Chapter 1 Her Past

Before You Read: The female lead is very clever, but she's not the typical "strong woman" archetype.

She has no fighting skills, zero connections, and her sense of right and wrong is a bit twisted. She's constantly scheming to turn her life around.

Early on, she'll romance several characters to get what she wants. If you're the type with strict morals, try not to judge, and just switch off your brain. Seriously, don't overthink it.

Later, the male lead redeems her, though he doesn't show up until much further in. The ending is strictly 1V1.

If you're enjoying this, stick with me for a while; if not, catch you in the next one.

*****

One could never get absolute fairness.

Lela Franklin figured out this simple truth when she was just a kid. It hit home especially hard when she turned eight.

Lela's mother Caroline Franklin hailed from the scenic water towns of Abrance, soft-spoken and lovely, she caught the attention of the charming Bradley Franklin.

The pair fell head over heels, set up home in Glord, and soon welcomed two adorable daughters: Deana and Lela.

Deana Franklin, the older sister and their firstborn, basked in her parents' complete devotion.

Three years later, Lela came along, but Deana stayed the apple of their eye.

At Lela's birth, Deana was three, the age when kids are at their most endearing and in need of extra care.

Folks always claimed that with a second child, parents doted on the baby and sidelined the eldest.

So, even while Lela was still in the womb, well-meaning people kept dropping by to lecture her parents, worried that sweet little Deana might get shortchanged.

Perhaps her parents were determined to buck that trend, or maybe they truly favored Deana.

Whatever the case, after Lela arrived, she never got the same tender, hands-on attention as Deana. Instead, fretting over Deana's emotions, they lavished even more affection on her.

Right from the start, Lela wore Deana's outgrown clothes and played with her discarded toys. Even the violin classes they both attended were picked to suit Deana's tastes.

In an environment like that, Deana blossomed into a vibrant, self-assured young girl, while Lela grew quiet and introverted, shutting herself away.

When Lela was eight, Bradley's family tracked them down.

That was when the truth emerged: Bradley belonged to the elite Franklin family in Perton, a realm of inherited wealth far beyond the reach of someone from Caroline's modest roots.

And he was already married, through an arranged union, to Vera Mckee.

Vera couldn't bear children due to health problems, and Bradley couldn't risk losing the Mckee family's influence, so divorce was out of the question.

He bounced between Perton and Glord, fathering kids in secret while keeping his family in the dark, unwittingly turning Caroline into his mistress.

When the scandal broke, the Mckee family leveraged their business ties to pressure Bradley into ending things with her.

But, feeling some remorse over Vera's infertility, they allowed him to bring one child back to raise in the Franklin family.

Of course, both parents vied for Deana.

In the end, Bradley took her with him, leaving Lela to stay behind with Caroline.

Overnight, Caroline transformed from a content wife to a vilified other woman, from a gentle, serene soul to a bitter, seething harpy.

Lela's world became a living nightmare. Deana's, on the other hand, only improved. She took after Bradley, bright and beaming like the sun.

From a young age, she'd been carefully nurtured, so it was no surprise she aced school, turned heads with her looks, and charmed everyone with her personality.

It wasn't long before she won over the childless Vera, who grew to genuinely adore her.

While Deana soaked up the affection from Bradley and Vera, Caroline lost her job amid her mental health struggles and sank into a hopeless slump at home.

While Deana switched to a top-tier private school in Perton, hobnobbing with the kids of the rich and powerful, ten-year-old Lela was already handling her own laundry and meals, looking after the increasingly unstable Caroline.

While Deana elegantly played the violin, mentored by famous artists, fourteen-year-old Lela balanced school with off-the-books gigs to keep herself and Caroline afloat.

While Deana cruised around in luxury cars, decked out in designer labels, and rubbed elbows with Perton's elite, eighteen-year-old Lela skipped college altogether and jumped into the job market.

Caroline clung to the naive belief that Bradley truly loved her, and that Deana, the daughter she'd doted on, would make things right.

She figured that once the timing was perfect, they'd swoop in and take her away.

She waited and waited, on and on. But they never showed. Instead, she completely unraveled.

And the one who bore the brunt was always Lela, stuck right there with her.

It started with just yelling, but soon escalated to slaps and punches.

Lela's bedtime routine became a nightly dose of Caroline's tears and verbal abuse.

And the line that echoed most, "Why did you have to be the one left behind! If it had been Deana staying, Bradley would've come back for me, no doubt."

Those long, pitch-black days finally came to an end when Lela was nineteen, the year Caroline died.

She was still Deana's birth mom, after all, so when the news reached the Franklin family, Bradley brought Deana along to Glord for the funeral.

By then, things had shifted; the Franklin-Mckee alliance had evolved, with the Franklin family firmly in control.

As people got older, they often got nostalgic about the past, so during this return to Glord, Bradley decided to bring the now-orphaned Lela back to the family fold, and Vera could only nod in agreement.

It was Lela's first flight. As the cabin AC grazed her protruding collarbones, she stared out the window, watching Glord dwindle inch by inch below.

That cramped apartment, the musty mold patches, all of it blurred into tiny, indistinct specks from 30,000 feet up.

Lela knew it all too well.

If she arrived in Perton and kept playing the naive game from her childhood, not competing, not seizing opportunities, just scraping by on Bradley's meager pity and handouts, she'd fade away just like those specks, turning to dust in the end.

"Would you like a blanket, miss?" the flight attendant asked, bending down.

Lela tucked in her chapped fingers. Years of poor nutrition had given her a subtle, unhealthy glow around her eyes as she looked up. "Thanks... I-I'm fine, not cold."

Her voice was cool and hoarse, carrying a damp chill like Abrance's rainy season. But any hint of her Glord accent was long gone.

"Sure thing. If you need anything, just press the call button." The attendant topped off her juice, tweaked the air temp, and walked away with a warm smile.

This was the first time anyone had served her like that.

Lela let out a quiet laugh all of a sudden, a sweet dimple creasing her lips, while her eyes remained as cold as a frozen pond.

She thought, 'How absurd. Climbing from the gutter to a gilded cage is apparently just a plane ticket away. Bradley, Vera, Deana, here I come.'

Chapter 2 Arrive In Perton

The plane landed.

Bradley had to dash off early for work, but he made sure to tell Deana to take good care of Lela.

Though the two were full sisters, they looked nothing alike.

Deana's eyes were round and sparkling, brimming with energy. She was decked out in a custom little Chanel number, complete with heels, radiating the kind of easy confidence and pride that only came from being a total rich girl.

By comparison, Lela was in a basic, bargain T-shirt and jeans, her bare wrists as thin and delicate as snapped plum twigs.

"This way, Lela." Deana guided Lela toward the exit. She chattered on in a chummy tone, tossing out casual chit-chat like they were actually tight sisters who'd just been apart for a while.

She said, "Tired from the flight? First time in Perton, tons of fun spots to check out. It's still early; let's hit the shops first. I'll grab you some new outfits. Mom hooked me up with a bunch of spending money. Let's splurge it all, just us sisters."

Of course, the "mom" she was referring to was Vera, and she said it so casually and affectionately.

Honestly, Lela was dying to say she was wiped out. But she knew Deana had already decided for her. Any pushback would be pointless. So she just nodded and followed along.

"Right here!" At the airport doors, Deana waved into the distance.

A flashy, high-end car rolled up in front of them.

A guy in his early twenties got out, his face stone-cold. He seemed like the kind you steered clear of.

He didn't so much as look at Lela; his expression only thawed when he turned to Deana.

"Why the last-minute pickup request?" Harrison Fisher grumbled, though you could tell he was secretly thrilled.

Deana put on a mock huff. "Oh, come on. You're griping about coming to get me? Fine, then, I guess I won't bother keeping your racing side gig under wraps from Rashad." Her tone was all flirty teasing.

Harrison went along with it, raising his hands in surrender. "Have mercy, Ms. Franklin! I'm here, right? Dinner's on me. Call it bribe money?"

"Better." Deana glanced away, then tugged Lela closer to make the intro. "This is my sister, Lela."

"Oh." Harrison gave Lela a fleeting glance. She was staring at the ground, hunching a little, skinny and droopy, like a wilted stalk.

His eyes flicked away after a split second, back to Deana. "Where to for food?"

Deana said, "Let's hop in the car first."

Lela climbed into the back, while Deana claimed the front passenger seat.

As she noticed Harrison's total indifference, that tiny knot of irritation in Deana's chest finally untied itself.

She knew that back when she'd left with Bradley, Lela's life in Glord had to have been tough. She felt a twinge of sympathy, mostly just pity.

But hey, it was Bradley's call, nothing to do with her. She'd always been the standout; it only made sense for him to pour resources into the one with more potential.

Now that Lela was here in Perton, the family could make amends and set things right. At least, that was how she rationalized it. But seeing Lela back in Glord had stirred up a bit of unease.

In Deana's universe, Lela was never going to eclipse her. Yet here she was, all grown up, resembling Caroline, even surpassing her in beauty.

When Deana first laid eyes on her, Lela was bowing at Caroline's grave. Clad in cheap threads, her frame scrawny from years of going without, as submissive and quiet as always.

But her features were like polished jewel, perfectly sculpted, with brows and eyes that evoked the soft allure of Abrance's misty rains.

It was a vibe Deana could never mimic, no matter what.

Like moonlight—flawless, serene, and utterly nonthreatening in its beauty, yet sharp enough to draw blood from the heart.

Given time to flourish, no one knew how breathtaking that flower might turn out.

Even when it came to appearance, Deana figured she had the natural edge over Lela.

That was why she'd shot off a last-minute text to Harrison while waiting at the airport, roping him into picking them up.

Right now, Lela was at her scruffiest and most down-and-out, and Deana wanted her circle to get that first glimpse of her like this. Let them lock in the preconception: Lela as a total hick from the sticks.

Deana had always known Harrison was into her, so she had zero concerns about him developing any interest in Lela.

Harrison was the Fisher family's young heir, with a pedigree right up there with the Franklin family.

For whatever reason, though, Blair Cole, the scion of Perton's elite Cole family, was cool with letting him tag along in his crowd.

Deana played it savvy: she lapped up Harrison's flattery while eyeing him as a bridge to get in with Blair.

Groomed by the Franklin family as she was, she aimed to marry into an even more prestigious clan.

That would make her parents beam with pride and confirm they'd picked the right daughter all along.

The car glided along steadily as Deana freshened her lipstick in the front seat, then piped up to Harrison.

She said, "It's still early. Tag along to the mall with us? Then tonight, we can grab some friends for dinner, turn it into a little welcome bash for Lela."

Harrison was game for whatever she suggested and gave a quick nod.

The whole ride, Lela tuned in to Deana bantering with the guy called Harrison, from Eyham to Phediff, private jewel shows to symphony venues.

She could see the self-assurance lighting up Deana's face.

But if Deana thought this chit-chat would leave her feeling like an outsider and knock her confidence, she was way off base.

Lela had always kept a level head. She thought, 'What is all this, really? Just a shiny veneer slapped on with money.'

If Deana needed to strut her stuff right now, Lela was happy to play along. She'd toughed out eleven years. A few more days were nothing.

Lela knew her old life was light-years from Deana's, and a full makeover would take patience. She was the ultimate patient predator.

*****

The car pulled up, and the trio made their way into one of Perton's swankiest malls.

They'd barely hit the entrance when someone hustled over, all smiles and eager to please. "Mr. Fisher! Ms. Franklin."

Harrison stayed mum. Clothes shopping was women's territory. He claimed a nearby couch and dove into his phone.

Deana tugged the silent Lela forward and told the salesperson, "Find something nice for my sister."

Honestly, the salesperson had clocked Lela the second she stepped in but brushed her off because her outfit screamed "doesn't belong."

But with Deana vouching, the vibe switched to instant warmth. "Ah, Ms. Franklin's sister! Follow me, please."

As they walked, Lela took in the store's pieces with a keen eye. She'd never worn the stuff, but she'd pored over it in magazines.

The salesperson picked out a limited-edition spring-summer couture gown from Disall for her.

Ivory silk base with gold-embroidered Baroque vines, a neckline sprinkled with crushed diamonds, and a fishtail hem. It was a sleek, body-hugging number. Slip it on, and it'd carve out those slim waist curves to perfection.

Lela reached for it dutifully, but Deana sauntered up with a grin and snagged it first. "This one's not your style."

She held the gown up to Lela's figure for a mock fitting. "I'm just keeping it real. Don't read too much into it.

"The vibe's too over-the-top; it clashes with your sweet, low-key look. You've never dealt with these high-end labels, so trust me: less is more."

Lela nodded, her tone mild and even-keeled. "Whatever you say, Deana."

Chapter 3 Down To Hell Together

Deana's fingers lightly skimmed a simple dress.

It was a beige cashmere number with a soft pink undertone, cut in a straight silhouette, its only flourish a row of six pearl buttons along the collar.

She said, "This one's a better fit for you. Go give it a try."

Lela nodded and took the dress.

Once she'd changed, she stared at her refreshed reflection in the mirror. A shy dimple creased her lips. "Thanks, Deana. I absolutely love it."

Every word came out sweet and velvety, like it was coated in sugar.

Sprawled on the sofa, Harrison froze at the sound and glanced up.

There she was, enveloped in that soft blush fabric, her slender figure pristine and understated.

Her earlobe peeked out from tousled strands, a small red mole popping against her fair skin like a droplet of blood on fresh snow.

This time, Harrison's eyes stayed fixed on Lela for a solid five seconds, only breaking away when his phone buzzed with a game alert.

In the mirror, Lela spotted his discreet gaze and let her lips curve just a touch, her dimple dipping deeper.

Noticing how quickly Lela perked up, Deana fished a four-leaf clover necklace out of her bag. "Your neck looks so plain like that. A dress needs a little sparkle from a necklace to really shine."

With that, she clasped it around Lela's neck.

"You're the best, Deana." Lela fingered the chain resting on her collarbone. She could tell it had seen plenty of wear, with subtle scuffs here and there.

Deana pulled out her card to cover the bill, and while she was at it, scooped up that earlier couture gown for herself, the one that apparently "didn't work" for Lela.

Once they'd gone, a well-heeled woman strolled in and inquired, "Which dress was that young lady who just left wearing? It had such a clean, classy vibe. I'll take one for my daughter."

The salesperson, spotting a loyal customer, shifted uncomfortably. "Mrs. Mccoy, that's actually from last season."

"Last season? It suited her perfectly. Grab me one anyway."

The Mccoy family outranked the Franklin family by a mile in influence. Seeing she wasn't picky, the salesperson brightened and hurried to pull one out.

Harrison had braced for a marathon shopping spree. Deana typically left the mall with arms full. But today, she called it quits after just a few picks.

He got to his feet, cracking his neck. "Usual place for dinner? Who's on the invite list?"

Deana jiggled her phone. "I messaged Violet and Sanford to come along. Figured a big crowd might be too much for Lela."

Harrison thought, 'Sanford?' His brow furrowed a bit. Sanford Peck was a notorious flirt, over-the-top, always smooth-talking wide-eyed girls into his orbit. But with Deana around today, he'd likely keep it in check.

The trio pulled up to the restaurant.

"Deana!" Violet Holland, a girl in bold, vibrant clothes, waved over with gusto. She dove right into gossip with Deana, totally blanking Lela standing nearby.

Deana settled in beside Violet, and Harrison smoothly took the seat on her other flank.

Lela paused, weighing her options, then spoke up, "Mr. Fisher..."

He glanced over, locking onto her eyes, where glints of light swirled and left him a little dizzy.

When he stayed quiet, Lela nibbled her lip, her gentle voice slipping right into his ear. "Mind if I sit here?"

With both spots next to Deana taken, cozying up beside Harrison, the guy she'd arrived with, made total sense.

Still, it sent a tickle through Harrison, like a feather grazing his insides, light and teasing.

Lela's voice is pretty nice, he mused. "Sure."

It was the first words Harrison had directed at Lela all day.

He was clearly chasing Deana. Poaching her admirer could be just the thing to shake her up a little. And Harrison seemed like quite the useful pawn.

Lela pondered this as she nodded and took her seat, lifting the coffee cup from the table for a dainty sip.

Deana said, "Violet, Sanford, meet my sister, Lela. She grew up in Glord and only just got brought back here.

"I figured we'd grab you two today so you could put a face to the name. If you spot her around Perton, keep an eye out for her, yeah?"

With the introductions done, Deana shifted to Lela. "Lela, these are my friends, Violet and Sanford."

Lela said, "Hi there, I'm Lela."

Lela'd been playing it cool and quiet all along, but she didn't falter, offering up a gracious smile as she greeted them.

From what she'd picked up on their vibe, Deana was definitely the group's queen bee. That hinted these two hailed from families a notch below the Franklin family.

It tracked. If they were true blue-bloods, Deana wouldn't dare parade her in front of them.

Harrison, though? He mingled with the crowd but always stuck out a bit, like he was only in the mix for Deana's sake.

Once she got her footing back at the Franklin family, she'd have to dig deeper into all this.

Lela was quick on the uptake, but her rough past couldn't compare to Deana's polished world, lots of gaps she couldn't fill yet with her narrow view.

Sanford said, "The Franklin family really do churn out beauties. Deana's stunning enough, but her sister's a total fresh-faced knockout too—just needs some meat on her bones. Here, dig in."

The trust-fund playboy Sanford dished out the line while dropping a slice of meat onto Lela's plate, all eager beaver, oozing that entitled rich-kid vibe.

Lela had clocked it right away: since stepping in, Harrison and Violet had been all laughs and chit-chat with Deana.

Sanford, though? His eyes kept drifting her way, loaded with sleaze.

She knew that stare inside out. Back during her off-the-books gig at the cafe, one creep of a customer had eyed her just like that.

That very night, post-shift, he'd cornered her in a dead-end alley so dark the moon wouldn't even peek in.

He'd slammed her to the ground, ripping at her clothes.

She'd thrashed like hell, only for him to choke her out, squeezing until she couldn't breathe.

How hopeless had it felt? She'd even toyed with just letting go, letting him strangle her right there.

But as that foul-smelling dirtbag closed in, Lela's fire kicked back. She'd thought, 'No way.'

In the scramble, her hand finally latched onto a rock; she swung it hard, cracking his skull.

At fourteen, she lacked real muscle. The first hit didn't drop him. It just enraged the guy, who grabbed her head and geared up to bash it into the pavement.

With a burst of strength she'd never known, she shoved the bleeding jerk off her. Then she grabbed that rock again and hammered away, strike after strike.

Crimson splatters hit her ghostly pale face, egging her on. One more, just one final blow, and it'd be done. But Lela held back.

She knew—she'd always known deep down. Her path shouldn't tangle with some scumbag like him.

Landing that killing strike? She'd never wash clean enough to step back into the Franklin family.

She alone could pull herself out. What she really deserved was to yank the Franklin family down into the abyss with her.

That night, she hobbled out of the inky blackness.

Tears and blood smeared her face; she lost track of how long she sobbed, until the moon finally showed some mercy, draping her in its dim, chilly light.

"Thanks, Sanford." Lela flashed a smile, methodically chewing the meat from her plate, one slow bite at a time.

Harrison thought, 'Mr. Fisher for me, but Sanford for this one? I am the same age gap as Sanford, just three years older.'

Harrison hit a bite he couldn't stand and chucked his fork down in a huff.

Chapter 4 Will Be Other Chances

Deana missed Harrison's weird mood shift, but she sure didn't miss Sanford jumping in like that.

Playboys like Sanford, born with silver spoons, oozing charisma, were experts at reeling in wide-eyed girls who'd barely stepped out of their hometowns. She couldn't help wondering if Lela would fall for it.

Deana wasn't even sure what her angle was, but she knew full well what kind of player Sanford could be, and she'd still looped him in.

She said, "Sanford, no one knows Perton's hot spots like you do. Lela's fresh off the boat here. Mind showing her the ropes sometime? I'm swamped these next few days, gearing up for my violin competition."

"Sure thing. Lela, let's swap contacts," Sanford said.

Lela politely fished out the shiny new phone Bradley had gotten her and added her third friend to her blank-slate WhatsApp.

The exchange wrapped up fast, and partway through dinner, Harrison's phone buzzed with a call.

"Now? Yeah, on my way." He ended the call and looked at Deana. "Gotta bounce. Finish up without me."

Harrison never dipped out early on Deana unless it was family drama or a summons from Blair. Of course, she was banking on the latter.

Her eyes lit up just a tad. "Everything okay?"

Listen hard, and you'd catch the thrill in her tone. Lela, ever the observer of Deana, didn't miss it.

Harrison said, "Nothing major. Blair's calling me in. Stuff to handle. Catch up next time?"

As she confirmed it was indeed Blair, Deana's wheels started turning. She played it cool with a sympathetic nod. "Alright, don't make Blair wait. I'll see you out."

"No worries." Harrison's eyes drifted casually between Sanford and Lela. "Stick around and eat with them."

Deana brushed it off with a carefree laugh. "Come on, we're all tight. They don't need me babysitting."

She didn't spare a single thought for Lela, still planted in the private room.

Before Harrison could argue, Deana latched onto his arm and steered him toward the door.

Violet took it in stride, munching away and tossing occasional banter at Sanford while flat-out ignoring Lela.

Sanford, on the other hand, stood up and smoothly claimed the spot beside her. "No big deal. Deana is just walking him out."

He kept things classy, dishing out more food her way, chatting effortlessly without crossing any lines.

Lela murmured a thank-you with a smile and focused on her plate, her thoughts circling back to Deana's off-kilter energy.

Minutes later, the door flew open. Deana hustled in to snag her bag. "I just saw Harrison off and realized he forgot his phone with me. Gotta chase him down with it."

Violet grabbed her own purse, eager to join. "Deana, I'm full too. I'll tag along."

"Nah, nah, that spot's members-only; no randos allowed." Translation: Violet didn't make the cut.

She picked up on it, alright. A flicker of bitterness stirred, but she wasn't about to push back against Deana. She forced a grin. "Okay, be careful out there."

Deana saw zero issue with any of it. The Franklin family ran the show in this group, and she was accustomed to calling the shots. Ditching them halfway through the meal? Violet and Sanford wouldn't bat an eye.

She even doled out orders on autopilot. "Sanford, mind giving Lela a lift home? Lela, go ahead and wait for me there."

"Okay, Deana," Lela said with a nod. But as soon as she heard Deana asking Sanford to drive her home, she ducked her head and texted Bradley.

Bradley: [Dad, can you send me the home address again? I forgot...]

The moment Deana left, Violet caught one glimpse of Sanford strutting around and knew exactly what he was after.

She rolled her eyes in total disgust and walked out without so much as a goodbye.

That left just Sanford and Lela in the private room.

Lela needed to eat more these days, so even with Sanford hovering annoyingly nearby, she took her time, focusing seriously on her meal.

To Sanford, it seemed like she'd never tasted anything this fancy before, which only made him think she'd be that much easier to win over.

He waited patiently at her side, pulling out his phone now and then to send voice messages to his buddies.

Stuff like "just a few hundred grand," "booked the luxury VIP suite," "that Porsche I picked up last month." All that showy, boastful crap.

Lela kept her gaze lowered, rolling her eyes in the shadow of her lashes.

"Hey, how about we grab some drinks after dinner?" he suggested.

"But... Deana told me to head straight home." Lela blinked innocently.

"No worries, I'll just let her know. Plenty of people there know her anyway."

"O-okay, then." Lela didn't put up any fight. She came across as sweet and compliant.

She knew that with a guy like Sanford, turning him down flat would only make him think she was playing hard to get.

Her quick agreement left him a little disappointed, though. He hadn't expected it to be this straightforward; it took the thrill out of the chase.

Still, he'd played the field long enough to spot potential, and Lela was clearly a budding beauty. So he was set on having her completely.

Girls like her, who hadn't seen much of the world, were easy to fool. And if she ended up falling head over heels, she could even put in a good word for him with the Franklin family.

Lela dragged out her meal as long as she could. She had zero intention of going out drinking.

Just as Sanford's patience was wearing thin, her phone lit up.

She answered it. "Hello, Dad. Yeah, Deana... she had to step out for something.

"No, Dad, she's been really good to me. She even bought me a new dress. She genuinely had to go.

"No need to send a driver, Dad. Her good friend is giving me a ride back. I'm not super familiar with Perton. Maybe you could just tell him the address directly?"

Lela held the phone out to him. "Sanford, could you take this? My dad's going to give you our home address."

Sanford was confused. He already knew Deana's address.

But with Bradley on the line, he had no choice but to take the call. "Hello, Bradley. It's Sanford.

"Yeah... I know the address. No need to thank me, Bradley. It's the least I can do.

"Okay, Bradley. Goodbye."

He hung up looking sour, and Lela gave him a timid glance. "Sanford, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'll drop you home."

"What? So no drinks after all?"

Sanford stared at the oblivious Lela in front of him, frustration bubbling up.

Now that Bradley knew about this, he had to get Lela home safe and sound.

The prize that had been right in his grasp had slipped away, and it pissed him off. He'd even booked a hotel room already.

His tone turned moody. "Something came up today. Next time." He thought, 'There'll be other chances, after all.'

Chapter 5 It's Her First Time

Lela was safely dropped off at the Franklin family home by Sanford.

Gazing at the massive five-story villa before her, she spaced out for a moment.

Her thoughts wandered back to that dingy rental apartment, where Caroline was pinned under the landlord, moaning loudly as if putting on a show.

She'd been so little back then, hiding terrified in the closet, hands clamped over her ears.

But the sounds pierced right through. No matter how hard she pressed, they only grew louder and more vivid, impossible to shake even now.

That was the second year after Bradley had left. Caroline had slipped into mental instability, lost her job, and they'd come perilously close to eviction.

In the end, Caroline had traded her body for six months' rent, and after that, her condition spiraled even further downhill.

"Lela?" A middle-aged woman's cool, detached voice cut in.

The resentful image of Caroline blurred and faded, giving way to a face of polished sophistication. Lela recognized her and gave a slight nod.

"I'm Vera," the woman said. "Your dad asked me to come get you."

So this was Vera, the woman Bradley had deceived, left to raise another woman's child. It sounded pitiful on the surface, but Vera was anything but innocent.

Both had been lied to, yet Vera had paid people to spread vicious rumors that Caroline was a shameless homewrecker.

Glord was a small town; the gossip spread like wildfire, completely breaking Caroline's already fragile mental defenses.

As she stared at that flawlessly maintained face, Lela's lips curved into a gentle smile as she cooed softly, "Hello, Vera."

Vera's eyes narrowed a fraction. That smile made her temples pound.

She was already fuming about Lela's arrival, and now, as she was faced with the same fake vulnerability she'd seen in Caroline, her revulsion surged.

Vera pulled her shawl snug around her shoulders and wordlessly led Lela inside.

The second they crossed the threshold, she laid down the law. "If you're staying in my house, you'd better behave yourself."

"Y-yes..." Lela's fingers trembled faintly at the hem of her skirt, painting her as the perfect picture of a bullied innocent.

Vera snorted, ignoring her entirely. She thought, 'Bradley isn't even home. Who is this performance for, anyway?'

Once she'd shown Lela in, Vera ditched her without a second thought and retreated to her room.

Seeing Lela hovering awkwardly by the entrance, looking utterly lost, Lottie Ayala couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

The Franklin family's staff had all been told by Bradley that Lela was arriving today, but that was about it, no further details. It was clear Bradley didn't seem all that invested in Lela.

And as for Vera, the lady of the house? She'd only ordered them to prep a guest room, and her tone had said plenty.

The servants had gossiped about it in hushed tones. Working here meant picking sides wisely: always with Vera.

No point in bending over backward for Lela. That was how Lottie saw it, too.

But looking at this delicate little thing now, she was reminded of her own daughter.

She shot a quick glance upstairs; Vera was likely in her bath and wouldn't be out for a while.

Lottie sidled over and whispered, "You're Lela, aren't you?"

Lela's uneasy expression flickered briefly. Touched by Lottie's kindness, she replied with real warmth, "Yes, that's me. Do you know where my room is?"

Her voice was soft and sugary, matched with that sweet, obedient look. Lottie's heart softened instantly.

"Lela, just call me Lottie. I'm the one who handles the day-to-day household stuff around here." Lottie introduced herself. "I'll take you to your room."

"Okay, thanks, Lottie." Lela kept her voice deliberately low.

She suspected Vera wouldn't welcome her with open arms and didn't want Lottie catching any flak for being too attentive.

Lottie picked up on Lela's consideration and felt a warm spark in her chest.

By the time she'd escorted Lela to her room, Lela had gently pried out the essentials about the household from her.

"Thanks, Lottie. Go ahead and get back to whatever you were doing. I'll manage just fine." Lela smiled as she waved Lottie off, but the instant she was alone, those subtle dimples faded from her face.

Anyone catching sight of her now would be taken aback: the girl who seemed so docile and compliant at first glance had eyes gleaming with a frosty edge.

Her luggage, delivered ahead by the driver, was already sitting in the room.

Lela sifted through it. Her entire worldly possessions didn't add up to the value of the 10-thousand-dollar dress Deana had splurged on for her, the one she had on right now.

She fished out her pajamas and stepped into the bathroom for a shower.

Steaming water poured over her skin.

Stripped down, it was obvious her body wasn't withered from years of poor nutrition. She'd thinned out intentionally.

With proper meals, she'd fill back out to her natural curves in no time. It was all just to amp up the sympathy factor.

Honestly, life in Glord hadn't been as grim as it might seem.

She was an ace student, and with her family's rough backstory, a subtle nudge to her teachers was all it took to tug at their heartstrings.

Her homeroom teacher had bent the rules to line up tutoring jobs for her.

At first, folks were hesitant thanks to Caroline's "mistress" scandal, fearing she'd corrupt their kids.

But backed by the teacher's vouch and her own stellar skills, she soon won over a steady clientele.

It gave her a reliable, if slim, paycheck, and spared her from shady gigs like slinging hours at cafes.

She'd figured things were on the upswing, and she was genuinely okay with that.

Just like the old days: sure, her parents favored Deana, but Lela thought that if she just stepped back and let it slide, the family could muddle through happily enough.

But fate had other ideas. One evening, after wrapping up her usual tutoring session, she got home to spot a pair of unfamiliar men's dress shoes by the door.

Pushing inside, she found Caroline, typically a mess of tangled hair and grime, all primped and polished, hosting some strange guy in the living room.

From the second Lela entered, his gaze slithered over her like a venomous snake, setting off alarm bells.

"This is my daughter. Have a look." The rest blurred out, but Caroline's line, "It's her first time, so 17 thousand dollars", froze her blood.

She'd thought, 'My own mother is trying to sell me off.'

Lela wouldn't have it. She snatched a knife from the kitchen and charged at him, freaking the guy out. He bolted, swearing all the way out the door.

In a haze of devastation, Lela let the knife clatter to the floor, desperate to demand answers: Why? If you didn't love me, why even have me?

But Caroline shut her down cold, reverting to her manic state. She slammed Lela against the coffee table, eyes blazing red with fury.

She said, "Why'd you turn him down? Why can't you let me have a decent life? If Vera gets to live high on the hog, then so do I."

Chapter 6 The Life She Yearned For

Lela fought back tears, gritting her teeth against the sharp pain racking her body as she tried to soothe Caroline. "Mom, I'm earning money now. Things will get better for us, little by little."

Caroline said, "It's not enough! Nowhere near enough! I want what Vera has. I want to be a proper lady of leisure! Then Deana will come back to me."

Lela had convinced herself she'd made peace with her parents' blatant favoritism long ago, but listening to Caroline rave like a lunatic, chanting Deana's name again and again, hit her like a gut punch. She could hardly catch her breath from the heartache.

To calm her down and keep herself safe, Lela had no option but to copy Deana's tone. "Mom, Mom, it's me, Deana. You're hurting me."

As expected, Caroline went rigid. Hot tears streamed down her face, dripping onto Lela's chest like burning embers.

Caroline yanked her into a tight embrace, and for the first time in that strange hold, Lela tasted what a mother's love felt like. She caught the soft, reproachful murmur. "Deana, why won't you stay with Mom? If you're here, Dad will come back."

In that instant, Lela felt her heart fracture into a web of fine cracks.

Some scars had set in ages ago, yet she'd been the fool, desperately patching them up without a care for herself.

That unremarkable afternoon, Lela's heart finally broke for good.

After calming her down, Lela found out the trigger: Caroline had flipped on the TV and seen Bradley's picture-perfect family of three at a fancy charity event.

In the footage, Deana was cozied up arm-in-arm with Vera, giggling and playing cute. Vera radiated glamour. Her clothes and grace so polished, they felt worlds away.

That was what pushed Caroline over the edge. She refused to swallow it. If only she had cash, she could carry herself with that same haughty elegance as Vera. And so, she'd hatched the plan to sell Lela.

Whatever delusions spun in Caroline's mind, Lela was the one who always got burned.

From then on, to head off any more attempts to pawn her off, or brutal beatings, Lela slipped into her Deana act the second she stepped through the door.

Over time, she started feeling like she was losing her own grip on sanity.

She'd had enough of this nightmare. She had every damn right to despise everyone in the Franklin family.

When it became clear Caroline's health was crumbling and she wouldn't make it through the last winter, Lela realized her moment had come at last.

She knew deep down that Bradley had genuinely loved Caroline once. Otherwise, she wondered, 'Why bother ping-ponging between Glord and Perton all those years?'

Her plan was simple: hook into that lingering spark of real emotion.

It was no secret, just a quick online search away, that Bradley ran the show in both the Franklin and Vera households these days.

He'd never once considered bringing her home because, to him, she was just an optional extra, a daughter he could take or leave.

But given his type, he'd show his face when Caroline died. That was her in.

Once Lela started channeling Deana, Caroline would calmly teach her dancing. Lela was a natural, mastering it with ease.

All those years of training had sculpted her waist like a swaying willow and given her an impeccable physique.

She'd stayed grounded about her options: on her own steam, she'd never break into elite circles. For now, her beauty and figure were her only real leverage.

But that was useless without first getting her foot in the Franklin family door.

So she timed it perfectly, slashing her food intake two months early to whittle herself down to a frail shadow.

She resembled Caroline, so every evening after pretending to be Deana and tucking her in, she'd practice in the mirror, copying Caroline's stunning, peak-era poise and charm.

She couldn't care less if it pushed her toward a mental split. And it worked like a charm: when Bradley saw her, he was visibly thrown.

Her waifish, vulnerable yet docile vibe stirred up his guilt, and just like that, he brought Lela home.

As long as Lela ate properly and got in some regular exercise over the next little while, her body would snap back to its perfect, original form.

She turned off the shower, then flopped onto the bed and started scrolling for info.

She'd deliberately amped up her damsel-in-distress act, but she was no wide-eyed country bumpkin. To fit into this world of wealth and privilege, she'd naturally done her research.

Even if she couldn't afford luxury brands herself, she knew the ins and outs like the back of her hand. That was how she clocked that the dress Deana had bought her today was from last season.

Lela eyed the skirt hanging silently in the closet and murmured a goodnight to the first genuine designer item she'd ever called her own.

Half-asleep, she heard noises from downstairs. Someone was creeping up the stairs—must've tripped in the dark hallway, judging by the soft grunt.

It was Deana coming home.

Lela glanced at her phone: 3:28. Then she drifted off into a heavy sleep.

Bright and early the next morning, she got up and headed downstairs. Bradley and Vera were already digging into breakfast.

They heard footsteps and turned with kind, expectant smiles, only for their faces to shift when they saw it was Lela.

Bradley managed to keep things civil, but Vera snuck in a quick eye-roll before plastering on a saccharine voice. "Oh, Lela's awake. Come on over and have some breakfast."

Lela smiled and nodded, walking to the table with a polite greeting. "Morning, Dad. Morning, Vera."

Bradley looked her up and down.

She wasn't wearing that bargain-bin T-shirt from yesterday. The brand was clearly beyond her means. He'd dashed off too fast the day before to give her any spending money.

So he asked, "Did Deana get you that dress?"

"Yeah." Lela grinned, looking equal parts shy and delighted. "Deana has been amazing to me. As soon as I got off the plane yesterday, she whisked me off shopping for new clothes, treated me to dinner, and introduced me to her friends."

Seeing her get so excited over such small gestures tugged at Bradley's heartstrings, and even Vera mellowed out a bit. She thought, 'At least Lela knows how to be grateful and stay in her lane.'

Partway through the meal, Bradley's phone buzzed, so Lela shifted to the edge of the table and ate in quiet.

When he finished the call, he fished a card out of his bag. "I set this up for you. There's 70 thousand dollars on it. Treat yourself to whatever you like."

"Dad... that's too generous." Lela hesitated, looking timid as she held back from taking it.

Vera hadn't been thrilled about giving her money at first, but watching Lela act all provincial about it gave her a petty rush of satisfaction.

She grabbed the card and shoved it into Lela's hand herself. "Go ahead and take it. It's your dad's way of looking out for you. This amount's nothing, really."

As she gazed at the bank card in her palm, Lela's lips curved into a subtle smile.

Her side gigs back home maxed out at 2 thousand dollars a month, yet Vera brushed off 70 thousand dollars like pocket change. She thought, 'So this is the glamorous life my mom yearned for.'

"Thanks, Dad. Thanks, Vera," Lela said.

Since Vera was the one passing it over, Lela accepted it without a hint of guilt. If she hadn't played up the reluctance a moment ago, Vera might've kicked up a fuss.

Watching Vera keep her cool and Lela toe the line put Bradley's mind at rest.

He'd always put himself first: years ago, he'd married Vera for the advantages it brought, then sweet-talked Caroline into giving him a child.

Nowadays, Franklin Group had a prime project lined up. If it succeeded, they'd forge ties with the Cole family.

If bringing Lela home sparked any family tension that grated on him, he'd send her packing without a second's hesitation.

He said, "Have Vera round up some info for you later. Flip through it and pick a university that appeals. We can grease the wheels to get you in anywhere but Perton University. No daughter of the Franklin family can have a lackluster education, understand?"

"Understood." Lela rested her hands neatly in her lap, looking at Vera with wide-eyed obedience. "I appreciate the trouble, Vera."

Chapter 7 Blair And Erick

Lela's dream school was Perton University. She'd earned top grades and originally locked in a guaranteed spot there, but some official's kid swooped in and stole it.

In a small town like hers, under-the-table deals flew under the radar of far-off teachers in Perton. Lela knew better than to mess with the powerful, so she kept quiet and moved on.

Her homeroom teacher tried to cheer her up later, pointing out that with her scores, she'd breeze through the exam for Perton University no problem.

But then, on math exam day, Caroline had a meltdown.

She confused Lela for Deana, panicking that her darling Deana was leaving her again, and bolted the door, trapping Lela inside and making her miss the test completely.

In the end, that zero in math tanked her overall scores, but she still snagged acceptances from a bunch of schools, just none as prestigious as Perton University.

The stack of university pamphlets Vera had brought over lay scattered on the table. As Lela pored over the details on Perton University, her eyes started to mist up. "Vera, why'd Dad say getting into Perton University is impossible?"

Vera sized up Lela, who fell short of Deana in every department, and felt smug enough to indulge her with an explanation. "Perton University is the nation's premier university. The chancellor's got heavyweight connections. It's not somewhere you can bribe your way in.

"Your exam scores are decent, but they're not quite up to Perton University's standards. Obviously, the Franklin family can't swing it for you."

"Oh, that makes sense." Lela nodded like she'd just had an epiphany, then followed up, "So where's Deana studying?"

Bringing up Deana lit Vera up with pride she couldn't contain. "Deana's turned out so brilliantly thanks to my upbringing. Of course she's at Perton University. Okay, go ahead and browse through these on your own. Tell me when you've decided."

Vera left Lela alone in the living room and took off.

Lela curled up on the sofa, turning Vera's words over in her mind. The gist? The Franklin family didn't have the pull to get her into Perton University.

She knew Bradley's type all too well; floating the idea of repeating senior year and retaking the exams would just embarrass him, so that was a non-starter.

And from his whole "don't bother me" attitude, it was obvious the family wouldn't lift a finger to reclaim her hijacked guaranteed spot.

Even a minor official was still an official. Bradley wouldn't tangle with them for her sake.

If the Franklin family couldn't pull it off, fine, she'd find somebody who could. Her thoughts zeroed in on one name fast: Harrison.

She'd dug into the Fisher family online last night, and yeah, they were in the same league as the Franklin family, not the absolute top tier, but firmly entrenched in high society.

The real eyebrow-raiser was the complete info blackout on Harrison himself.

Only two reasons for that. Either he was too sketchy for the spotlight, or it was intentional protection.

As she recalled how Harrison's offhand name-drop of Blair had made Deana's eyes light up like fireworks, it was obvious he moved in circles Deana could only dream of touching.

Lela thought, 'Why else would she pull that clumsy stunt of 'returning' his phone just to tag along?'

That pegged Harrison as the protected type, the kind the Fisher family were shielding.

If Deana was angling to climb higher using Harrison as a ladder, then Lela could play that game too.

As for the Cole family, the big leagues, whatever she found online was just surface-level fluff or airbrushed hype, nothing worth much.

But starting with Harrison? That seemed like a safe bet.

Lela sat there pondering until noon crept up.

Deana came yawning down the stairs, her thoughts still buzzing from last night, heart fluttering like a schoolgirl's.

The evening before, she'd walked Harrison out, pocketed his phone on the sly, then used dropping it off as her excuse to barge into their hangout.

The Cole family ran deep, and Blair was the total package: young, accomplished, gorgeous, and filthy rich. He was the ultimate prize for every socialite in Perton.

When asked how Harrison knew Blair, he'd said that as a kid staying with his grandma, he'd lived next door to Blair, who'd been sent back to the family hometown to recuperate.

They'd played together back then, so when they both ended up in Perton, Blair was cool with bringing him into the fold.

Deana swallowed the explanation whole. She thought, 'Otherwise, how could the lower Fisher family ever hope to rub shoulders with the elite Cole family?'

After "returning" the phone last night, she'd seamlessly hung around.

It was her first time fully immersing herself in one of their get-togethers, and it blew her usual social scene out of the water.

The elite Cole family was already a force to be reckoned with, and Deana had been plotting for ages to land Blair.

But last night, catching her first glimpse of the fabled Erick Huff, she discovered there was a man who eclipsed even Blair.

He was utterly captivating, from his stunning looks to his impeccable pedigree.

In Zluitlas, the Huff family pulled the strings on the economy, wielding sky-high power that made them the undisputed kings of Perton in both clout and cash.

Even now, just thinking about Erick's hypnotic face left Deana's cheeks flushed.

As she headed downstairs, she saw Lela curled up on the sofa like a timid quail and leaned over. "What are you looking at?"

"D-Deana." Lela startled, immediately straightening her posture. "I'm going through some university info. Dad wants me to continue my studies."

Deana spotted the Perton University brochures in her hand and furrowed her brow. "You're not actually thinking about Perton University, are you?"

Lela shook her head. "No, I'm just flipping through..."

Even that irked Deana. In her mind, Lela lacked any self-awareness. Some things felt violated just by being glanced at, as if Lela were laying claim to them.

"What talents do you have?" Deana asked.

"I can dance," Lela answered.

That made sense; Caroline had been a dancer back in the day, nothing prestigious or upscale.

Deana grabbed the brochures, skimmed them, and decided on her own. "This is the school for you."

Lela looked down: a private dance academy. "Okay."

Seeing Deana act all high and mighty, Lela watched her morning's plotting unfold exactly as planned.

When she relayed Deana's choice to Vera, Vera gave an approving nod. It seemed like everyone just assumed that was the sort of place Lela was meant for.

Enrollment was a pain, with classes not starting until after March. Lela needed to use the interim to find a way to connect with a Perton University professor.

Both Harrison and Deana were students there; to enlist Harrison's help, she'd first have to get on his good side. Winning over a guy like him meant restoring her beauty, of course.

For the next two weeks, Lela stayed put at home like a model daughter. Her skinny frame had been deliberate from cutting back on meals, so she regained her curves in no time.

Her impeccable conduct during that period effectively eased Vera's suspicions and kept Bradley happy.

He transferred her two more sums of money, and Vera didn't raise a fuss.

With her body and looks back in prime condition, the next move was creating more opportunities to bump into Harrison.

Deana was still attending classes and often stayed at her apartment near Perton University. To maintain her independence, she hadn't hired any staff there.

Concerned about her skipping proper meals, Vera had Lottie drop by weekly with homemade food and do some cleaning.

Today, Lela went along with Lottie. She'd said she was stir-crazy at home and needed to get out. Vera hadn't batted an eye.

When they arrived at the apartment, Deana wasn't back from class yet.

Lottie tucked the dishes away in the kitchen and started tidying up. "Lela, make yourself comfortable. Deana should be here soon."

While Lottie was sweeping, Lela sneezed, her eyes tearing up and turning pink. She spoke up awkwardly, "Sorry, Lottie, I'm a bit allergic to dust."

"Oh dear! How about you wait in the bedroom for now?" Lottie asked.