Chapter 1 · My Sister Gave Him Up, So I Made Him Mine

My mom set my sister up with a man who had money, looks, and a top-tier degree.

My sister found something wrong with all of it.

One day it was that he didn't peel her shrimp at dinner.

The next it was that he didn't get her memes and couldn't keep up with her jokes.

Even when he drove her home in a Lincoln, she said he was showing off.

So after she came back from one more date with him and started in on the complaints again, I asked her, calm as anything, "Do you actually not like Edward Carter?"

My sister flipped her long hair back. "Of course not. What's to like? He has some money, that's all."

"If you don't want him, can I have him?"

Something shifted in her face, but she kept her chin up. "He's a man, not a prize. Take him if you want him."

So the next day, when Edward came to pick her up again, I was the one who ran down the stairs first.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Carter. My sister doesn't like you. I do."

*****

Edward's expression pulled in a little.

He looked up at our small balcony, and right then the curtain in the room behind it swung shut.

Something heavy settled over his face.

To get his attention back, I pulled a one-page profile of myself out of my cheap handbag.

"Mr. Carter, this is my introduction. I'm Julia Evans.

"I graduated from a top-tier university. I'm five foot six. You can see my face for yourself, and I look about half like my sister, Emily.

"The only difference is that she's better at dressing up, so she looks prettier. But don't worry. Once I have money, I'll dress up too, and I'll hold my own against her.

"As for work, I've been sending out resumes nonstop. Recruiters from two big companies have already called, and I'm preparing for the interviews. I'm confident I'll land a respectable job."

I was so nervous saying all this that the fingers holding the page were shaking.

Edward glanced toward the balcony several more times before he finally took the page from my hand.

"Does your sister know you came down here?"

I nodded, solemn. "She knows. She said the two of you aren't a great fit personality-wise.

"When she found out I had feelings for you, she encouraged me to go after you."

Chapter 1

My mom set my sister up with a man who had money, looks, and a top-tier degree.

My sister found something wrong with all of it.

One day it was that he didn't peel her shrimp at dinner.

The next it was that he didn't get her memes and couldn't keep up with her jokes.

Even when he drove her home in a Lincoln, she said he was showing off.

So after she came back from one more date with him and started in on the complaints again, I asked her, calm as anything, "Do you actually not like Edward Carter?"

My sister flipped her long hair back. "Of course not. What's to like? He has some money, that's all."

"If you don't want him, can I have him?"

Something shifted in her face, but she kept her chin up. "He's a man, not a prize. Take him if you want him."

So the next day, when Edward came to pick her up again, I was the one who ran down the stairs first.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Carter. My sister doesn't like you. I do."

*****

Edward's expression pulled in a little.

He looked up at our small balcony, and right then the curtain in the room behind it swung shut.

Something heavy settled over his face.

To get his attention back, I pulled a one-page profile of myself out of my cheap handbag.

"Mr. Carter, this is my introduction. I'm Julia Evans.

"I graduated from a top-tier university. I'm five foot six. You can see my face for yourself, and I look about half like my sister, Emily.

"The only difference is that she's better at dressing up, so she looks prettier. But don't worry. Once I have money, I'll dress up too, and I'll hold my own against her.

"As for work, I've been sending out resumes nonstop. Recruiters from two big companies have already called, and I'm preparing for the interviews. I'm confident I'll land a respectable job."

I was so nervous saying all this that the fingers holding the page were shaking.

Edward glanced toward the balcony several more times before he finally took the page from my hand.

"Does your sister know you came down here?"

I nodded, solemn. "She knows. She said the two of you aren't a great fit personality-wise.

"When she found out I had feelings for you, she encouraged me to go after you."