Chapter 1

The day my adoptive brother, Edward Sinclair, brought his girlfriend home, I was suddenly dubbed the family's "child bride".

Edward's girlfriend, Claire Evans, looked at me, smiling sweetly, but her words were sharp as knives. "So, you're the Sinclair family's adopted daughter? The child bride they've been raising for Edward?"

I stared at her in shock.

Yeah, I was adopted by the Sinclair family.

But my dad was one of the founding members of Sinclair Group, and my mom was my adoptive mother, Miranda's best friend.

The Sinclairs had been treating me like their own daughter for over a decade.

How did I suddenly become the family's 'child bride' after Edward got a girlfriend?

*****

The day Edward brought Claire home, the mood was cheerful at first.

Claire was adorable and her words were even more charming, making my adoptive parents, Ford and Miranda, beam with delight.

Then Claire looked at me. "And who's this?" she asked.

Miranda smiled and gently pulled me closer.

"This is Joyce, the youngest in our family. She grew up with Edward. They're even closer than real siblings," Miranda said.

Claire nodded.

She lowered her long lashes, and when she looked up again, there was a hint of something else in her eyes.

She cozied up to Edward, her voice sweet and innocent. "Edward, so she's the one? The child bride your family's been raising for you since you were a kid?"

The atmosphere in the living room suddenly froze.

Edward frowned. "Claire, don't be absurd."

Ford's smile faded.

Miranda quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Claire, you really know how to joke. Joyce grew up with us. She's our daughter, nothing more. Child bride? That's nonsense."

Claire hid a smile behind her hand, her expression playful.

But her gaze lingered on me, sharp and probing, like tiny hooks circling for a catch.

Claire said, "Oh, my bad. Guess I heard wrong.

"It's just that so many people out there say the Sinclairs have this gorgeous adopted daughter, and she's supposed to be Edward's."

She paused, her eyes drifting between me and Edward, her tone even more innocent.

"After hearing all those rumors, and seeing how pretty Joyce is and how close you two are, I can't help feeling a bit uneasy," she said.

She nibbled on her lip. "But it's fine. I'll deal with it myself. I must've misunderstood."

It felt like I had a lump in my throat.

Claire's words sounded like an apology, but in fact, she made the whole "child bride" rumor stick even more.

And she also highlighted my status as the adopted daughter.

I clenched my fingers.

Yeah, I was adopted by the Sinclairs, but my dad was one of the founders of Sinclair Group. He lost his life saving Ford.

My mom was Miranda's best friend, and she died from illness when I was little.

Ford and Miranda felt sorry for me, since I was left all alone, so they transferred all the affection they had for my parents onto me.

They took me in when I was ten, and they'd treated me like their own ever since.

It had been over a decade, and everyone in the Sinclair family knew exactly who I was.

No one would even dare question my place here.

How come, as soon as Edward brought his girlfriend home, I suddenly became the subject of everyone's gossip?

And I was probably even known as the "child bride" by a lot of people out there?

The whole dinner felt awkward and tense.

Claire seemed to realize she'd messed up, so she started laying it on thick, buttering up Ford and Miranda even more.

She got extra clingy with Edward, practically glued to his side.

But whenever her eyes landed on me, she was sizing me up, shooting daggers my way.

I tried to fade into the background, but inside, I felt heavy and suffocating.

After dinner, Ford pulled Edward into the study for a chat.

Miranda was in the kitchen, slicing up some fruit.

Claire came right up to me, wrapping her arm around mine. She used so much force that it actually hurt.

She said, "Joyce, don't be mad at me, okay? I'm just straightforward, that's all."

She blinked at me. "Honestly, I really understand you. I mean it."

I tried to quietly slip my arm out of her grip. "What exactly do you understand about me?"

"I understand your predicament," Claire said.

She lowered her voice, with a subtle air of triumph. "Look, Edward's got me now.

"And you? Sure, you're the Sinclair family's adopted daughter, but at the end of the day, you're not really one of them, right?

"Things are bound to change around here. In the end, girls have to think about their own future."

I looked at Claire, and honestly, I had to laugh at how absurd it was.

"Ms. Evans, I really don't get what you're trying to say. This is my home. What exactly do you think I need to plan for?" I replied.

Claire's smile froze for a moment, and then she quickly put it back on.

She patted the back of my hand, like she totally had me figured out.

She went on, "Yeah, yeah, I get it. You want to keep your pride.

"But that's okay. I'll be the lady of this house soon, and since you're so smart about it, I'll make sure you're taken care of."

I finally managed to pull my arm free. Then I stood up and gave Claire a frosty stare.

I said, "Ms. Evans, first of all, this is my home.

"Second, my mom is the real lady of this house.

"And I definitely don't need you to look after me."

Claire couldn't fake it anymore. Her face turned sullen as she glared at me.

She said coldly, "Joyce, don't take my kindness for granted.

"Edward calls you his sister, and you really think you're the Sinclair family's heiress? You're just the adopted daughter. Do you seriously not know where you stand?"

I replied calmly, "Trust me, I know exactly where I stand. I'm Joyce Sinclair, the rightful daughter of this family.

"But you, Ms. Evans, it's your first time here and you're already acting like you run the place. So tell me, where do you think you fit in here?"