Chapter 3

That evening, after surviving an entire aerobics workout, I was hungry enough to eat an entire cow.

With absolute determination, I grabbed the black card my mom gave me and headed to the food street beside the park.

“Hey, how much for the grilled squid?”

“Six bucks a skewer.”

“Six!?”

I was stunned. Were prices in Kingsford actually this terrifying?

Still, I had to maintain my nouveau riche image.

“Do you take cards?”

“Nope.”

In the end, I still wound up buying a discounted sandwich from the convenience store.

“Ding dong. Welcome.”

The robotic voice announced another customer entering.

“Arya?”

I tilted my head and looked up in surprise, sauce still smeared around my mouth.

“Bro!”

Running into my billionaire stepbrother here of all places felt like a deeply concerning issue worth serious investigation.

“Bro, be honest with me… your family didn’t go bankrupt or something, right?”

“Hm?”

Michael paused for a second before laughing softly.

His laughter sounded like wind chimes—clear and ridiculously pleasant to listen to.

“He’s a top-tier heartthrob devil,” I silently concluded.

“Every single thing you say catches me off guard.”

Michael reached over and plucked an obvious feather off my shoulder that had apparently drifted over from who-knew-where.

“Oh right, bro, I still haven’t added you yet!”

I immediately pulled out my phone and held up my contact QR code for him to scan.

His profile picture was just a blank white image, paired with a single cold word: Michael.

Yep. Stereotype confirmed.

I glanced at the alcohol in his other hand.

“Are you in a bad mood?”

Before he could answer, I dragged him down into the empty seat beside me.

“If we’re family now, then we drink together. Whatever’s bothering you, your sister here will solve it for you.”

I leaned in closer with complete sincerity.

“Or is it because you have too much money and nowhere to spend it? Your little sister can help with that too.”

Michael paused for a moment before lowering his head to open the bottle. Then he glanced sideways at me and smiled.

“Alright. I’ll let you spend my money.”

My grin instantly grew even brighter.

At this rate, wasn’t I about to become the second richest person in Kingsford?

“Cheers!”

Only after I finished my drink did Michael realize something was very wrong with my face.

“Arya? Your alcohol tolerance is this bad?”

I immediately shook my head, despite my eyes already turning unfocused.

“What are you talking about? I can drink forever.”

Autumn had already arrived, and since I’d only planned to grab a quick bite outside, I hadn’t dressed warmly.

“Achoo!”

Michael sighed helplessly and touched my burning cheek.

“Why did you go out wearing this little?”

He stood up, took off his trench coat, and draped it over me.

“What a naive little lightweight,” he murmured.

It was like I suddenly sobered up for a second.

I opened my eyes and grabbed his face with both hands.

“Bro, you’re seriously so handsome.”

The hand he’d been reaching out with froze midair, and the tips of his ears instantly turned red.

“Your eyes are pretty… your face is pretty…”

I giggled drunkenly.

“I’m counting on you for my future happiness.”

And then I blacked out.

When I woke up again, it was already midnight.

I lay in my own bed, wrapped in a blanket that had obviously been carefully tucked around me.

I pressed a hand to my forehead, feeling a little dizzy.

Even though I couldn’t remember how I got home, it wasn’t hard to guess who brought me back.

On messenger, the very first message in our chat was sent an hour earlier.

“Your keys are on the table. I made you some honey tea in the kitchen.”

Once again, I couldn’t help sighing, feeling touched.

My brother really was a good person.

He was a proper gentleman, completely different from those spoiled rich playboys in Kingsford.

My face was still a little warm as I picked up the honey tea from the kitchen table and drank it in one go.

The next second, I nearly coughed my soul out.

It was so sweet it practically clawed at my throat.

After chugging two entire bottles of water, I finally managed to wash the taste away.

For some reason, I suddenly couldn’t fall asleep anymore.

I kept thinking about how, up until now, Michael never once brought up my mom or me.

A vague sense of unease crept into my chest.

What if he didn’t approve of my mom?

No way.

I needed to work harder. My mother’s glorious reputation could not be ruined by me.

The next day, I arrived at school with dark circles practically hanging off my face, only to run into the last person I wanted to see.

It was the earring guy.

He still wore that same annoyingly cocky expression.

“Well, look who it is. What were you doing last night, siphoning gasoline?”

My face darkened instantly.

“Yeah. From your house.”

“Sky! The teacher’s looking for you!” someone shouted from the other end of the hallway.

“Sky? As in sky-high?”

I snorted with laughter. “Wow. Your dad really went all in with that name, huh?”

Sky scoffed.

“What do you know? It’s called having an imposing name.”

I nodded solemnly like I totally understood, then walked right past him to find my beloved brother.

“Michael! I brought you cake!”

I flashed my brightest eight-tooth smile.

“A thank-you gift for your great kindness last night!”

Spread open on his desk was his physics textbook, filled with perfectly organized notes.

An opportunity instantly presented itself.

I pointed at the pages and praised enthusiastically, “Bro, your notes are incredible! The handwriting is neat, the logic is clear—seriously top-student material.”

Just as I leaned closer to keep reading, he suddenly snapped the book shut.

The rush of air from the movement brushed across my face and lifted my hair slightly.

Wait.

Compliments weren’t working anymore?

Instead, he looked strangely nervous.

I lowered my head to look.

The book was completely closed now, leaving only the cover visible.

Printed on it was his name.

Michael York.

My mind instantly froze.

Wait.

Wasn’t my mom’s billionaire husband supposed to have the last name High?

“Bro, can I ask you something?”

“Your dad’s last name is…?”

Michael looked confused but still answered seriously.

“York?”

My heart dropped straight to the floor.

Almost trembling, I asked, “Does your class have anyone with the last name High?”

“Yeah. Sky High.”

He paused before adding,

“The guy from the auditorium that day. You’ve met him before.”