Chapter 2

The next day, I lay in my cradle, staring blankly at the ceiling. [The rain was so heavy last night. Surely all that water in Ethan's and Elliot's brains must've been flushed out by now?]

Mom was teasing me with a rattle. When she heard my thoughts, her hand froze, and the corner of her mouth twitched despite herself.

Just then, my third-oldest brother, Edward Fairchild, kicked the door open and barged in. "Mom, have you lost your marbles? Ethan and Elliot were out in the rain all night, and now they're lying in the hospital with a 104-degree fever!"

Pointing at my cradle, he demanded, "You're abandoning your sons for this little gremlin who can't even speak?"

Without sparing him a single glance, I continued blowing milk bubbles. [Who is this little gremlin calling a little gremlin? I can't believe a scrawny weakling who can't even kick down a security door dares to come here and bark at me.]

Mom set the rattle down, her gaze turning cold. "Watch your tongue, Edward. Nev's your biological sister."

Natalie seized the opportunity to lean over the cradle and raise a baby bottle that was still steaming hot, aiming it right at my face. "Nev, you must be hungry too. Let me share my milk with you!"

As the scalding milk was about to drench my face, I screamed at the top of my lungs. Damian materialized out of nowhere like a ghost, seizing Natalie's wrist and twisting it in one swift motion. The very next second, the hot milk landed squarely on the back of her own hand.

Natalie yelped and fell backward onto the floor before blowing on the raw, red skin of her hand. Malice flashed across her eyes, but she instantly switched gears, bursting into tears. "Ed, save me! Mr. Lockwood is going to beat me to death!"

Edward immediately rushed over and held Natalie. "Look at what Nat has been reduced to, Mom! She was kind enough to give this little gremlin some milk, and you guys respond with such cruel violence? She's only 18; she's also a baby who needs to be coddled!"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes in the cradle. [An 18-year-old baby? Please, she literally has to buy a full-priced adult ticket just to see the monkeys at the zoo.]

Mom took a deep breath. She was visibly disgusted. "If she really thinks she's a baby, she can go sleep in a crib. Quit putting on an act in front of me!"

Edward's eyes widened in utter disbelief. "How can you be so biased, Mom? I'm going to let my 50 million fans see exactly how this little gremlin and her biased biological mother bully Nat!"

Right after saying that, he whipped out his phone and started a livestream.

Natalie instantly shrank back, huge teardrops rolling down her cheeks. "Ed, please don't... Your fan girls will come after Nev because of this…"

Despite saying that, her body leaned right into the camera frame. "Don't be mean to Mom. It's all my fault! I shouldn't have grown up...

"I'll be good from now on, Mom. Please don't kick me out!"

The live chat immediately exploded.

"Goodness, that baby is pure evil! She's already this domineering right after being born?"

"Don't be afraid, Nat. We'll always support you! Let's boycott that malicious brat!"

Edward cocked his brow triumphantly. "See that, Mom? The eyes of the masses are sharp. If you don't make this little gremlin apologize to Nat right now, I'll make sure her reputation is completely ruined online!"

I yawned in boredom. [Did this idiot forget that the largest shareholder of his talent agency is Dad?]

Mom sneered. Without lifting her head, she called out, "Damian."

Damian pulled out the agreement in an instant. "Mr. Edward, pursuant to Articles 12 and 35 of the agreement, you have condoned Ms. Natalie's attempt to scald Ms. Nevaeh, and you have utilized your public influence to slander Ms. Nevaeh. You'll be blacklisted for one year, all your endorsements will be terminated, and your income for this year will be confiscated as compensation for Ms. Nevaeh's emotional distress."

Edward froze for a moment before bursting into laughter. "You're going to blacklist me? How dare a lowly bodyguard like you run your mouth here!"

Ignoring his mockery, Damian simply said into his walkie-talkie, "Do it."

In less than three seconds, Edward's livestream was forcibly shut down.

Immediately after, his manager called. "Edward, the company just pulled you from all scheduled appearances for the entire year. All your endorsements have been terminated, and you have to pay astronomical breach-of-contract penalties!"

Edward stormed out the door, leaving Natalie frozen in place. Slowly, she balled her blistered, red hand into a fist, and a creeping coldness filled her eyes.