Chapter 2
The beautiful woman grabbed my hands excitedly.
“The chairman of Crestwell Group has a son. He’s such a good person. Not a scheming bone in his body. We’re going to marry you into their family so you can live in luxury.”
Crestwell Group? Didn’t his son have a severe intellectual disability?
Of course a man with the cognitive abilities of a three-year-old wasn’t scheming!
I pressed my lips together, speechless.
Before I could answer, the woman continued.
“They originally wanted Chloe. But Chloe said she should let you have this wonderful opportunity. See how sweet your sister is?”
Me: “?”
If it was such a blessing, why didn’t she take it?
I casually crossed my legs and looked at Chloe.
“Surely my little sister should enjoy such a wonderful opportunity. After all, you’ve known me for less than a day.”
Chloe squirmed coyly, her voice turning bashful.
“But I already have a boyfriend. Ethan Bennett, from Bennett Group.”
Me: “???”
I immediately pulled out my phone and messaged Ethan.
“You have a girlfriend?”
Ethan: “?”
Ethan: “Why wasn’t I informed?”
I raised my head in a daze, convinced I’d walked into an asylum.
My newly acquired mother was still listing the benefits of marrying into wealth.
I finally interrupted.
“Actually... I have a boyfriend too.”
She froze, then frowned.
“You’re so young. What are you doing dating? Who is he? He’d better not be a bad influence.”
“Julian Sterling.”
The three of them exchanged looks.
A few seconds passed.
“Ha! Hahahaha!”
My birth mother planted her hands on her hips and burst into laughter.
“Emma, are you out of your mind?”
Chloe laughed too, barely bothering to hide her contempt.
“Julian Sterling is the Sterling family’s eldest son and the CEO of Horizon.”
“He practically runs Seabrook. How could someone like you possibly know him?”
The middle-aged man lifted his teacup and took a loud slurp.
“Don’t tell lies like that again. Such a young girl, and already so vain.”
Me: “...”
Fine.
Leaving number 519, I turned left and headed to the very back of the development, where Dad had given me a second house.
I’d barely collapsed onto the couch before Buddy came panting over and clambered onto my legs.
I gave his fluffy coat a few absentminded strokes, took out my phone, and asked Martin to investigate the Parkers. Then I took Buddy down to the underground garage.
The garage was full of cars. I let Buddy choose one.
When he raced over to the Cayenne and started circling it, I picked its key out of the tray.
As I drove past 519, I instinctively glanced inside—and met Chloe’s sparkling, flirtatious gaze.