Wellington, right?

"You're a senior this year?"

I nodded.

"Yeah," I replied quietly.

Edward gave me a gentle smile, so warm it almost made me relax for a second.

Edward asked, "So, how's your math? Are you any good?

"What have you been reviewing lately?

"Is it sequences? Or maybe geometry?" Edward continued, sounding like he was about to start a tutoring session right there.

I was baffled once again.

This conversation got way too weird. I was completely thrown off by the sudden switch to academics.

Edward took some paper and a pen from his assistant.

He looked at me and said, "Don't be scared.

"From today on, your college entrance exams are my responsibility.

"I promise I'll get you into the best university in the country," Edward said, giving me a reassuring smile.

I glanced at the paper and pen in his hands, then looked around at the solemn chapel around us.

Was he seriously planning to tutor me in math right there?

I had not even recovered from my shock.

Just then, a sweet scent drifted through the air.

Victoria, my gorgeous older sister, strode right over and pulled me into a hug.

Her embrace was unbelievably soft, and she smelled amazing.

Victoria squealed, "Oh my god, you're so cute! And so adorable!"

She hugged me like I was a giant plushie, rubbing her cheek against mine.

She said, "Did you hear that? From now on, you're officially my little sister!

"If anyone dares to mess with you, I'll rip them to shreds!"

I was trapped in her hug, and my mind went entirely blank.

Charles handed me a black card.

Edward promised to tutor me for the college entrance exam.

Victoria gave me a giant hug.

I stood there, completely bewildered.

I came to fight for the inheritance. Instead, the entire Wellington family spoiled me like crazy.

I wondered if I was handed the wrong script.

This situation was completely different from what my mom had told me and what I had imagined.

I was surrounded by all three of them.

Charles was holding out the black card.

Edward had a pen ready in his hand.

Victoria was still hugging me tight.

The guests around us looked like their eyes were about to pop out of their heads.

Their reactions were even more dramatic than mine.

Shock, confusion, envy, and jealousy, all written across their faces.

I stared at these three ridiculously enthusiastic relatives in front of me.

There was no trace of fake politeness in their eyes.

Their happiness was genuine, and so was their welcome.

I could not figure out why this was happening.

I was an illegitimate daughter, and I was an enemy who came to snatch their inheritance.

I could not understand why they would react this way.

Just then, a shrill, cutting voice suddenly rang out from the edge of the crowd.

A woman said, "Well, well, who do we have here?

"Turns out it's just some illegitimate brat who actually dares to crash Richard Wellington's funeral!"