Chapter 2

The second I sent the message, Caleb lunged forward and snatched my phone.

The screen was open to the "Jax and Sera's One and Only Baby" family SnapChat group. Two messages popped up instantly:

Mommy: Baby, don't be scared! I'm flooring it. Your dad and I are coming for them!

Daddy: Who the hell dares lay a hand on my girl? The Sterlings, huh? I'll make sure they're bankrupt by sundown!

He looked at the two jumping Jersey Shore-style avatars, scoffed aloud, and mockingly repeated the ridiculously arrogant messages for my biological parents to hear.

Tiffany Sterling, the fake daughter, burst out laughing so hard she couldn't stand straight. Wiping away tears of mirth, she sneered:

“I'm dying! Jade, your two street thug parents think they can go up against the Sterlings?”

I blinked.

Didn't they bother to do their homework before claiming me?

My adoptive parents' style might be a little gaudy, and their manners unconventional, but they're definitely not thugs!

Mrs. Sterling’s face completely darkened. Her gaze held nothing but undisguised disgust.

She stepped forward, her voice sharp, leaving no room for argument:

“How can a Sterling be associated with thugs? It'd be a scandal! We'd be a laughingstock, completely ruining the Sterling family's reputation!”

“Jade, now that you're back with the Sterlings, you must cut all ties with those unsavory characters!”

With that, she gave Caleb a look, signaling him to hand the phone back to me.

“Delete all your adoptive parents’ contacts right now. Sever all contact!

This is your first test to rejoin the Sterling family.”

I swallowed my anger, ready to grab my phone and leave.

But just as my fingers brushed the device, Tiffany snatched it away.

She pouted and complained to Mrs. Sterling:

“Mom, look at Jade! She's got that cold look on her face. She clearly doesn't want to delete them. She doesn't respect you at all.”

“Since she won't do it, I, as her older sister, will kindly help her! We don't want these low-lives bothering the Sterlings later!”

This family was so infuriating, I almost laughed.

"The wealthy Sterling family"? In my eyes, they were nothing.

This "true heir" nonsense? Whoever wants it can have it. I, Jade Walker, don't care for it!