Chapter 2
Brian stepped forward and clamped down on my wrist.
"Give Emily her bag back. Don't make me get physical," he warned.
Pain jolted through my wrist, making me wince.
I snapped, "Let go.
"This is mine. Why should I hand it over to her?"
[Whoa, she's still talking back? This girl is seriously shameless.]
[Brian is so hot. That protective vibe is off the charts. That's exactly how you deal with a woman like her.]
[Come on, grab her bag already. Let's see what else she's been hiding.]
I remembered my dad's warning from just a few hours ago on the phone.
"Rachel, Richard from the Carter family is a bit too slick for my taste. I don't really like him. Go and see what they're really like for me, and enjoy yourself while you're at it," he said.
This wasn't just a family with questionable morals. It was a total snake pit.
Seeing Brian had me pinned, Emily got even cockier and went straight for my bag.
"Let go. This is my bag," I shouted.
I struggled, holding onto my bag for dear life with my free hand, refusing to let go.
As we tussled over the bag, an elegant and dignified woman strode over. It was Monica Carter, Emily's adoptive mother.
Monica immediately took Emily's hand, her face full of concern, as if terrified her daughter might have been mistreated.
"Emily, what happened?" she asked, her voice gentle.
Her eyes flicked over to me with a hint of judgment.
"Mom." Emily threw herself into Monica's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
She said, "She's the one who just came from a small town. She's your real daughter. She stole the watch Brian gave me, and she didn't admit it."
Monica's face darkened instantly, and she looked at me with pure contempt. "So, it's you."
She gently patted Emily's back, her voice soft and comforting, but every word she said was laced with poison.
Monica cooed, her tone full of fake sympathy, "Sweetie, of course she won't admit it.
"Just look at her, so cheap and pathetic, you can tell she's a nobody from head to toe. How could someone like her ever deserve to be called Carter?
"Honestly, the hospital must've messed up. Emily is smart and gorgeous. You're the real jewel of our family."
Her voice suddenly sharpened with disgust. "And you," she jabbed a finger at me, "some nobody from the sticks. How dare you even dream of taking what isn't yours? Dream on."
[Preach. Monica is a total queen, so savage.]
[She totally deserves to get dragged. Let her know she's not all that.]
[Blood means nothing. Who cares if they're related? Twenty years in the real family makes all the difference.]
Monica's words were so absurd I actually laughed out loud, more out of anger than amusement.
I shot back, "Eat whatever you want, but don't go around spouting nonsense.
"Who are you to say I crawled out of some dump? And where do you get off calling me a thief?"
Monica choked on my retort, her expression soured even further.
"Still got the nerve to talk back?" she spat.
She turned to Brian. "Brian, what are you standing there for? Get our things back, now. Having her in my sight ruins my mood."
Brian, taking his cue, tightened his grip on my wrist even more.
"I'm telling you one last time. Hand over the bag," he growled.
I felt like my wrist was about to snap under his grip.
"I said no," I snapped, refusing to give in.
Pain fueled my anger, and I kicked at his shin without hesitation.
Brian let out a low grunt, but his hold on my wrist stayed just as tight.
Emily shrieked, "She hit you. Brian, she even dared to hit you."
All eyes in the hotel were locked on me, like every spotlight was shining right at me. Everyone was staring, judging, and full of hostility.
My dad had been invited upstairs by Richard to talk business, completely unaware of the chaos happening downstairs.