On my wedding day, my fiancé showed up with another woman, flashing a marriage license.

He announced, "She's my true love. Don't even think about taking her place."

My doting brother sided with her too. "You've had a cushy life for over 20 years. Let her have this."

I left quietly.

My brother and my fiancé breathed a sigh of relief. They paraded the new girl around town, my brother even calling her his adopted sister to boost her status.

They didn't know I'd gone to the border until someone mentioned me.

I was done with them, but they started to regret it.

The day George White threw a party for his adopted sister, I was filling out an application for a classified government mission.

20-plus people were needed at the border.

I wasn't supposed to be picked. I was the White family's heiress, after all.

Everyone in Seaside City knew I'd been born with a silver spoon. I had a doting brother, George, and a childhood sweetheart, Kai Mason.

No way would they send me on a dangerous gig like that.

But the day before the deadline, I grabbed the form and swore to my professor. "I'll complete this mission. I won't back down. This isn't a whim. It's my choice."

After I got dumped at my wedding, rumors about me were flying.

Professor Ruby Walsh had heard them. She worried I was acting out of anger.

This was a national matter. Even the White family's clout couldn't let me mess around.

"Are you sure?" she asked. "That's the border. No one's going to baby you there, rich girl or not. If you come crying back, no one will feel sorry for you."

Her tone was sharp, driving home the stakes.

I put my pen down. "I get how serious this is, and I know what I'm doing."

Since starting college, I had aced my classes and shone in charity work, completing tasks with flying colors. This mission should have my name on it.

Ruby sighed, giving in. "Well then, I respect your choice. The team is leaving tomorrow afternoon. Go pack."

I exhaled, shielding my eyes from the blazing sun.

My mind had been a mess since a few days ago when Kai brought Lily Foster to our wedding.

She grew up in an orphanage. Hardships forged her unbending character. That should've been admirable, but she crashed my wedding and took my place to marry Kai.

Overnight, I became Seaside City's laughingstock.

Everyone thought George, who'd always spoiled me, would have my back. But he stood by Lily, showering her with pity.

"You've had a cushy life for over 20 years, while Lily has got nothing," he said to me. "Now that she has joined my family, can't you just let her have this?"

"She joined our family?" I staggered back, my white gown catching underfoot.

I tripped, falling hard.

"That's right. I've adopted Lily. She is our sister now."

"What?"

Blood trickled from the wound in my elbow.

He ignored it, set on giving the White name to the woman who'd humiliated me.

It was ironic to no end.

"Can you believe it? The high-and-mighty Miss White is brought low like this. Bet she won't strut around so proud now."

"What kind of heiress ends up like her? Dumped by her fiancé and ditched by her brother. She's less than an orphan now."

"Haha, what a twist!"

The mockery drowned me.

I scanned the crowd for George and Kai. They were too busy comforting Lily to spare me a glance.

I didn't know how I made it home. For 20 years, I'd been showered with love but never acted entitled. I'd stop to pet stray dogs on the street.

I couldn't figure out what I'd done wrong. Overnight, the two people I loved the most betrayed and humiliated me.

Like a fallen angel, I was stripped of all love and glory.

George went all out, hyping up a party for Lily. He wanted to raise Lily's status and make her a star as Kai's wife.

Kai was thrilled, setting off fireworks to light up the night sky,

Headlines compared me to Lily, tearing me down. I became a stray dog in the eyes of the city.

A voice came, interrupting my thoughts. "Heading to the party? Why aren't you driving a car?"

A familiar SUV pulled up beside me. The window rolled down, and Rachel Miller popped her head out.

She added, "Oh, my bad. I forgot things are rough between you and your family."

Rachel was known as the brattiest heiress in our circle. But compared to Lily, she was a saint.

"Get in. I'll give you a lift," she said, swinging the door open and yanking me inside.

I didn't get a chance to refuse. The next thing I knew, I was in a makeup studio.

"Listen, I can't stand this adopted-sister drama," Rachel said. "You're the real White heiress. You've gotta show up drop-dead gorgeous and outshine that schemer. Quick, we're short on time. I've got a makeup artist to fix you up."

She plopped me into a chair.

A trembling girl stepped forward. Her pale face was adorned by tears.

"Skyler," Lily said softly.

At the same time, someone grabbed my sleeve. It was George.

"Is this how you talk about Lily behind her back?" he roared. "Is this how you act as a sister? I paid for your education for what? No wonder Lily's not fitting in. You've been discrediting her."

My dress was torn, and cold air hit my skin.

"When did I discredit her?" I shot back. "Are you illusional, or do you have an ear problem?"

I'd always had a fiery streak. George used to call it my spunk. Now he glared at me, grabbing a tissue to wipe his hand.

"There's a limit to how mad you can get," he sulked, tossing the tissue in the trash.

My heart sank at his disgust.

It was ironic. He had once promised me the world. Now he was standing against me, betraying me with everyone else.

A cold voice cut through. "You should apologize to Lily."

I turned to see Kai. He cradled Lily in his arms, soothing her.

I sneered at their intimacy. "And if I don't?"

I locked eyes with Kai, whose brow twitched. "You know what I can do. If you don't want today's mess to go online, you do as I say."

His threat hung heavy in the air. In the past, I would have refuted him immediately, but now I was helpless.

The Mason and White families together could make surviving in Seaside City impossible. Plus, I didn't want to drag Rachel into this.

"I'm sorry," I choked, swallowing my pride.

"Why are you apologizing?" Rachel jumped in. "I said it. If they've got a problem, they can come at me."

I stepped in front of her. "I'm sorry, Lily. I shouldn't have talked behind your back. Is that enough?"

I glanced at George and Kai, hoping my apology would keep Rachel out of trouble. Rachel tugged at my sleeve, trying to argue.

Lily looked up. "It's okay, Skyler. I took your place. I should be the one saying sorry. Please don't hate me. I just wanted a family."

Tears spilled down her cheeks.

Kai shot me a glare. "She's so kind. She deserves everything."

Turning to Lily, he softened. "Don't worry. I'm your family now, and George will take care of you. Stop crying, okay?"

"Here, look at this crown I got you," George said, grabbing a gift box from his assistant, Tom.

I caught Tom's uneasy look.

My breath caught when I saw the crown. It was what my mother had left me. Only I could wear it.

Before my parents died, they'd asked George to protect me and make sure the crown was at my wedding.

As George moved to place the crown on Lily's head, I stepped forward. "Wait! That crown is mine. It's what Mom left me."

He scoffed, "Stop grabbing at everything. So what if Mom left it to you? I've given you everything your whole life. What's one crown? Besides, Mom said it was for a White daughter. Lily's our sister now. It's a big night for her. Can't you let her have this?"

His careless tone hit hard. I clenched my fists, tears welling up in my eyes.

"No," I insisted.

I could give up my title, my fiancé, and my wealth, but not this. It held my mother's love.

"If you want it, take it," Lily chimed in, reluctantly holding out the crown.

I reached for it, but my body flew backward.

Kai had kicked me in the waist. Pain shot through me, making me cough.

"Didn't you hear George? This belongs to Lily now," he spat. "Don't you have a heart? Haven't you had enough all these years?"

"Give it back," I gasped.