Chapter 3

Dexter El Camino, the eldest son of the El Camino family, now ran what used to be my father’s empire.

The company had been absorbed into the El Camino franchise, rebranded, and presented to the world as though it had always belonged to them.

As if my father’s blood, sweat, and sacrifices had never existed.

The irony was that Dexter El Camino had once been my high school crush.

All the wealthy families in our estate moved in the same circles. We attended the same private school, went to the same parties, and were raised in the same world of privilege and carefully curated perfection.

Sixteen-year-old Athena had been hopelessly in love with him.

But that was before.

The woman I was now felt nothing but hatred at the mere thought of his existence.

When I began investigating everyone in my father’s inner circle, three names appeared repeatedly.

The El Caminos.

The Cartiers.

And the Sinclairs.

Each family had played a role in dividing my father’s empire among themselves, but the El Caminos walked away with the largest share.

That made them my first target.

I couldn’t simply walk into their company as Athena Mallway, the forgotten daughter of their dead friend. That would be too obvious and far too risky.

So Blake and I devised another plan.

Dexter happened to have an opening for a personal assistant.

The moment I heard about it, I knew this was my opportunity.

I applied under a new identity.

Mia Roberts.

Sixteen years had passed since anyone in that world had seen me or my sisters. There was little chance Dexter would recognize me now.

Life had not been kind to me.

The years of hardship, sleepless nights, and endless sacrifices had changed me in ways no one from my old life would expect.

And our cabin was hidden far from the city, tucked away where no one would ever think to look for the daughters of Charles and Evelyn Mallway.

The arrangement was simple.

During the day, I would become Mia Roberts, Dexter El Camino’s efficient and unremarkable assistant.

At night, I would return home and become Athena Mallway once again.

The plan was simple.

At least in theory.

“So… how do I start?” I asked, still trying to absorb the reality of what we were about to do.

Blake glanced at me.

“First, we need to change your appearance.”

I frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“You have to look like Mia Roberts, not Athena Mallway.”

I turned toward the mirror, studying my reflection.

“The hair has to go,” he continued. “You’ll need makeup. A long brunette wig with bangs would work. Maybe a pair of those sharp, sophisticated glasses. Something that makes you look polished and a little mysterious.”

He smiled.

“We’ll also need to upgrade your wardrobe.”

I let out a slow breath.

“I can do everything except change my hair.”

To most people, it was just hair.

To me, it was something more.

I used to be blonde.

My hair had once been soft, healthy, and beautiful.

Now it was uneven, two-toned, and perpetually tied into a messy bun. Years of stress and neglect had transformed it into something I barely recognized.

Whenever life became overwhelming, I would cut it short without even thinking.

At some point, I had dyed it black, leaving a few faded pink strands that were now little more than remnants of a younger version of myself.

The idea of turning all of that into sleek brunette hair with bangs felt almost absurd.

Blake’s voice softened.

“Your hair has to go.”

I looked down at my hands.

“What will the twins say?”

I still hadn’t told June and July the truth.

They knew I had gotten a new job, but they had no idea it was part of a dangerous plan to reclaim our inheritance and uncover the people responsible for our parents’ deaths.

And I intended to keep it that way.

They already had enough on their plates with college, new friendships, and trying to build lives beyond the pain we had grown up with.

This was my battle.

Not theirs.

“You haven’t told them about the real reason for the job, have you?” Blake asked as he started the car.

“I told them about the job,” I said quietly. “I just left out the details. It’s going to be surprising enough when they see me looking like a completely different person.”

Blake adjusted his grip on the steering wheel.

“Do you really think you can do this alone? What if they want to help?”

“Blake, please.” I shook my head. “I’m not doing this alone. I have you. And there is nothing they can do except worry. They need to focus on school and on finally living the lives they deserve.”

He was silent for a moment.

“And when do they move into their dorm at UCLA?”

The question hit me harder than I expected.

I went quiet.

June and July had both been accepted into the University of California, Los Angeles.

I should have been nothing but proud.

Instead, I was terrified.

Once they left, I would be alone in the cabin for the first time in years.

And being alone was my greatest fear.

The truth was one I rarely admitted, even to myself.

There were nights when the weight of my life felt unbearable.

Nights when dark thoughts whispered that everyone would be better off without me, I was suicidal.

But I could never allow those thoughts to win.

Not when my sisters still needed me.

“Athena Mallway.”

Blake’s voice snapped me back to the present.

I lifted my head, realizing I had missed whatever he had just said.

“Didn’t you hear me?” he asked gently. “I said, " Why don’t you come stay with me? My house has more than enough rooms. You can have whichever one you want.”

I shook my head immediately.

“Blake, I’m not going to become a burden. I’ll manage. I’ve been doing just fine all these years.”

“You are not a burden,” he said firmly. “I’m asking because I want you there. You can’t stay in that cabin by yourself. It isn’t safe.”

“I’ll be fine.” I forced a small smile. “Let’s focus on what we need to do today. Where do we go from here?”

He sighed.

“You can’t keep running away from conversations like this.”

“I can, and I will,” I said, trying to sound lighter than I felt. “That is exactly what I’m going to do. Now, can we please focus on the plan?”

“You’re not listening to me.”

“I am!”

The word came out louder than I intended.

I turned to face him, my chest rising and falling rapidly.

“I understand what you’re saying, Blake. I do. But that cabin is the only home my grandmother left for my sisters and me. The thought of being there alone terrifies me, and it breaks my heart more than you know.”

My voice trembled, but I forced myself to continue.

“But I cannot leave it and move into your house, inconveniencing you because of my problems. You’ve already done more for me than anyone else ever has.”

I swallowed hard.

“I know exactly what this life has cost me, and I accepted that reality years ago.”

My hands curled into fists.

“What I refuse to accept is that everything my father built is being enjoyed by people who stole it, while my sisters and I struggle to survive.”

Tears burned behind my eyes.

“My father never got the chance to give us the life he promised.”

I lifted my chin.

“But I still can.”

I took a shaky breath.

“I don’t care if I have to become Mia Roberts to do it.”

Then I looked out the window, toward the distant mountains where our worn-out cabin stood.

“Because no matter who I pretend to be during the day, that cabin will always be where Athena Mallway lives.”