Chapter 3

When Paula got back from the hospital, Dad walked in too.

I watched as Paula, all wrapped up in bandages like a mummy, was led upstairs by Dad and Mom. Then I tipped my head back, staring up at the sky, and slipped into deep thought.

Megan came over, draping a blanket over my shoulders. She comforted me, "Hey, don't dwell on it too much. You've been part of the Deleon family for eighteen years, after all."

I pulled myself together, slowly met her eyes, then said seriously, "Megan, I've figured it out. The nurse who swapped me and Paula back then must've foreseen this."

Megan froze, a storm of emotions flickering in her eyes.

I lifted my hand and put it gently on her shoulder, then leaned in. "She must've figured out from the start that if Paula stayed in the Deleon family, there would be nothing but trouble."

Megan's mouth fell open in shock.

I continued, "Paula's only come back twice and she got into trouble every time. If she'd grown up here for eighteen years, she might have died long ago.

"The nurse probably predicted this and thus, swapped me and Paula. That way, Paula would survive."

*****

After a few days laid up at home, Paula finally realized something wasn't right.

At dinner, Paula sat across from me, narrowing her eyes. "Why do I see only you every day?"

I ladled myself some soup, not even bothering to look up. "It's not the weekend yet," I said. "Jaden only comes home on weekends."

Paula glared at me, annoyed. "And where are Mom and Dad?"

I took a sip of the soup. "All around the world."

Her expression went dark.

I just shrugged, helpless.

Honestly, I was just telling it like it was.

I mean, financial tycoons like Dad were always flying everywhere, and international movie stars like Mom were forever travelling.

But Paula just couldn't take it. She locked her eyes on me, and started crying.

She had that adorable, wronged-puppy look, reminding me of Milo back when he was just a pup.

When I first found Milo, he looked all sad and beaten down. But the moment I tossed him a toy ball, he turned into a total goofball, zooming all over the backyard.

That toy ball had been Milo's go-to for years. If I handed it over to Paula, would Milo mind?

I bit my lip and asked tentatively, "Wanna hang out with me instead?"

Paula burst into tears right then and there.

*****

God knows how Paula did it. That very night, Dad, Mom, and Jaden all turned up at home.

The five of us, including Megan and Damon, plus Max and Milo, filled the living room. It was the first family meeting ever held.

Paula kicked things off.

"Dad, Mom, I want to be your real daughter," she said.

Dad and Mom shared a look.

"The DNA results are already out?" Mom asked, picking up her planner and flipping through the pages. "Time flies, huh? Feels like I just left home yesterday..."

Dad, being his usual frosty self, frowned as he scrolled through his emails. "We still haven't closed the Southside project after three whole months? Seriously, what's our planning team getting paid for—coffee runs?"

Jaden, face blank as ever, said, "It's been three days, eighteen hours, and thirty-seven minutes."

Dad and Mom both put down whatever was in their hands and let out a big sigh of relief.

Paula's face scrunched up even more, looking pitiful.

"Dad, what I'm really saying is—now that I've finally made it back, I want a shot at being a real Deleon daughter.

"I want to step up, not just laze around like Laura, mooching off the family and wasting my youth," Paula said, eyes darting accusingly at me.

Jaden immediately got it. "You want to be the heiress?"

He kept his voice cold, narrowing his eyes as he studied Paula. It made her lose her nerves.

Paula squared her shoulders and continued, "We're all Deleons. I just want to shoulder my share of the family's responsibilities and become someone Mom and Dad can be proud of—just like you, Jaden.

"Dad, believe in me. I've always looked up to you and dreamed about being someone you could be proud of. I want to be just like you. Please, give me a chance to prove I'm worthy."

I totally lost it, laughing. However, I clapped a hand over my mouth instantly.

Megan and Damon, both standing behind me, cleared their throats, reminding me to behave.

I quickly ducked my head and tried my best to fade into the background.

Paula kept going, pouring her heart out about how lonely she'd been all these years, and how desperate she was to finally feel like she belonged somewhere.

As Paula sobbed, Mom looked genuinely moved.

"Dad, Paula just wants to feel like she belongs. Maybe we should..." Mom started.

Dad kept up his big-shot aura, frowning.

Jaden spoke up. "I don't mind."

With that, Dad finally relented.

"Alright. Damon, set up her classes for tomorrow," he ordered.

Paula was over the moon. She gave me a smug look, but I just hung my head and let out a heavy sigh.

Poor Paula had no idea what he was about to face.

*****

The very first day of her studies, Paula was already bawling her eyes out.

She gazed up at the mountain of textbooks and workbooks, her brain feeling like it had turned to mush.

Damon stood close by, looking unfazed.

He said, "Miss, starting today, I'll be bringing in expert tutors for one-on-one sessions in every possible field. You'll be trained to the exact standards as your brother.

"But he's been grinding at this since he was a kid, so he's way ahead of you already.

"Don't worry. I've mapped out an intensive learning plan that'll put you on the fast track."

"On the agenda today are finance, management, market analysis, project planning, piano, harp, violin, three languages and also astronomy..." Damon rattled off.

Paula blurted out, "Wait."

She couldn't listen anymore, her lips trembling. But with one last stubborn glimmer of hope, she asked, "Why on earth do I have to learn astronomy too?"

Damon replied, "That's not all, miss. You'll be taught household chores too. The Deleon children are supposed to ace every skill under the sun—no exceptions."

Paula protested, "But she does nothing all day." She pointed at me, all worked up.

Binge-watching shows with a bag of chips in hand, I looked over at Paula's tear-filled eyes.

Then I said confidently, "That's because I'm wasting my days away."

Paula's face went a weird purplish-red.