Chapter 2

Lily pouted, her lips trembling as tears welled up. She ran straight to our parents, crying like her world had just ended.

"Mom, Dad, I only wanted Emily to learn how to take better care of Samuel later on, but she yelled at me," she sobbed.

Then, with her voice breaking for dramatic effect, she added, "I guess it's true. I'm not your real daughter, so what I say doesn't matter anyway. Maybe I should go."

Mom's face softened instantly. She pulled Lily into her arms and shot me a sharp look. "Emily," she said with clear irritation, "Lily was only thinking about your best interest. You should listen to her. She knows what she's talking about."

Even though my heart had already been shattered countless times, it still hurt to hear that. "Dad, Mom," I said quietly, "I'm your real daughter."

Before I could say another word, Dad slapped me hard across the face. My ears rang from the blow.

"Watch your mouth!" he barked. "In this Summers family, you don't get to fight for position. Guess that orphanage didn't teach you any manners. You actually think you can talk back to your parents now?"

Samuel instinctively reached out to steady me, but when he saw my embarrassed expression, he pulled his hand back and frowned.

"You're not even married to me yet, and you're already acting lazy, trying to play the pampered wife, huh? The Foster family doesn't tolerate that kind of attitude," he said.

Memories hit me like a wave. Samuel stepped in front of a car to save me and ended up with a broken leg.

My parents spent almost a year and millions of dollars building me a Hello Kitty castle just because I loved it as a kid. My chest tightened painfully.

I shot Lily a bitter look before walking toward the laundry room.

Behind me, Lily started up again.

"Emily just gave me such a scary look. She must be blaming me. Mom, Dad, I think my depression's acting up again," she cried.

Mom immediately unclasped the jeweled necklace from her own neck and fastened it around Lily's.

"Don't be scared, sweetheart," she murmured soothingly. "You'll always be our dearest daughter. No one could take your place. This necklace has been in our family for generations. We may not be related by blood, but you'll always have all our love and care."

After I finished doing the laundry, Lily came looking for me again.

"Emily," she said in her sweetest voice, "I twisted my ankle. Mom and Dad said you should take care of me. Why don't you help me wash my feet?"

I glared at her. "Lily, are you seriously that helpless?"

When no one else was around, she dropped the act completely.

"Oh, Emily," she sneered, her tone icy, "you'd better behave. Otherwise, do you really think Mom and Dad won't have your finger bones crushed one by one? I wonder if your soft, boneless hands will wash feet even better after that."

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm. I thought to myself that once I got married, Lily would pay for every bit of what she had done.

As I knelt there washing her feet, Lily leaned back comfortably and called out, "Samuel, come read me a story."

Then she turned to me, her gaze flicking to the cleavage visible when I bent forward.

"Samuel," she asked with an exaggerated pout, "do men really like big boobs that much?"

Samuel's eyes flicked toward me, a brief flash of desire crossing his face before he looked back at her.

"Everyone's got their own taste," he said smoothly. "Lily, you're one of a kind to me.

"We grew up together," he added casually. "You've always been like a best buddy to me."

Lily gave me a smug little look and then turned away with a fake pout, pretending to sulk.

When I finally finished washing her feet, I went back to my room.

Samuel followed me inside.

"Emily," he said coldly, "did you wear that low-cut dress on purpose just to make Lily mad? She's furious now, and her depression's flaring up again."

I let out a bitter laugh. "This is a normal dress," I said flatly. "If she's looking from the wrong angle, that's on her. You two really don't know when to stop."

Samuel tilted his head slightly, a smirk curling his lips. "You're the older sister. It's your job to let your little sister have her way. She's upset, and it's your responsibility to make her feel better."

Before I could say a word, he stepped forward, grabbed my dress, and ripped it apart, not giving me the slightest chance to fight back.