Chapter 1

The day the real daughter, Irene, came home, I awakened a mind-reading power.

My so-called brother, Ethan, glared at me and snapped, "Get out of the Callaway family."

The very next moment, I heard what he was really thinking. 'Finally, I can lock her up. Should I put a gold collar or a silver one on her?'

Terrified, I grabbed my things and rushed straight to his real sister Irene, the true heiress who had just returned home.

"Irene, help me! Your brother is a complete freak!" I shouted desperately.

*****

The day Irene Callaway came home, the Callaway family threw a lavish dinner party.

At the long dining table, I sat all the way at the end, wishing I could shrink right into my seat and disappear.

At the head of the table were the people I'd called Mom and Dad for twenty years. Though now, it felt more like a title than a bond.

Next to them was Irene, shining bright like sunshine itself.

She was the real heiress of the Callaway family.

And I, Aria Curtis, was just the girl who'd been switched at birth, a total imposter.

The whole room was thick with awkwardness.

My "dad," Rufus Callaway, cleared his throat and looked at me, his eyes distant.

"Aria, now that Irene's back, it's not really appropriate for you to stay here anymore," he said.

I nodded, my voice barely audible. "I understand, Mr. Callaway. I'll move out as soon as I can."

It was like an invisible hand squeezed my heart. There was pain, but mostly, I just felt numb.

Our twenty years of being a family were worthless, all because of blood ties.

Just then, Ethan Callaway, my "ex-brother," sitting next to Irene, finally spoke up.

Ethan was dressed in a sleek black suit, his expression frosty and his eyes as cold as ice.

"Move out tomorrow," Ethan said. His voice was cold as ice, not a hint of warmth.

I clenched my fists so tight my nails dug painfully into my palms.

I knew I had no right to hope for anything, but this merciless eviction still cut deep, stabbing right through my heart.

Just as I was about to nod, an unfamiliar voice suddenly burst into my mind. 'Finally, as soon as she leaves this house, I can lock her up, and no one will question it.'

I snapped my head up, staring straight at Ethan. He still wore that icy expression, his lips pressed into a thin line.

That voice... It was his.

'Did she like the villa I had built just for her? What kind of collar should I put on her? Gold or silver? No, that's way too tacky. Diamonds, yeah. Those would really set off her skin.' Ethan's thoughts echoed in my head.

My mind went blank, stunned.

A villa? A collar? What kind of twisted, perverted stuff was he thinking about?

I stared at Ethan's handsome, stone-cold face, and a chill raced up my spine, making my whole body freeze.

What a creep! He was such an absolute lunatic!

I bolted straight back to my room, barely holding it together.

I didn't eat a single bite at dinner. All I wanted was to get out of here immediately. No waiting!

I grabbed my biggest suitcase and started throwing my stuff in like a maniac.

Clothes, books, art supplies... and the little piggy bank I'd stashed away in my nightstand. That was literally all I owned.

Just as I was trying to stuff the piggy bank into my underwear pile, someone knocked on my door.

Three knocks, neither loud nor soft, but each one had this intimidating vibe.

Startled, the piggy bank tumbled out of my suitcase and crashed onto the floor.

I asked, "Who?"

"Me." That was Ethan.

I scrambled over and threw myself against the door, holding it shut with everything I had.

"Ethan... I mean, Mr. Callaway, what do you want?" I stammered, my voice shaky.

There was a moment of silence outside.

Then, I heard that demon's voice in my head again.

'She called me Mr. Callaway. So distant. Doesn't matter. I'll have plenty of time to teach her a new name for me. Maybe... Master?' Ethan's thoughts echoed in my head.

My legs went weak with fear. This wasn't just creepy anymore. This was a legal red flag.

"Aria, open the door," Ethan called from outside. His voice had a hint of impatience.

I held the door shut, barely daring to breathe.

'Not opening up? Is she waiting for me to bust the door down? Wait, no, that'll freak her out. She's so skittish... I gotta go easy on her.' Ethan's thoughts flashed through my mind.

Outside, Ethan took a deep breath, his voice softening a little. "I'm not here to hurt you. It's just... Mom and Dad asked me to give you this."

A black card slid under the door. It was a Callaway Bank no-limit black card.

I stared at the card like it was a death warrant.

'With my money, she belongs to me now. This card doesn't even need a PIN. I can track every single purchase she makes. Let's see where she thinks she can run off to now,' Ethan thought.

Of course! This card was basically a tracker, a leash disguised as a credit card!

Shaking, I pushed the card back under the door.

"No, thank you, Mr. Callaway. I... I have money of my own," I stammered.

As I spoke, I grabbed the piggy bank off the floor and shook it so hard the coins inside clattered like crazy.

Outside, Ethan's thoughts were full of aggrieved confusion.

'She doesn't want my money? Is she keeping some other mutt out there?' Ethan thought.

'Mutt? You're the real mutt here!' I wanted to snap back, but kept my mouth shut.

I was so angry I nearly told him off, but I didn't dare.

I was terrified he'd actually bust the door down.