Chapter 2 · I Read My Own Spoilers

I was about to leave when the comments popped up again.

[Does Kiera really think she just owned that scene? What a joke. Kira wasn't supposed to be able to get pregnant, but thanks to this drama, the author just rewrote her fate. Not only does she get pregnant—she's having a whole litter.]

[Kiera is in for it now. She's strayed from the main plot, so the author's going to kill her off.]

[Serves her right for hitting and cursing at our sweetheart. The thought of her getting assaulted, her hands cut off, and then finding out right before she dies that she was adopted—so satisfying.]

My heart jolted, and I was trembling with fury.

But for now, I had to take things one step at a time. And if it came down to it, I'd drag the so-called male and female leads down with me.

As soon as I got home, my brother, Caleb Chase, called. He already knew what had happened earlier, but instead of comforting me, he was there to scold me.

"I heard everything from Kira. So he got one word wrong? Did you really have to make a public spectacle of yourself? Hitting this one, slapping that one—does that make you feel tough? Just because Maxwell spoils you doesn't mean you can act like a tyrant. Keep this up, and breaking up is only a matter of time."

Listening to his wildly biased words, I couldn't help asking, "Are you afraid that if I break up with Maxwell, Kira will get together with him and you'll lose your favorite little lapdog?"

There was a stunned pause on the other end, then Caleb burst out, "What are you even saying? When did you get so sharp-tongued and nasty?"

"It's Valentine's Day. Maxwell used the excuse of surprising me to publicly declare his love for Kira. They treated me like a joke. I've had more than enough, and now I come home only to get lectured by you. I'm your sister—why won't you stand up for me?" my voice cracked.

Back before Kira Lane showed up, Caleb was all about me. If anyone so much as talked trash about me, he'd beat them up without a second thought. He knew every single thing I liked—my favorite foods, games, he named it.

But after Kira came along, it was like he flipped a switch. Anytime I clashed with her, didn't matter if I was right or wrong, he'd always back her up.

The worst was when I argued with Maxwell. Kira jumped in, yelling at me, so I threw a cup at her—missed, of course. She went crying to Caleb, and he ended up locking me in the basement. That same day, the place caught fire, and I nearly suffocated to death.

Even after I nearly died, the first thing Caleb said to me at the hospital was, "Have you learned your lesson yet?"

After that, whatever bond we'd had as siblings was dead.

The line went quiet. After a long pause, my brother said softly, "Because Kira saved my life."

I froze for a second, then blurted out, "Wait, Kira was the one who rescued you from the mountain five years ago?"

If that was true, then the heroine really had a perfect story.

She saved Caleb's life, so of course he'd owe her big time.

With that kind of debt—and a crush at first sight—it was no wonder he'd put her way above his own sister.

"I've hired private investigators multiple times. It's definitely her. So… don't blame me for being unfair sometimes. I really can't stand seeing her cry. When she cries, I go soft."

What he really meant was—he knew he was being unfair, but he was not about to change for anyone.

I let out a bitter laugh and hung up.

That night, Natalie Vance asked me out for drinks.

She'd never liked Maxwell, and when she heard I'd broken up with him on Valentine's Day, she acted all sympathetic, but I could see her grinning from ear to ear.

"I've been waiting two or three years for you to finally break up, and now my cousin finally gets his chance."

She was beaming like a cat who'd gotten the cream.

I blinked at her, totally confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Just wait, I've got a surprise for you," she said.

After saying that, she got up and went outside to make a phone call.

About twenty minutes later, a waiter came in and said, "Excuse me, Miss Vance invites you to the back alley. She says there's a surprise waiting for you."

It was only a five or six minute walk to the back alley, and since Natalie had just promised me a surprise, I didn't hesitate or suspect anything. I just followed the waiter.

Chapter 2

I was about to leave when the comments popped up again.

[Kiera is in for it now. She's strayed from the main plot, so the author's going to kill her off.]

[Serves her right for hitting and cursing at our sweetheart. The thought of her getting assaulted, her hands cut off, and then finding out right before she dies that she was adopted—so satisfying.]

My heart jolted, and I was trembling with fury.

But for now, I had to take things one step at a time. And if it came down to it, I'd drag the so-called male and female leads down with me.

As soon as I got home, my brother, Caleb Chase, called. He already knew what had happened earlier, but instead of comforting me, he was there to scold me.

Listening to his wildly biased words, I couldn't help asking, "Are you afraid that if I break up with Maxwell, Kira will get together with him and you'll lose your favorite little lapdog?"

There was a stunned pause on the other end, then Caleb burst out, "What are you even saying? When did you get so sharp-tongued and nasty?"

But after Kira came along, it was like he flipped a switch. Anytime I clashed with her, didn't matter if I was right or wrong, he'd always back her up.

Even after I nearly died, the first thing Caleb said to me at the hospital was, "Have you learned your lesson yet?"

After that, whatever bond we'd had as siblings was dead.

The line went quiet. After a long pause, my brother said softly, "Because Kira saved my life."

I froze for a second, then blurted out, "Wait, Kira was the one who rescued you from the mountain five years ago?"

If that was true, then the heroine really had a perfect story.

She saved Caleb's life, so of course he'd owe her big time.

With that kind of debt—and a crush at first sight—it was no wonder he'd put her way above his own sister.

"I've hired private investigators multiple times. It's definitely her. So… don't blame me for being unfair sometimes. I really can't stand seeing her cry. When she cries, I go soft."

What he really meant was—he knew he was being unfair, but he was not about to change for anyone.

I let out a bitter laugh and hung up.

That night, Natalie Vance asked me out for drinks.

She'd never liked Maxwell, and when she heard I'd broken up with him on Valentine's Day, she acted all sympathetic, but I could see her grinning from ear to ear.

"I've been waiting two or three years for you to finally break up, and now my cousin finally gets his chance."

She was beaming like a cat who'd gotten the cream.

I blinked at her, totally confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Just wait, I've got a surprise for you," she said.

After saying that, she got up and went outside to make a phone call.

About twenty minutes later, a waiter came in and said, "Excuse me, Miss Vance invites you to the back alley. She says there's a surprise waiting for you."

It was only a five or six minute walk to the back alley, and since Natalie had just promised me a surprise, I didn't hesitate or suspect anything. I just followed the waiter.