"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.

Pain wracked my body, but I crawled forward.

Kai glanced at me. "Let's go. If she wants to play victim, let her."

Lily nodded, clinging to him.

Rachel tried to help me, but I pushed her away.

"Give it back!" I cried, grabbing George's pants leg. "Please! It's what Mom left me. Don't you remember?"

George shook me off, annoyed.

My body hit a chair, pain flaring. I grunted, sweating.

He hesitated, but Lily called out, "George, let's go."

His concern vanished.

Once, he cared about me. But compared to Lily, that love meant nothing.

"Why did you let them do this to you?" Rachel sulked, helping me to a couch. "I've always seen you as my rival. Don't cry. It's pathetic. Go take back what's yours. Slap Lily and show her who's the real heiress."

I shook my head, wiping my tears. "Put some makeup on me."

I was leaving soon. There was no point in fighting them.

I just couldn't take more blows, or I might not make it to the mission. The best move was to let it go.

I only felt sorry for my mom.

"That's the spirit. Let's go," Rachel said.

The White Mansion buzzed that night. Big shots from finance and even celebrities showed up.

"Heard these are all Lily's favorites," Rachel said. "George personally invited them. This party's even fancier than your coming-of-age bash."

Her words stung, but I rubbed my aching waist instead of arguing.

She was right, but I wasn't there to mess with Lily.

I'd come to grab my things and finish the last task George had given me. He and Kai wanted me to play nice for Lily's sake.

I'd do it.

"Let's welcome the White family's second heiress, Lily White," announced the host.

Lily appeared under the spotlight, George and Kai flanking her like knights. The crown on her head gleamed.

"She's stunning. Kai and Lily are a better match," someone whispered. "Lily's so gentle, not like Skyler, who's basically a shrew."

"If I were Kai, I'd pick Lily too. With how much she's loved, who cares about bloodlines?"

Each comment cut me deeply, but I hadn't done anything wrong. I was just not a gentle person by nature.

"Skyler," Lily called out, approaching me as I mused. "Please don't listen to them. I'm sorry for taking your place. Can you forgive me? I swear I'll treat you better than George or Kai ever did. Can you accept me?"

She held out a glass of wine, looking nervous.

George watched, gripping his glass tightly. Kai stared, trying to burn holes through me with his eyes.

I knew what they desired. If I didn't agree, I wouldn't walk out of the house tomorrow.