Chapter 1

The police car pulled up to Stone Manor, sirens blaring.

Selena Stone, my mom, shoved a bloody fruit knife into my hand. "Yvonne's about to win Best Actress. She can't have a criminal record."

I stared at my blood-soaked hands, trembling all over. "She hit that person with her car. Why should I take the fall?"

Selena slapped me to the ground, her stiletto digging into my face. "You're a high school dropout loser. What's ten years in prison to you?"

Yvonne Stone, the fake heiress, touched up her makeup with a careless grin. "Enjoy prison, Olivia. I'll send you plenty of care packages."

Just then, the police pushed the door open.

Selena immediately put on a look of devastation.

She pointed at me. "Officers, she's the one who that person. Hurry up and arrest her."

The cold handcuffs snapped shut around my wrists, biting into my skin.

I said nothing, letting the police haul me into the car.

Before getting in, I turned to Yvonne, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Forgot to tell you: the top investor for your big lead role is Ms. Reed."

"Who do you think you're scaring?" Yvonne snapped. "You're a nobody. You don't even deserve to say Ms. Reed's name."

Her perfectly made-up face was slightly contorted with jealousy and rage.

The police car door slammed shut with a loud bang, blocking out her yelling.

"Sit still and behave!" the young officer next to me barked, his face cold.

He yanked hard on my cuffs.

The sharp metal bit deeper into my skin, drawing blood.

I held back any cry of pain, leaning back calmly.

My gaze drifted past the car window, watching the lavish three‑story Stone Manor fade into the distance.

That was my real mother's home.

And it was the filthiest place I'd ever known.

The police car roared through the streets, finally pulling into the Petrico Police Department headquarters.

I was shoved out of the car and dragged into a cold, cramped interrogation room.

A harsh fluorescent light shone right in my face, making it hard to open my eyes.

The officer across from me flipped open his notebook without looking up. "Name."

"Olivia Stone," I replied.

"Age."

"Twenty-two."

The officer looked up, his gaze sharp. "Do you know why you're under arrest?"

I stared right back, my voice flat. "Nope."

He slammed his hand on the table, making the water cup rattle.

"Nope? Your fingerprints are all over the weapon. Your mother says you drove drunk, hit that person, threatened them with a knife, and didn't call an ambulance in time, costing them precious rescue minutes. Now you say you don't know?"

I gazed at the blood lingering beneath my fingernails.

It was from the fruit knife Selena had forced into my hand.

To protect Yvonne, who shared no blood with her, she threw me, her flesh and blood, straight into hell without a second thought.

I looked away and said calmly, "I want a lawyer."

The officer scoffed, "A lawyer? Fine. Your family already hired one for you. He'll be here soon."

Right then, the door swung open.

A middle-aged man in a suit with his hair slicked back walked in.

It was James Harper, the Stone family's go-to lawyer.

He held a briefcase and looked down at me with pure contempt.

He offered a cigarette, smiling flatteringly. "Officer, may I speak to my client alone?"

The officer nodded, stood up, and left, closing the door behind him.

Only James and I were left in the interrogation room.

James pulled out a chair, sat down, pulled a document from his briefcase, and slammed it onto the table.

Then he leaned back and crossed his legs. "Ms. Olivia Stone, no, I should call you 'the suspect' now.

"This is a confession. Mrs. Stone has everything arranged. Sign it. We'll ask for leniency, and you'll be out in seven or eight years."

I glanced at the document.

It was crammed with crimes they could throw at me: hit-and-run, assault with intent, and falsifying evidence.

Every line cut deeper than the last.

"What if I don't sign?" I looked up at him coldly.

He snorted, as if I'd told the most ridiculous joke. "Don't sign? Olivia, do you think you have a choice?"

He leaned in, lowering his voice. "Mrs. Stone said if you don't play along, your grandma's grave will be leveled tomorrow."

My fingers clenched so tight my nails dug into my palms.

Grandma raised me by picking through trash, and on her deathbed, she left me her emerald bracelet.

She was my only weakness in the world.

I never imagined that Selena would even touch her mother's grave, all to make me plead guilty.

"Touch her grave, and you'll regret it." I gritted my teeth, my voice like it came from hell.

James brushed dust off his suit casually. "Whether it happens or not, that's Mrs. Stone's call.

"You're nothing but a small-town nobody. How could you stand up to the Stone family?"

He tossed the pen in front of me. "Be smart and sign it. Don't make Mrs. Stone get rough.

"Ms. Yvonne Stone is about to join the cast of Queen's Reign. She's got a bright future.

"A loser like you taking her place in prison is an honor."

I stared at the pen, a cold laugh escaping me.

The laugh grew louder, echoing in the empty room.