Chapter 2
I wiped my hands on Lucas' limited-edition jacket hanging behind the door, not caring one bit if he saw.
Then I strolled right into his bedroom, like it was my own.
He was the boldest and most arrogant of the two.
In the original story, he'd cut up Yvette's school uniform and frame her for cheating.
He'd go off on her and hit her for no reason, as if tormenting her were his favorite pastime.
But even someone that arrogant and mean had a weakness.
*****
Two hours later, Lucas and Ethan tried to talk to Sabrina, but got totally shut down.
Lucas snapped, "Ethan, this was all your genius plan.
"You said we should let Yvette move in first, then kick her out. Now look at us. Sabrina won't even look at us. She won't come home.
"I'm telling you, if she..."
He slammed the door in a fury, only to find me sprawled out, half-asleep on his bed.
"Yvette, what the hell are you doing in my bed?" he snapped.
He grabbed me by the collar and tossed me off the bed, his eyes blazing with anger.
I rubbed my bleary, dazed eyes, all innocent.
I said softly, "Lucas, I was just worried about Sabrina. I thought I'd wait here for you, to hear if there was any good news."
"But I was just so tired. Back at my foster home, all the nice things always went to my little brother. I spent over ten years sleeping on the floor. I never even knew what a real bed felt like. This one was so soft, I just... couldn't help but fall asleep," I went on, trying to sound pitiful.
I stole a glance at Lucas, trying to read his eyes.
Sure enough, his face froze for a split second.
Before Mark and Sylvia took him in, he'd been kicked out of three foster families.
The last family left him on the street like trash.
If Sabrina hadn't shown up, he'd probably still be stuck in that tiny, gloomy maid's room.
He wouldn't even have a real bed of his own.
What really got to a guy like him wasn't someone else's pain, but his own.
Lucas swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing, then finally looked away.
He said coldly, "Consider this your only warning. Don't ever do this again."
I scrambled for the door and slipped out.
Lucas had barely sat down for two seconds.
Then I was back, hesitating in his doorway, testing the waters.
"Lucas, do you mind if I take the jacket from your bed too?" I asked softly.
"I touched it, so you probably think it's dirty now," I said, sounding apologetic.
Before he could say anything, I quickly picked up the jacket, not giving him a chance to refuse.
Lucas didn't say a word, letting me take it.
As I pulled the door shut, he called out casually, "Sabrina's staying out for now, and there are plenty of empty rooms here.
"Pick any room you want. Just stay off the third floor.
"She doesn't like anyone touching her stuff."
I nodded like crazy, shooting him a grateful look.
As the door clicked shut behind me, I clutched the jacket and smirked inwardly.
Sabrina's old nursery? Please. Who wanted someone else's hand-me-down room?
Why settle for scraps when I could go for the crown jewel of the family?
Everything that should have been mine from the start. Love. Attention. My rightful place as the heiress.
I hadn't even moved onto the second floor for a couple of hours when I overheard Lucas and Ethan in a heated argument.
Ethan snapped, "Lucas, what is wrong with you?
"You were grilling me earlier about letting trouble into our home, and now you're getting soft on Yvette?
"Don't you get it? If she really becomes part of this family, Sabrina will lose her place here for good!"