'Wanna tattle?'

I shot him a sly, wicked grin and slammed both hands hard onto Ryan's chest.

"Mom! Dad! Ryan got so worked up over the engagement news that he lost his balance and passed out! I'm doing CPR! Call 911—hurry!"

Each compression hit with the force of a truck in low gear.

Ryan could only wheeze, his face turning a deep, blotchy red.

Mom and Dad fumbled with their phones while I wrapped my arm around his neck under the guise of brotherly concern.

"Ryan's always looked out for me. Without him, I'd never survive in this crowd! Be a man and hold on—I'm not letting you die!" I yelled as I locked his neck in tight.

Ryan's eyes bulged, rolled back, and he went completely limp.

A cold smirk tugged at my lips.

Trying to play games with me? Someone who'd survived Sophia Harrington's brutal interview process—did he really think I was an easy target?

…

When Ryan finally stirred in the hospital, the first thing he did was grab Mom's sleeve, his face a mask of wounded innocence.

"Pete… I know you're upset. This engagement should've been yours. If you really like Sophia, I can step aside… just please, don't hit me anymore, cough, cough…"

Ryan had some nerve, acting like the Harringtons would give him a second look. All that polished, blue-blood act—what, did he think marrying into old money was like picking apples off a tree?

I was about to fire back when the hospital room door suddenly swung open.

A woman in a sharp business suit stormed in.

"Ryan! Are you okay?"

Before I could even process who it was, Ryan immediately cranked up the act, looking even more pathetic:

"Vi… my whole body hurts, Pete… he…"

Ah. So this was my "bonus older sister," Violet Sanders.

Seeing Ryan like this, her face crumpled with worry. She spun around and fixed me with a glare full of venom. "Pete! Are you even human?! Ryan was just trying to help you make connections, and you beat him for it?!"

"Don't blame Pete… it's my fault. I shouldn't have taken his place all these years, shouldn't have stolen his engagement… It's only natural he hates me…"

Ryan let out a sigh. But his "good sister" went rigid, her voice shaking, "Engagement? You and who…?"

"The Harringtons. Their steward delivered the engagement gift today…"

Violet's hands clenched.

Ohhh.

This reaction—was I walking into one of those classic "she's in love with him but he doesn't see it" situations?

My internal drama radar lit up. I was enjoying the show when Violet sucked in a sharp breath and unloaded on me, "Pete! You violent, small-minded psychopath! Ryan is this family's pride and joy! Sophia noticing him is a testament to who he is. And you—some hick from nowhere—think you're even fit to compete with him?!"

I could practically feel my eyes rolling into the back of my head.

Nobody was trying to take him. Nobody.

Since Violet had come out swinging, I wasn't about to back down either.

I straightened my back, let my eyes go red, and put on an expression of pure innocence that even Ryan couldn't top.

"Vi… I know I grew up poor out in the sticks, but Mom and Dad taught me that family comes first! Ryan collapsed out of nowhere—his face went totally white! I only did CPR because I was scared he was dying! How can anyone say I hit him? If you really think I meant to hurt him, fine—I'll pay with my own life!"

And with that, I lunged straight for the wall.

"Pete! That's not what your sister meant!"

Mom and Dad panicked, rushing to grab me.

My little speech had hit them right in the guilt, and they whipped around to glare at Violet.

"How dare you talk to your brother like that? He just got back and doesn't know anything! What kind of older sister says things like that?"

Violet curled her lip in disgust, narrowing her eyes at me.

"Mom, just let him go. He's been running wild in the countryside—he has no manners!"

She pulled out a gilt-edged invitation and slapped it on the table.

"The invitations for Mr. Harrington's birthday gala came to the office. Our whole family is named on it, and it specifically says Pete has to come."

The room went dead silent. Even Ryan forgot to play victim.

"I was wondering why a family as elite as the Harringtons would invite us. Now it's clear. Ryan's engagement to Sophia must be locked in, and Mr. Harrington wants to meet his future son-in-law."

She shot me a scornful glance.

"And somehow this little savage gets to ride the coattails. Do us all a favor—stay home and don't embarrass Ryan or screw this up for him."

My stomach dropped.

Ride the coattails? This was clearly a warning shot from the boss.

After I passed the interview, Mr. Harrington had planned to ship me straight to Harrington Group's overseas division to groom me as a direct successor. Then the Sanders family suddenly called me back, and Mr. Harrington gave me a month of family leave to properly reconnect.

Now, with that month almost up, I still hadn't reached out.

Maybe I should text him an explanation?

I hesitated, and Mom, thinking I was upset by Violet's words, immediately laid down the law.

"He's your brother. If the Harringtons specifically invited him, he's going. If anyone's missing, or they think our family's falling apart, what happens to this engagement?"

Great. Time to face the big boss.

…

The night of the gala.

I was sipping water, trying to psych myself up to face Mr. Harrington, when I heard muffled cursing coming from the coatroom.

"Why are Mom and Dad suddenly defending Pete?! Why can't he just drop dead?! Both of those biased old bastards should die! Everything in this family should be mine! Sophia should be mine!"

Through the crack in the door, I saw Ryan waving scissors at the painting scroll we were supposed to give Mr. Harrington.

"Nobody gets to be happy!"

Snap.

The blade sliced through the scroll.

At that moment, he must've sensed something—he whipped his head around and locked eyes with me.

Before I could react, he came charging out, shoving the scissors into my hands.

"Pete! What are you doing?!"

Pointing at the ruined painting, Ryan screamed at the top of his lungs, "How could you destroy the gift for Mr. Harrington?! I know you're jealous, but that doesn't mean you can sabotage our whole family!"

Wow.

He was really trying to pin this whole mess on me.

Footsteps pounded up from downstairs.

Ryan glared at me, a cold smirk curling his lips. "Pete, you're done. You ruined the gift—how are you gonna explain this to Mom and Dad? To the Harringtons?!"

Then he screamed at the top of his lungs, "Someone help! Pete's lost his mind!"

Before, I hadn't cared how he sent people to mess with me—Mom and Dad's faces kept things in check. But this was in front of my actual boss.

Dare to ruin my reputation, get me fired from Harrington Group? Was he trying to make me starve?

Instinct kicked in. I twisted the cap off a water bottle and hurled it at Ryan.

A full bottle, drenching him completely.

His carefully styled hair collapsed, stiff with gel, turning his perfect coif into a sad, soggy mess.

Ryan jumped up cursing, "Pete! Are you out of your mind?!"

"I think you're the one out of your mind! Ryan, you've clearly been possessed by some demon!"

Country strength was no joke. I pinned him to the floor and grabbed a nearby feather duster.

"You're usually so sensible—how could you destroy Mr. Harrington's gift and try to frame me? It's gotta be some evil spirit! I'm gonna wake you up and beat the devil right out of you!"

Whack!

The duster cut through the air, landing hard on Ryan's backside.

"Stop with the—ow! That hurts! Pete, you're insane!"

He scrambled across the floor like a crab, clutching his head. I didn't let up for a second, smacking his back and rear again.

"Evil spirit, get out! Evil spirit, get out!"

"Stop! Stop! I'm supposed to be Sophia's fiancé! Aren't you afraid the Harringtons will destroy you?!"

I laughed louder and hit harder.

"That's exactly why I have to help you! If you show up looking like that, it'll ruin everything! Out, demon! Give me back my well-mannered brother!"

For a moment, I felt like my old man had possessed me. Months of torment from his little crew of rich-kid lackeys—the anger, the humiliation—I beat it all out.

"Pete!"

Finally, the three of them showed up.

Violet's face was white as a sheet. She lunged and yanked the duster out of my hands.

"Vi… sorry. I saw Ryan messing with the painting and tried to stop him, but he just— Ow… Vi, Mom, Dad, it hurts so bad… Pete's trying to kill me…"

Ryan sniffled, shaking his head all innocent.

Violet, heartbroken, scooped him up and turned on me.

"You maniac! The gala's about to start! You've beaten Ryan black and blue—how are we supposed to explain this to the Harringtons?!"

Mom and Dad saw the ruined painting and went pale, nearly fainting.

"That was for Mr. Harrington! Pete… this is too much."

"Today, I'm teaching this wild kid a lesson!"

Violet raised her hand to slap me—when a deep, commanding voice boomed from the doorway, "I could hear all this shouting from outside. Which family is putting on a show for me?"

Everyone froze.

A middle-aged man walked in, radiating authority without raising his voice.

Violet and Ryan's eyes lit up.

Ryan, still a mess, struggled to his feet and mouthed: You're dead.

Violet pointed at me, full of righteous fury.

"Mr. Harrington! This little savage not only destroyed the gift we prepared for you but also beat up your future son-in-law! Look at Ryan! You have to do something!"

Ryan lifted his face just enough to look pitiful and wronged. "Sir…"

Everyone waited for Mr. Harrington to explode, to throw me out.

But he paused, glancing between Ryan and me. Then a faint, amused smile tugged at his lips. He spoke slowly, "Future son-in-law? Huh. Since when does hiring an employee come with a free son-in-law?"