Chapter 3: The Family Performance

That evening, Victor sat at the head of a dining table covered with food. His expression grew darker as the family waited for Riley.

"She expects us all to wait for her? Unacceptable."

He slammed his hand on the table. The dishes rattled. The maid pouring hot tea beside Blake flinched, and the pot tipped. Hot liquid spilled over the table and onto Blake's arm.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She bent her head repeatedly.

Blake seized her hand and pressed it flat on the table.

"You can't even manage that? Maybe you don't need this hand."

He lifted his fork, points downward, and drove it toward the back of her hand. The maid closed her eyes and screamed.

Riley caught his wrist before the fork landed.

He turned in surprise. She looked at him without expression.

"Spilled tea is that serious around here?"

Chloe, Evelyn, and Adrian stared. Victor remained silent. Adrian scratched at his ear as if the interruption bored him.

Riley shoved Blake's arm away. The maid backed out in terror and fled the dining room.

Riley pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Typical country trash," Adrian said, fiddling with his cutlery. "No manners. Making the entire family wait."

"Chloe, what happened?" Evelyn asked. "I told you to get her."

"I did," Chloe said softly. "I don't know why she was late."

Riley watched her with a scornful smile.

"Who said you could sit?" Blake shouted, striking the table.

Chloe caught his arm.

"Don't say that. I'm already grateful she let me stay. As long as I can live with Mom and Dad, I don't need to be a daughter of this family. I could be a maid. A housekeeper. Anything."

Victor looked moved. Evelyn took Chloe's hand.

"You're too kind."

Riley stood abruptly and pointed at Chloe, copying Blake's shout.

"A maid? Stand up. Who said you could sit? No manners!"

Chloe recoiled. Both brothers glared at Riley.

"I took your place for eighteen years, but I didn't do it on purpose." Chloe started to rise. "If you hate me so much, I'll go."

Evelyn pulled her back down.

"Apologize to her," Blake ordered. "Otherwise, getting thrown out will be the least of your problems."

Riley planted her hands on the table and leaned toward Chloe.

"Why should I apologize? What maid wears a dress that costs thousands and earrings that sparkle like that?"

Chloe touched an earring. Adrian and Victor had no immediate reply.

Adrian cleared his throat.

"Frankly, Riley doesn't compare to Chloe. Looks, figure, anything. Admitting she's our real sister would embarrass us. I suggest we postpone the welcome party. Or keep the whole thing quiet."

Chloe lowered her head, smiling to herself.

Adrian handed Victor his phone.

"Her academic record. Her scores don't even add up to half of Chloe's."

Evelyn leaned closer. The screen showed a student admissions record and a miserable set of results. Victor slapped the phone down.

"Are these really your scores?"

Riley rested her chin in her hand.

"We don't put much emphasis on academics back home."

"Your math and science are even—"

"I'm good at the physical stuff."

"What?"

"Combat training. My academic scores are low, but I get full marks in every combat course."

Adrian burst out laughing.

"College admissions don't have a combat section."

"Ours do. Mr. Mercer teaches us. He's amazing. And—"

"Don't make things hard for her," Chloe interrupted gently. "She grew up in the middle of nowhere. Of course she isn't educated."

Blake laughed and flailed his fists in a ridiculous imitation of a fighter.

"So that Mercer guy just has you doing this all day? Hah! Huh! Hah!"

Riley's expression changed.

"Say that again."

She took a stainless-steel spoon from the table and squeezed. Metal scraped harshly as it bent in her hand. She crushed it flat, then folded it over.

Blake's laughter stopped. He stared at the spoon and shrank back in his chair.

Nobody spoke.

"What's wrong?" Riley asked him. "Not funny anymore?"

Evelyn forced a bright, nervous smile.

"Impressive. Clearly you inherited the Sterling genes."

Riley resumed eating.

Victor cleared his throat.

"The welcome party will go ahead tomorrow."

"Dad…" Adrian began.

"That's final."

Riley helped herself to more food while Chloe and the brothers sat looking miserable.

The next evening, the estate's reception hall filled with guests.

Victor, in a dark suit, and Evelyn, wearing a cream gown and pearls, circulated among them. Riley stood in the crowd in a black T-shirt and pants, a lollipop in her mouth and her arms folded.

Nearby, Blake comforted Chloe in her white puff-sleeved dress. Adrian stood beside them.

"It doesn't matter," Blake told her. "You're the one Mom, Dad, and I love most."

"She's their biological daughter. I can put up with a little hurt."

"I'm sorry you're going through this."

Onstage, Adrian took the microphone. His parents stood beside him as the guests turned to listen.

"We have wonderful news. Our family's long-lost daughter, Chloe's twin sister, has finally been found."

Evelyn smiled and waved. Riley walked through the crowd with her hands in her pockets and climbed onto the stage.

"You've had a hard time out there," Adrian said, smiling at her. "From now on, this is your home. You can always depend on your big brother."

He passed the microphone to Blake.

"Me too," Blake said reluctantly, then left the stage.

Evelyn recovered from the awkward moment, took the microphone, and pulled Riley closer.

"Now let's hear a few words from our Riley."

Riley accepted it.

Later, in the garden outside the house, Chloe ran out crying. Adrian and Blake followed, catching her at the bottom of the steps.

"Chloe!" Adrian put both hands on her shoulders. "Even if you're not their biological daughter, that country bumpkin can't compare to someone who's been with us for eighteen years."

"To us, you're the real Sterling daughter," Blake said.

Chloe looked between them, tears running.

"I'm so lucky to have you."

A loud crunch interrupted them.

Riley leaned against the doorway, chewing an apple. All three turned toward her in alarm.

"Don't mind me," she said around another bite. "Keep going."

Adrian's expression changed.

"You heard that?"

Blake strode up and pointed at her face.

"Say a word about this, and I'll knock your teeth out. Understand?"

"Sure." Riley lifted the apple and pointed upward. "What about them?"

They followed her gesture. Victor, Evelyn, and the party guests stood crowded along the second-floor balcony, looking down at them.

Every one of them had heard.