Chapter 1
At the family reunion party.
The true heiress was dressed in a custom-made gown, clutching a DNA test as she made her dramatic return to the Quinn family.
Her eyes were red as she pointed at me.
"You've taken my place for eighteen years. It's time you gave me my life back," she said.
The room fell silent.
Everyone was waiting.
Waiting for me to break down in tears, throw a tantrum, and kneel before my parents, begging them to let me stay.
But in the very next second, I dashed over, threw my arms around her leg, and started bawling even louder than she was.
"Sis!
"My real sister! You're finally here!"
I was sobbing so hard I could barely catch my breath.
"What took you so long to come back?
"Please, save me! Just get me out of here tonight!"
The true heiress was stunned.
My parents' faces turned stormy.
My genius brother, always number one since we were kids, the guy who finished the SAT half an hour early, had his wine glass shatter in his hand with a loud snap.
None of them had a clue.
I'd been waiting for this day for so long, I was about to lose my mind.
If nobody comes to replace me...
I really couldn't hold on any longer.
*****
At the family reunion party, I was secretly gnawing on a drumstick when the true heiress slammed the DNA test down in front of me.
Over three hundred guests went dead silent in an instant.
My mom, Victoria Stone, looked even colder than the emerald necklace around her neck.
My dad, Charles Quinn, held his wine glass, his eyes cold and calculating, like he was dissecting a bankruptcy liquidation report.
My brother, Andrew Quinn, stood on the steps, his suit buttoned all the way up, with an air of arrogance, like a corporate shark straight off the cover of a finance magazine.
And then there was me.
Sophie Quinn.
The only heiress of the Quinn family for eighteen years.
At that moment, I was chomping on a chicken drumstick, my fingers still covered in cumin powder.
The true heiress shot me a frosty look.
"Sophie, how can you still be eating right now?" she asked.
I took a couple more bites and gave her an honest nod.
"It's a bit cold, but it's still good," I replied.
The crowd gasped.
The true heiress's expression shifted.
She definitely hadn't expected her big moment, coming back with a DNA test, a team of lawyers, and her elite pedigree, to be completely thrown off by a fake heiress munching on chicken.
She took a deep breath and shoved the papers in front of me.
"Look closely.
"My name is April Morgan. I'm the true daughter of the Quinn family.
"Eighteen years ago, the hospital made a mistake. You've been living the life that was meant for me.
"Meanwhile, I was stuck in a family that ran a diner, getting up at four in the morning just to help knead dough.
"Sophie, you stole eighteen years of my life. Don't you even feel a little bit guilty?"
I felt my eyes well up with tears.
April gave a cold laugh.
"Finally scared now, huh?" she asked.
I shot to my feet, knocking my chair over in the process.
The guests instinctively stepped back.
I rushed right up to April, and with everyone watching in shock, I seized her hand.
"Sis!" I cried.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, tears poured down my face.
"My real sister!"
"Wait, what?"
I stuffed the drumstick into her hand, still sobbing.
"You're finally here!
"I thought I was gonna die here if you didn't come!"
The whole place went dead silent.
Victoria frowned. "Sophie, what nonsense are you pulling now?"
I turned to her, heartbreak written all over my face.
"Mom, no, Mrs. Stone.
"The true heiress is back. Just hurry up and kick me out!
"Being the Quinn family's heiress is way too much for me. I'm not smart enough for this gig!"
I started rummaging through my pockets.
"Here's my room key.
"And this is the Quinn family's black card. Take it, it's all yours.
"This is my 5 a.m. golf lesson schedule for tomorrow, enjoy!
"And here's my German tutor's number for my 10:30 p.m. lesson tonight.
"And these are the reading notes my brother assigned me for 'Global Macroeconomics and Asset Allocation.' I haven't read a single page. Here, you can have them."
I dumped everything into April's arms all at once.
"Sis, from today on, you're the Quinn family's heiress.
"You get to be the classy one.
"You get to run the family business.
"You get to listen to Dad go on and on about the new energy market at dinner.
"You get to go to charity galas with Mom, and she'll nitpick your posture, the way you sit, and even how you sip your soup.
"And you get to deal with my brother every morning at 6 a.m., telling you, 'Sophie, you're slowing down the Quinn family's efficiency.'"
April froze.
I held her hand, genuinely desperate.
"Help me, please!
"I'm begging you.
"I'm ready to leave right now!"
My dad slammed his wine glass down.
"Sophie!" my dad snapped.
I pulled my neck in and flinched instinctively.
Charles's voice was heavy with anger.
"Do you even realize what kind of occasion this is?" he asked.
I nodded.
I said, "Yeah, I know.
"It's the family reunion party.
"So now that we've done the big reveal, does that mean this 'defective product' finally gets to be returned to sender?"
Someone in the crowd couldn't help but laugh.
Victoria's face turned stormy.
"Sophie, haven't you embarrassed the Quinn family enough already?" Victoria snapped.
I muttered under my breath, "Mom, I'm not even part of the Quinn family anymore. If anyone's reputation is getting trashed, it's the Morgans' now."
April finally found her voice.
She shook off my hand and said coldly,
"Cut the act. Stop pretending to be crazy and clueless.
"You really think this little performance is going to make you look innocent?
"You stole my parents, my brother, my whole life, and now you think just saying you want to leave makes it all okay?"
I waved my hands frantically.
I said quickly, "No way, that's not enough.
"That's why I'm packing up tonight, and I'll even make sure your sheets and pillowcases are squeaky clean before I go.
"Feel free to raid my closet, but honestly, you might want to skip the pink stuff, Mom says it makes you look like you've got zero brain cells."
"Sophie!" Victoria snapped.
I shut up.