Chapter 2

I couldn't believe someone could still be this fake in this day and age. Didn't she realize how obvious she was?

Just then, Mom and Wallace walked in.

They looked confused when they saw how upset Sandra was and hurried over to her. "What's wrong? What happened?"

The moment Sandra saw Wallace, she really got into the act. She even managed to shed a couple of tears, looking absolutely pitiful.

"It's nothing. Maddie… I mean, Madison doesn't like me calling her that. I won't do it anymore," she said. "I was only trying to be friendly, but she got upset. I didn't mean to. I won't call her that again."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I had lived for over 20 years without ever meeting someone who could put on an act like this.

I had definitely seen it all now.

Mom stepped in to smooth things over. "Oh, come on. It's such a small matter. There's no need to get upset."

Wallace chimed in. "Maddie's probably just cranky because she just woke up. She hasn't adjusted to the time difference yet. Don't take it personally."

He shot me a look, then put an arm around the pitiful-looking Sandra and took her back to his room to comfort her.

I was too angry to eat another bite.

Mom looked at me and asked what had happened, but I told her it was nothing.

I was curious to see what Sandra would pull next.

I had just come back home, and I was craving all the local food I had missed.

I went out with my old friends every day and ate to my heart's content, determined to make up for everything I had missed over the years.

With all that going on, I barely had time to think about Sandra.

Unexpectedly, one of my friends brought her up.

"How are things with your future sister-in-law? She's quite a character, isn't she?"

It was my childhood friend, Keith Culver. He had that smug look that said he knew something and was just waiting for me to ask.

He had been like that since we were kids. I shot him a look and gave him exactly what he wanted. "If you've got something to say, spit it out."

His grin grew even more mischievous. "Sandra's an intern at your family's company. She hadn't even been there for long before she had Wallace, that idiot, completely wrapped around her finger."

I scoffed. "That's it? Who doesn't know that? Tell me something I don't know."

Keith wasn't fazed and continued, "Then did you know she joined the company with only one goal, which was to seduce Wallace?

"Now she goes around acting like they're married and throwing her weight around."

That finally got my attention. I turned to him, and Keith proudly pulled out his phone. He showed me several screenshots of a chat between Sandra and her friends.

"I've got Wallace wrapped around my finger. It doesn't matter how rich or privileged he is. He'll do exactly what I say."

"Wallace took me home to meet his parents. Their house is huge, and they even have a housekeeper. I have to make sure I don't lose this."

"Wallace's sister is coming home soon. She could spell trouble for me, so I'll have to put her in her place as soon as she gets here."

Sandra had to be an idiot to brag about something like this. She couldn't even keep it to herself.

I kept my thoughts to myself and turned to Keith. "So how do you know the person who gave you those screenshots?"

Keith grinned sheepishly. I looked at him with disgust, but he didn't seem the least bit embarrassed.

"What's the big deal? We both wanted something from each other and got what we needed. At least I'm not like Wallace."