Chapter 1

The year I graduated from college, I suddenly went from a nobody to the long-lost heiress of a billionaire family.

I honestly thought my twenty-odd years of scraping by as an orphan were finally over. I thought I’d finally get a warm embrace, a tender touch, or at least a heartfelt apology for all the lost years.

Instead, my biological mother gave me a cold, dismissive once-over and slapped a spreadsheet down in front of me: a strict 50/50 expense plan.

"Riley, you're an adult now. It's time you learned some independence."

"We might not have been around for the past twenty years, but that doesn't excuse you from pulling your own weight in this household."

"Our family operates on a three-way split. Starting today, you are responsible for an exact third of every single household expense."

At first, I tried to convince myself she was just worried I’d get spoiled by sudden wealth.

The problem was, although I had landed an entry-level job, my official start date was still weeks away. I didn't have a single spare dime to cover these ridiculous bills.

My mother couldn't care less.

"Do I look like I care about your financial situation?"

"Take out a loan. Rob a bank. I don't care what you do. Now that you live under the Hastings roof, you pay your share."

Standing there, I realized there was only one thing left to do.

Screw this reunion. I was out.

The second the words "split the expenses" left her mouth, my mind went completely blank.

"Split the expenses?"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I asked again, just to be sure.

"That's right. The Hastings family might have money, but it doesn't grow on trees. This plan is designed to teach you just how hard it is to earn a living."

My mother crossed her arms, radiating an aura of utter righteousness.

"Except I haven't spent a single penny of your money," I countered.

Her expression instantly darkened.

"What kind of attitude is that?"

"You haven't even been back twenty-four hours, and you're already nickel-and-diming your own family?"

Sensing her rising temper, my father hurried over to play the peacemaker.

"Riley, don't worry too much. You only need to cover your share of the expenses generated from this day forward. We aren't charging you for the past."

"Besides, it's not just on you. Your mother and I are paying our shares too. Everything is split equally."

I stared at them, bewildered.

"Wait... are only the three of us paying into this?"

"Well, obviously. Did your father and I give birth to anyone else?"

My mother rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Then what about her?"

I pointed toward the grand staircase, where Gemma was slowly descending, and voiced the confusion burning inside me.

"How could you even compare yourself to Gemma?"

"Gemma is our adopted daughter. You are our biological child. Being strict with you is for your own good!"

For my own good?

I almost burst out laughing.

I was currently struggling to afford three meals a day, yet they hadn't even bothered to ask if I was okay. Instead, they just shoved a massive bill in my face and demanded cash.

That was for my own good?

Knowing full well I hadn't even started my job yet, telling me to take out high-interest loans just to pay rent in their mansion was for my own good?

Meanwhile, their precious adopted daughter—the girl who had stolen my identity and lived in absolute luxury for over two decades—didn't have to pay a single cent.

I bit my lower lip. "Is this mandatory? Do I really have no choice?"

"As long as you bear the Hastings name, this is non-negotiable."

I took a deep, steadying breath.

"Fine. In that case, consider this reunion canceled."

I grabbed my worn backpack, swung it over my shoulder, and turned to walk out.

I hadn't even taken three steps before my mother screeched.

"Stop right there! Where do you think you're going?"

"You're a grown woman—why are you acting like a spoiled brat? We’re trying to build your character and teach you self-reliance! Why are you so ungrateful?"

A bitter laugh escaped my throat.

"Living on my own out in the real world will build my character a whole lot better."

My mother’s eyebrows shot up. "How could that possibly be the same? How safe is a naive young girl going to be out on the streets compared to our home?"

"I survived on my own for twenty-two years before you dragged me back here. Nobody took care of me then, and I did just fine."

Without looking back, I kept walking toward the front door.

"I said no, and I mean no!"

My mother panicked, her voice turning shrill. "Take one more step, and I swear to God I will ruin your new job before you even start!"

My feet froze in place. I spun around, staring at the woman in utter disbelief.

I couldn't fathom that these words were coming out of my own biological mother's mouth.

She was actually threatening to sabotage my career just to force me into submission.

Seeing the shock painted all over my face, she knew she had won.

A smug, triumphant smirk crept onto her lips.

"Don't forget, I have your original legal name-change decree and your vital records locked in my study."

"You aren't Chloe Vance anymore. Your legal state ID says Riley Hastings."

My college diploma and degree certificates were all issued under the name Chloe Vance.

Yet my newly issued government ID read Riley Hastings.

If I wanted to pass HR's strict background verification and complete my I-9 forms, that official name-change decree was the only bridge connecting my two identities.

Trapped, I had no choice but to swallow my pride and bow my head.

"See? Wouldn't it have been so much easier if you had just complied from the start?"

"With that nasty temper of yours, it looks like I really need to put some serious effort into straightening you out."