Chapter 1

The poor but proud student, Makenna Serrano, shoved the gold card right out of Keaton Robinson's hand. "Keep your dirty money away from me!"

Being even broker myself, I picked up the card that had landed near my feet and nervously handed it back to Keaton.

He looked me up and down and said, "If you can get Makenna to take this, I'll back you too."

Afraid I might grab it first, Makenna snatched the card back herself.

From that day on, we both had the Robinson family behind us.

The only catch was, I had to beg Keaton for every bit of that support.

But for Makenna, Keaton was the one bending over backward, giving her whatever she wanted.

Years later, Makenna went abroad to study while I started working.

Keaton slept with me, seeing me as a stand-in for her.

And that was how it stayed until Makenna came back. He told me, "Makenna's upset that we've been together. Why don't you go find yourself a boyfriend?"

I said, "Sure."

*****

Makenna came back early, and no one had a clue.

Keaton and I were up late that night, tangled in his sheets until I finally dozed off in his arms.

But early the next morning, his phone buzzed. He shot up and yanked the covers off.

I was still naked. The cold hit me, and I shivered. "What's wrong?" I mumbled, eyes still closed.

"Makenna's back. Get up and clean everything. Make sure there's no sign you were here. Don't let her find anything. Hurry up." He pulled on his pants in a hurry and urged me.

I sat up in bed, staring at my naked body covered in his marks.

That was when it hit me. I was the other woman, even though they weren't even together.

"Hurry up. I need you to clean up and get out of here before I bring her back," he said.

He strapped on his watch and left without another look. The door clicked shut.

I cleaned up quietly and left like nothing had happened.

Not long after, Keaton called.

"Makenna just got back, and she's craving your cooking. Can you come make dinner?"

I paused. "Okay."

Back at his place, the maid let me in.

Makenna was stretched out on the sofa in elegant loungewear, looking every bit the fresh-faced beauty.

"Adeline, it's been so long! You haven't changed," she said, her tone relaxed.

I smiled, "You look even prettier."

Keaton walked in. "Adeline, get started. Makenna's going to be hungry soon."

Makenna scooted over, making room for him. "I missed your cooking so much overseas. Finally, I get to taste it again."

Keaton grinned. "See? If you'd come back earlier, you could've had it every day."

She pouted. "I was finishing my degree! You were the one always bugging me."

They laughed easily while I stood in the kitchen, like always, cooking for them.

After dinner, Makenna went upstairs to rest. Keaton had always kept a room for her, right next to his.

On her way up, she asked if I was still in the maid's room downstairs. I told her I lived somewhere else now.

A few days later, as I was about to leave after cooking, Keaton stopped me.

"Makenna knows about us," he said. "It bothers her."

He paused. "Adeline, maybe you should get a boyfriend. It'd help put her mind at ease."

I paused a long time before answering, "Sure. I'll do my best."

Makenna joined AstraLink, a major subsidiary of the Robinson Group, where Keaton was in charge.

I'd worked my way up to deputy manager in the Planning Department. The day she arrived, she was made manager. Just like that, she was my boss.

I brought a few team members to her office to go over the workflow.

Makenna looked up from the papers and said, out of nowhere, "Adeline, make me a coffee."

The others exchanged glances.

They were clearly wondering why the new manager was asking the deputy manager to do an assistant's job.

I just nodded. "Okay."

I'd always known my place in their story.

I was always the unnecessary third wheel, the one who tagged along, doing the chores.

Even now, we'd all grown up. Yet, nothing had changed, and I still just went along with it.