"Lena, look!" Briana cooed, dragging out the word like she was on stage. "Isn't the birthday gift Eric gave me beautiful? It's a global LIMITED edition."

The crowd jumped in right on cue.

"So pretty!"

"Eric really knows how to treat her!"

I dropped my gaze, fingers curling into fists.

Eric's smile twitched. He gave Briana's wrist a light tug. "That's enough. Cut it out."

She pouted but backed off. Eventually.

Eric gave me a cold glance. "I brought the bracelet. Just play nice, make Briana happy, and it's yours later."

"Play nice?" I said. "You mean go along with your little humiliation game?"

"Don't be ungrateful," he warned, voice dropping. "I still have the bracelet."

Briana jumped in, all fake-sweet. "Lena, don't be mad. Everyone's just teasing."

Right on cue—

"Yeah, Lena, don't be so sensitive."

"Guess some bumpkins just don't belong in high society."

Every word sliced like a knife.

My hand clenched at my side, palm slick with sweat.

I told myself to suck it up.

That bracelet—my family's heirloom—was still in Eric's hands. I couldn't risk losing it.

Eric looked smug, like my silence was proof I'd stay in line.

"Come on, Lena," he said, handing me a glass. "Give Briana a toast. Wish her a happy birthday."

The crowd started chanting, "Drink! Drink! Drink!"

I took the glass, eyeing the murky mix.

It was clearly a mashup of whatever they had on hand.

But for the bracelet, I swallowed my pride.

Eyes shut, I downed it in one shot.

The taste hit weird—salty, bitter. Almost made me gag.

But I forced it down and held out my hand. "Bracelet."

Eric clicked his tongue and tossed me the velvet case.

As I turned to go, I heard him whisper to Briana, "It's just a bracelet. I'll get you a better one."

I didn't look back.

This time around, I wanted nothing to do with them.

But life doesn't always play fair.

***

I'd barely stepped out of the clubhouse when a black van pulled up, quiet as a whisper.

The side door slid open with a sharp clang. A few guys in baseball caps jumped out—fast, ruthless, eyes like ice.

I clutched the velvet case to my chest. My palm was soaked.

"That's her. Go!" the lead guy barked.

Before he even finished, a fist came flying.

I flinched back—straight into a wall.

Nowhere to run.

A punch slammed into my shoulder, and everything blurred.

One of them grabbed my wrist and slammed me back against the wall.

"Who are you? What do you want?" I spat.

No answer. Just fists and kicks, dull and brutal.

I curled around the case, trying to protect it.

Then someone kicked me in the gut.

I hit the ground, gasping. The case slipped from my arms and hit the pavement.

Crack.

The antique glass-inlay bracelet spilled out—and shattered.

Just like that.

The men froze, eyes flicking to the broken pieces.

"Go," the leader said. Cold.

They disappeared into the night.

I lay there, gasping. Arms, face—everything burned.

My eyes locked on the shattered bracelet. My fingers wouldn't stop shaking.

My chest heaved, every inch of me screaming like I'd been ripped apart.

Then—click, click, click. Heels on pavement.

Briana.

She stepped into view, smirk locked in place.

Fake surprise dripped from her voice: "What's wrong, Lena? Cat got your tongue—or was it the drink? You know, the one the boys jerked off into?"

"You! You all—"

Nausea slammed into me.

I shoved my fingers down my throat, desperate to throw it up—nothing.

I reached out, grabbing for her skirt.

She stepped on my hand, cool as ever, then dusted off her dress like I was something disgusting stuck to her heel.

"Honestly, how useless can you be?" she sneered. "Can't even protect something your parents left you."

She spread her hands like she was innocent. "Oh, and those guys? I sent them. Just meant to scare you a little. Didn't expect... well, I guess that heirloom wasn't yours after all."

"Briana." My voice was rough, but steady. "You'll regret this."

She paused, then grinned wider.

"I'm looking forward to it, Lena."

And just like that, she turned and walked off.

I lay there on the cold pavement, clutching the shattered bracelet pieces.

Then I forced myself up.

By the time I got home, her mocking voice was still ringing in my head.

But then—

I laughed.

If peace was off the table, fine. I wasn't playing the victim anymore.

Tomorrow, they'd all see—

Who the real Leone heir was.

***

I didn't come back without backup. I kept a recorder on me—always.

After a beat, I made the call. "I need you to pull some surveillance footage."

The guy on the other end tried to play it cool, but I could hear the excitement. "Got it."

That night, I sat at my desk, uploaded the audio, and dropped it on every high-society gossip board I could find—plus a few tabloids that lived for this kind of drama.

The headline was simple:

[Fake Leone Heiress Hires Thugs to Assault Real Heiress and Smash Family Heirloom—Recording Leaked!]

In less than thirty minutes, the comment sections blew up.

[WTF, this is that sweet, gentle Briana Leone?]

[She sounds UNHINGED!]

[The real heiress got jumped and humiliated? That's savage.]

By 2 a.m., my family group chat was a full-on meltdown.

Uncle Novah: [What's going on?!]

Aunt Jessica: [Briana would NEVER do something like this!]

Uncle George: [Everyone calm down. Family meeting. 9 a.m. sharp. Mansion.]

***

Next morning, I strutted into the Leone mansion in a sleek black dress.

Every elder at the table looked like they'd sucked a lemon. Eric wouldn't meet my eyes—torn between guilt and irritation. Briana? Puffy-eyed and pitiful. Guess the waterworks ran all night.

"Lena Leone!" Uncle Novah slammed the table. "How could you post that online? You'll ruin Briana!"

I smiled, barely. Dropped a printed doc on the table.

"She ruined herself. That's from my lawyer."

Dead silence.

"I'm suing Briana. Assault, property damage. And the rest of you—" I scanned the room. "Try messing with me again, and I'll see you in court."

Aunt Jessica shrieked, "Are you seriously going against the Leone family?"

I shrugged. "I'm protecting what's mine. You don't get to twist the rules."

Eric hovered nearby, scowling. "Lena, don't push it."

I laughed, sharp and cold. "You and Briana drag me through the mud, sic thugs on me, trash my parents' heirloom—and I'm the problem?"

I pulled a USB from my bag, dropped it on the table.

"Last night's surveillance footage. Everything you did—caught in 4K."

Eric's head snapped up, face going ghost-white. He hadn't counted on me finding the footage he tried to erase.

I added, "Touch me, and this goes to every media outlet. Let's see how long you keep up the act."

Silence.

Uncle Novah opened his mouth—nothing came out.

I stood, slid the transfer docs to Briana. I'd given her those shares after our parents died, thinking she had no one.

"Sign it. Or see me in court."

Her hand shook, eyes glossy. "Lena, we are sisters—"

"Don't. We're not sisters." My voice sliced through the room. "You don't deserve that title."

She bit her lip and signed.

I scooped up the docs and headed for the door.

Right as I stepped out, I heard the whispers behind me.

"That girl's completely out of control."

***

Back home, my phone lit up.

Unknown number.

"Ms. Leone, I'm Shelby Santoro's assistant. He'd like to meet for lunch tomorrow. Says it's important."

Shelby?

Yeah, right. Like that was actually him.

Still... I paused—then said yes.

Might as well see what game they were playing now.

That night, I showed up at the restaurant like we agreed. The private suite door swung open—and yeah, my blood went ice cold.

Of course it was them. Eric and Briana.

They were all smug, like predators waiting on their kill.

"Lena, you came," Briana said, all fake sweet. "Oops, I told Eric's assistant to pretend he was Shelby's."

Eric leaned back, smug as hell.

"You made Briana sign those compensation papers today. She's upset. Now it's your turn."

He slapped a thick stack of papers on the table.

"Sign it. Waives your rights to everything—shares, property, all of it."

I glanced at the title: [Voluntary Renunciation of Inheritance.]

Let out a short laugh. "So we're doing forced now?"

Eric's face dropped cold. "You'll find out soon enough."

He clapped once.

Huge guys stepped out from behind the screen wall—built like tanks.

I faked a shaky breath, legs wobbling.

"Briana, don't! What are you doing?!"

Briana laughed so hard she nearly choked. "Weren't you all tough earlier? Here's the deal—let me slap you a few times, and maybe I'll let you go. Cool?"

I stepped toward her. Slow. Calm.

Right as I got close, I slipped a knife from my sleeve and pressed it to her throat.

"Lena! Are you insane?!" Eric shot up, face white with fury.

I didn't flinch. "Move."