Chapter 2

As soon as I mentioned calling the police, Sophie's eyes welled up with tears.

"Ms. Sterling, please don't call the police," she pleaded.

"I'm sorry. I woke up way too early today, and I was so out of it that I accidentally put on your clothes.

"I swear, I really didn't mean to. I'm just so hopelessly clumsy. Please, forgive me," Sophie sobbed.

She looked at me like a startled rabbit, her eyes brimming with hurt.

It was the same excuse as before.

This was her usual trick. Whenever she messed up, she'd start crying, saying she didn't mean it and blaming it all on being scatterbrained.

With that pretty, ditzy, and soft look of hers, it was almost impossible for anyone to actually get mad at her.

So, in the past, no matter what mistakes she made, everyone just let it slide.

Even when she was clearly in the wrong, the guys at home would just hug her and tell her it was all okay.

If I so much as said one more word, they'd just call me bossy and overbearing.

But unlike those clueless guys at home, I looked her up and down and chuckled lightly.

"Wait, so you're telling me that this morning, you were basically sleepwalking through my closet? You ended up putting on my brand-new dress, clipped on a sapphire brooch, and even matched it with my high heels, all while barely awake?" I said.

Noticing the sarcasm in my voice, Sophie bit her lip and burst into tears, secretly clutching the sapphire brooch on her chest.

"Ms. Sterling, I know you think I'm clumsy, but why do you have to make me look so bad?" she sobbed.

"I might be a mess, but I still have my dignity," she said, her voice trembling.

Ethan immediately stepped in front of her, shielding her from me.

"Vivian Sterling, why are you being so snarky? Sophie would never do something like that," he snapped.

"Just because you always think the worst of people doesn't mean everyone's like that," he shot back.

I couldn't even be bothered to look his way, just let out a mocking laugh.

"Since when do I need you to tell me how to deal with my own maid? Mind your own business," I said coldly.

Ethan choked on his words, shooting me a resentful glare.

Suddenly, Ryan came storming over, his voice full of urgency.

"What's going on here? Are you picking on Sophie again?" he snapped.

I couldn't hold back anymore and raised my voice.

"What did I do to her? Why don't you ask what she's done to me?" I shot back.

"She snuck off with my evening gown and is still acting all sweet and clueless," I snapped.

Ryan jumped in without even thinking,

"No way. She's way too timid. She's always walking on eggshells around you, terrified you'll kick her out. There's no way she'd ever wear yours."

But as his eyes landed on Sophie, his words died in his throat.

He quickly switched gears.

"Sophie just mixed up your clothes by accident. She didn't mean anything by it. Why are you blowing this out of proportion? Where's that Sterling family grace you're supposed to have?" Ryan snapped.

I shot him a cold, mocking smile.

"Sure, how about I give your brand-new Rolls-Royce to some beggar off the street later? Since you're so magnanimous, you wouldn't get mad at all, right?" I sneered.

"You." Ryan could only spit out, totally flustered.

He just glared at me, pissed off and completely out of words.

Just then, Alexander walked over after making his rounds at the party.

He frowned.

"What's going on here? You're causing a scene at a party. Do you realize how this makes us look?" he said sharply.

Even though he addressed all of us, his eyes were locked on me, making it clear I was the one he was calling out.

Sophie, who had been hiding behind Ethan, saw Alexander arrive and stepped out as if she'd just spotted her savior, her voice trembling with tears.

"Please, everyone, don't fight because of me. It's all my fault. I was just so out of it this morning and accidentally put on Ms. Sterling's dress. Ms. Sterling didn't mean to cause any trouble," she said tearfully.

Even though it was obviously her mistake, she made it sound like she was taking all the blame just to keep the peace, as if she were the one making a sacrifice.

My two brothers and Ethan looked at her, their eyes filled with worry and tenderness.

Alexander shot me a stern look.

"Is this really worth making a scene in front of everyone? Sophie didn't do it on purpose. If you're not embarrassed, I am. Just get out of here and go back to your room," he snapped.

Right then, Charlie came over to take me upstairs.

I pulled my arm away from Charlie.

"I'm not the one who did anything wrong, so why should I be the one feeling ashamed?

"Sophie's always screwing up, big or small, and you all just pretend not to see it. You even act like she's the poor victim just because she works for us.

"Now she's crossed the line, wearing the dress I was supposed to wear tonight on purpose. Do you really think calling it 'clumsy' is enough to cover this up?

"Is she the only one without a brain, or are you all just as brainless?" I snapped.

Seeing the commotion grow and more people crowding around, Alexander gritted his teeth and hissed at me in a low voice.

"I told you, Sophie didn't do it on purpose. Stop being so unreasonable," he snapped.

Ryan barked at me, too, "Vivian, that's enough."

I ignored them and kept going.

"The maid's uniform is white, my dress is black. Seriously, who could possibly mix those up? I've heard of people being colorblind, but who can't even tell black from white?

"Who accidentally puts on the wrong dress and then carefully picks out matching accessories and styles their hair?

"She did it on purpose.

"If I hadn't planned ahead and brought a backup dress, how exactly was I supposed to attend the party tonight?

"Are you really going to let everyone here make a spectacle of our family?" I snapped.

Before anyone could get another word in, I jabbed a finger at Sophie, my voice icy.

"You've worn my evening gown. It's ruined for me now. 1 million dollars, and I want every single cent. Not a penny less.

"And let me be clear. The Sterling residence has no place for someone who can't keep their hands to themselves. You're fired."

Sophie's cheeks burned with embarrassment, her eyes swimming with tears as she struggled not to break down right there.

Ryan saw I was about to kick Sophie out and immediately jumped in front of her, practically shielding her like a bodyguard.

"I'd like to see anyone try to kick Sophie out.

"Vivian, you've become so selfish lately. Sophie just made an honest mistake with your clothes. Is that really necessary?

"She's been busting her ass since the crack of dawn to get this party ready, and she's dead tired.

"You're standing here in your dress, totally fine, and nothing even happened to you. You know she and her mom are broke, and you still want her to cough up that kind of money? Where's your compassion?

"Katherine's looked after you for years, and this is how you treat her daughter? Do you even have a heart left?" Ryan snapped.

Alexander just stood there, his eyes cold as ice, glaring at me.

"As long as I'm here, you don't get to run this family," he said, voice like steel.