Chapter 2

To build her sweet, angelic persona on Ins, Tiffany had adopted a whole squad of cats.

In reality, they were nothing more than props for her photo ops. Off-camera, she dumped them on a maid who despised animals.

It wasn't until I arrived that they finally got a decent meal. Naturally, they became my most loyal little soldiers.

"Meow." "Barnaby and Jax snuck into her room. They're gathering the evidence..."

An hour later, we arrived at the grand ballroom of the St. Regis for the birthday gala.

Years ago, after I was lost, my parents adopted Tiffany, who was born on the exact same day.

Tonight was supposed to be a joint celebration for both of us. Yet every banner, photo wall, and the towering tier-cake only bore one name: Tiffany Sterling.

Before walking in, Julian pulled me aside, his voice cold. "Keep your head down and don't cause trouble. The family company is going through a critical public restructuring. We cannot afford any negative PR. If you humiliate the Sterling name, don't blame us for putting family ties aside and kicking you out."

I nodded with textbook obedience. "I understand, Julian. I’m new here and I know I can't compare to Tiffany. I’ll stay invisible."

Julian frowned with annoyance. "It has nothing to do with seniority. If Tiffany messes up, we discipline her too. But she’s used to high society. She knows how to behave. She won't embarrass us."

Translation: "You're trash, and you don't belong here."

Well, fair enough.

Holding an insanely skinny orange cat and wearing a washed-out shirt, I stuck out like a sore thumb in the gilded ballroom.

Neither my parents nor Julian bothered to introduce me to anyone.

Pumpkin let out an angry hiss. "Meow!" "They only threw this party for Tiffany! They just brought you along for the free buffet!"

"Meow." "Barnaby says Tiffany is making rounds introducing you right now, though."

"Meow." "Oh crap! Photos of you as a kid digging through fast-food dumpsters and getting chased by stray dogs have already been leaked!"

My stomach dropped. "Wait, where did she get those?"

"Meow." "Jax says she bought them from your awful foster parents."

Right on cue, Tiffany glided over, surrounded by an entourage of trust-fund snobs.

She grabbed my arm with exaggerated warmth. "Everyone, this is my sister, Aria. She recently came back to the family. Feel free to introduce yourselves and make her feel welcome!"

The very next second, sneers and snide comments rained down on me.

"So the long-lost Sterling heiress still goes by her foster name? Why hasn't she changed it?"

"Who'd bother changing it for her? Her name isn't even on the birthday cake! Look at her—she looks like a homeless beggar who snuck in through the kitchen."

"I heard she's a vicious animal abuser. No wonder the family treats her like an outcast. If it weren't for blood, they never would have taken her back..."

Vicious?

Cruel?

Animal abuser?

I turned to Tiffany with wide, horrified eyes. "Tiffany... what did you tell them?"

Tiffany put on a face of pure innocence. "I have no idea what they're talking about! Aria, did you do something bad behind Mom and Dad's back? You need to confess right now so our PR team can handle it! If this hurts the family business, it’ll be a disaster!"

Before she finished speaking, a girl in a couture dress stormed over and snatched Pumpkin out of my arms.

"Aria, you are banned from touching pets!" the girl snapped. "You tortured stray dogs as a kid, and you brought that sick habit to the Sterling estate! Tiffany raised these cats with so much love, and you starved them until they were skin and bones! You’re disgusting!"