Chapter 4

Emma was only five years old—she hadn't mastered the art of hiding her feelings, and her eyes sparkled with pride.

I gave her a dismissive glance, not intending to pay her any attention.

She was clearly trying to get on my nerves. When she reached for her Barbie doll, she "accidentally" knocked the car model off the table.

The carpet cushioned the fall, so the model was fine, but Emma didn't care and stomped right on it anyway.

The model split with a sharp crack as soon as she stomped on it.

"Melissa, I didn't mean to. I... I can pay for it," Emma said, putting on her best innocent face—even though I caught the sneaky little grin on her lips.

Once again, the barrage of comments flashed before my eyes.

[Wait, seriously? Isn't the FL supposed to be all innocent and fragile?]

[Come on, her whole upbringing is different now. It'd be weird if she didn't change at all. Plus, she's just a kid.]

[For real, it's only a model! She even said she'd pay for it—what more do you expect from a five-year-old?]

I walked over, scooped up the busted model, and flashed Emma a wicked grin. "Breaking the other's stuff? Someone's gotta pay. I'll just take it out of your mom's paycheck.

"And if I hear you call me Melissa again, her pay gets docked too."

All the smugness drained from Emma's face in a heartbeat.

I let out a laugh, feeling a rush of satisfaction, and turned on my heel to leave.

Emma was always nervous around Karen, and honestly, in this house, that was just how things worked.

That night, muffled thuds and stifled sobs drifted out from Karen's room.

At breakfast the next morning, Emma came running out and dropped to her knees in front of Mom, tears streaming down her face as she revealed the bruises on her arms. Sobbing, she pleaded, "Mrs. Moore, please, help.

"Those princess dresses and dolls you gave me yesterday—Miss Melissa Moore found out and now she says she's going to take it out of my mom's salary.

"Mrs. Moore, I don't want any of that stuff anymore, just please don't cut my mom's pay. If you do, she'll... she'll kill me for sure!"

Mom slammed her fork down and glared at me, her eyes icy. "Melissa, getting bold now, are you? Do you even see me as your mother anymore?"

I set my fork aside, lazily dabbed my mouth with a napkin, and replied coolly, "I'm done eating. Take your time, Mom."

Behind me, Mom hurled a bowl at the wall.

'Looks like I'm just too nice for my own good,' I thought to myself.

That night, I headed into Dad's study.

"Hey, Melissa, need something?" Dad glanced up and flashed me a warm smile.

I smiled back.

That was just how Dad was.

Back when he needed Grandpa's backing, Dad was totally devoted to Mom—he'd do whatever she wanted, even if it meant throwing his own kid under the bus.

But after Grandpa died three years ago, and with a little advice from me, the Moore family quickly outshined the Fairbanks. Now, Dad treated me like I was his favorite in the world.

"I got the inside scoop from Geoffrey—he told me the Alvarez Group's bottom line for the north side land," I said.

In my previous life, the Alvarez family snatched up the development rights for that northern plot, leaving the Moore family in the dust. With Geoffrey backing Emma, Mom and Dad didn't even hesitate to abandon me.

But this time, things were going to be different.

Dad froze for a split second, then burst into a huge, delighted grin. He hurried over to me. "Melissa, that's my girl."

I lifted the corners of my lips in a knowing smile.

He didn't even stop to wonder if the Alvarez family would actually trust someone as young as Geoffrey with something this major.

I wasn't going to mention it. Instead, I told Dad, "The SAT's almost here, and with Karen and Emma always making a racket at home, I just can't focus."

Dad caught on right away. "I'll make sure they're out of the house by tomorrow."

"And Mom—while you're out there working your butt off, she's just blowing money left and right. She even spent 10 thousand on a doll for Emma," I added.

Honestly, for Dad, who could drop hundreds of thousands on a single bottle of wine at a business dinner, 10 grand for a doll was nothing, just a drop in the bucket.

He probably wouldn't even notice the money was missing from his account.

But he still nodded along with me. "I'll freeze her card. The SAT's coming up, so she really ought to be taking care of you."

'Mission accomplished,' I thought with a smirk as I slid Dad the Alvarez Group's bottom line for the north side land.

I had no clue what Dad told Mom, but the next morning, she was glaring at me like she wanted to eat me alive—only she kept her mouth shut.

All I really wanted was a little peace and quiet. Whatever she thought of me? Couldn't care less.

I thought I'd be free of Emma for a long while, but right after the SATs, Geoffrey asked me over to the Alvarez family's place. Since I was still chasing a bigger payout from Dad, I had no reason to turn down Geoffrey's invitation.