Chapter 1

My biological parents tracked me down while I was working at a juice bar, smashing lemons for a drink order.

One strike after another.

They showed up talking about reunions and family, but I interrupted them.

"I don't have any money," I told them flat out. "Just this body. Pick whatever organ you want and take it. I'm done with life anyway."

But then I saw the delicate little princess standing behind them. That was when everything changed.

I was going back to that family, no question about it. And I was going to make her life hell, or I'd consider it a personal failure.

*****

When my biological parents showed up, I was making juice for a customer and pounding ice so hard the whole counter shook.

The manager appeared out of nowhere and tapped my shoulder gently, telling me someone was here to see me.

I followed her gaze and saw a young couple who looked like they had money—wearing designer clothes, with perfect hair, the whole package.

I nodded and said I'd come out after I finished this drink.

When I walked over, they stared at me with this weird intensity I couldn't place. The second they opened their mouths to say my name, I cut them off. "Can we talk outside?"

They went quiet for a moment, then nodded. We stepped out of the shop, and I immediately spotted a luxury car—the kind you only see in magazines—parked right there on our small-town street.

It looked completely out of place.

I led them around the corner and pulled out every bit of cash I had on me. It wasn't much, crumpled bills and loose change, but I shoved it all into their hands.

I said, "I'm broke. The debt isn't even mine, and I could work my whole life and never pay it back. I heard people sell kidneys now, or hearts, or corneas, whatever.

"If you think any of that's worth something, tell my parents. I don't want to live anymore anyway, so just ask them to leave me alone. Please."

The moment I finished, tears streamed down the beautiful woman's face. She looked at me with red eyes and said, "My daughter. My dear daughter."

I stood there frozen, and I must have looked pathetic—clothes that didn't fit right, sallow skin, dead eyes.

They were clearly rich people. They had to have the wrong person. There was no way they could be my parents.

I said, "You've got the wrong person. I need to get to work or they'll dock my pay."

I tried to leave, but before I could take a single step, the beautiful young woman grabbed my hand and pulled me into her arms.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I'm late. Mommy's here now," she said, and her voice broke as she held me tight.

I wasn't used to this sudden intimacy and was trying to figure out how to pull away without hurting her feelings when I heard a voice behind me. "Mom."

I turned to look and saw a girl in a pretty pink dress, all delicate and dainty, completely out of place in this grimy alley.

I knew her.

I knew who she was.

Instead of pulling away from the woman's embrace, I wrapped my arms around her and held on.

*****

I'm Sophia, and I'm the daughter who got switched at birth.

Eighteen years, eighteen years of living in a nightmare I desperately wanted to escape, and it turned out none of it was ever really mine. Talk about dramatic.

The beautiful woman, whom I should now call Bianca Reed, brought me to her home. On the way there, she told me I had a brother too.

When we pulled up, the house was massive.

I didn't bring much with me because there wasn't anything in that other place that actually belonged to me anyway.

I stood there in my ill-fitting clothes next to Bianca, with my dad, Richard Reed, on the other side, and I was stuck right in the middle of them both.

Then a voice cut through the awkward silence.

"Mom, Dad, this is my sister, right? This is all my fault. I stole her life. I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry."

And just like that, tears started streaming down her face. She'd been raised as their precious daughter for eighteen years, so yeah, I got it. This whole situation had to be impossible for her to accept.

After all, she didn't remember me, but I remembered her perfectly.

She wasn't some delicate princess—she was a wolf in sheep's clothing.

The moment she started crying, Bianca moved to let go of my hand, but I stepped back and gripped her fingers tighter.

I cried, "Please don't cry. I'm not here to ruin anything for you guys. I just want a family so badly."

She cried, so I cried harder.

Tears streamed down my face like I'd turned on a faucet.

Bianca stayed right where she was and pulled me into her arms instead, whispering comfort until my sobs finally quieted.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I'm just so scared. She's so perfect, and I'm terrified you'll be disappointed in me and throw me away."

Her embrace was warm, and she held me gently, but I knew what I felt from her was mostly guilt.

Eyes don't lie.

Bianca said, "It's okay, sweetheart. Don't cry. I'll never abandon you. Never."

I nodded through my tears and shifted closer to Bianca's side, like I needed her protection.

Bianca added, "Chloe, come here. Meet your sister."

"Okay, Mom." Chloe walked toward me, and I caught the flash of disgust in her eyes before she could hide it.

Then she plastered on a bright smile.

Bianca smiled, "This is Chloe. From now on, she's your little sister. You two need to get along, understand?"

I nodded and smiled back at her.

So she didn't remember me. Well, that wouldn't do at all.

I asked, "Mom, I want to go to school. I want to study. Can I? Please?"