Chapter 3

Nicholas shot me a nervous glance, looking terrified I'd actually pack my bags and dump everything on him.

He awkwardly pulled his arm away. "I'm not as smart as Nora, seriously. Just stick with her and you'll be fine."

"I've got something to do, so I'll head out first," he added, practically fleeing.

Scarlett, of course, thought he was just feeling insecure about not being as capable as me. So she turned to me again, putting on her "sweet sister" act.

"Nora, girls don't have to work so hard, you know? I've always been kind of tomboyish, and people say I act like a boy sometimes. If I ever say something too blunt, please tell me, okay?" she said, flashing a cheeky grin.

I gave her a gentle smile. "Don't worry, Scarlett. I'll definitely tell you if something's off."

Her face stiffened for a second as she looked at me, and she muttered under her breath, "Fake bitch."

Matthew and Emily didn't hear it. I did—every single word.And that made me wonder even more—why did she hate me this much, when we'd only just met?

"Nora, Scarlett's birthday is coming up next month. We're planning to throw her a party and announce who she really is," Matthew said, looking right at me.

I didn't mind at all—everyone in Astarbrook already knows about the drama she stirred up. Trying to hide anything now would just make us look shady.

"Alright, Dad. I'll be there," I said.

I was a college sophomore by then, living mostly in my apartment near campus. I only came back to the family estate during holidays.

"By the way," Matthew continued, "Scarlett said she wants to experience campus life. I'm thinking of sending her to your university."

I nodded. No objections there either.

Meridian University was a prestigious school, mostly filled with kids from wealthy families, but it also offered full scholarships to top students.

Those students got free tuition, huge annual stipends, and job offers from top firms after graduation.

The Blake Group always hires a bunch of graduates from there every year.

Matthew only brought this up to me because my biological parents happen to be the largest shareholders of the university.

Over a decade ago, my parents vanished overnight. Matthew and Emily said my parents had once helped them out, so they adopted me into the Blake family and raised me as their own.

Part of my inheritance stayed overseas, part was managed domestically by professionals.

I could only access the foreign assets myself after turning twenty-five.

Scarlett turned to Emily, putting on her best sweet, begging face. "Mom, I want to share a dorm with Nora—we could watch each other's backs."

I raised an eyebrow, and Emily took her hand, comforting her. "You just got home, sweetheart. I can't bear to let you live on campus yet. Why don't you stay at home for now?"

Scarlett shot me a smug look, obviously feeling proud of herself.

I didn't get what's so worth showing off.

It wasn't like I lived in the dorms either.

"Nora, can I pick the same major as you and take classes together?" she asked, blinking up at me with exaggerated puppy eyes.

I froze, caught off guard. "Uh… that might not be such a good idea."

She turned to Matthew, shaking his arm dramatically. "Dad, please! I wanna study the same major as Nora!"

Matthew frowned, clearly not buying it. "Nora's double majoring in finance and law. You don't have any background in that. Don't be ridiculous."

"But Dad, I'm talented. I'll catch up, I promise," she protested.

Scarlett wasn't about to let it go, still trying to convince him.

Matthew stayed firm—until I stepped in softly, "Dad, if she really wants to learn, maybe we should let her. She'll need it to help manage the company one day."

Matthew finally relented when he heard what I said.

"Alright, I'll have someone tutor you. Just make sure you study seriously," he said.

Scarlett was practically grinning from ear to ear, her up-to-no-good intentions written all over her face.

Matthew just frowned even more watching her.

"Oh, and Nora, Mr. Price is coming back next week. You two have that marriage arrangement between families, so try to keep in touch," he said, throwing me a look.

Before I could respond, Scarlett practically jumped like she'd caught on to a keyword.

She blurted out, "Wait, what? Engaged?"

I jumped in right away. "The Price family's eldest heir is my fiancé."

After I said that, I kept a close eye on Scarlett. She looked like it finally clicked for her and replied, "Oh, Logan Price, right?"

All of us froze—Matthew, Emily, and me.

She'd only been back a day. How did she already know his name?

"Yeah, that's him. We grew up together, you know—like childhood sweethearts or whatever," I drawled, painting a picture of our past as if it were the real deal.

Truth was, I was pretty much making it up as I went.

Sure, we'd grown up together, but "sweethearts"? Not even close.

I never caught any feelings for Logan, and as for him—he practically hated my guts, probably 'cause I always outshined him.

But I figured if I played it up like that, Scarlett would definitely get interested in Logan. Honestly, I was hoping she'd take him off my hands.

And sure enough, just two weeks later, Scarlett and Logan were already flirting up a storm.