Chapter 2

A week ago, this would have been my fantasy. Now, the "reality comment subtitles," as I'd started calling them in my head, painted a chilling picture.

The Waltons claimed they'd only just found me after a decades-long search. The subtitles scoffed.

`>> "Decades-long search" my foot. More like "Jessica's Ivy League dreams are threatened by a poor girl, initiate Operation Distraction." #PlotDeviceParents`

My foster parents?

`>> Oh, they got a nice fat check. Sold her off faster than last week's groceries. #ParentFail`

That stung, but it wasn't surprising. They'd always treated me like a burden.

The subtitles confirmed it: the Waltons weren't my real parents. This was an elaborate scheme. Jessica Walton, their actual daughter, was my academic rival. Always second to me in every competition, every scholarship shortlist. This was about eliminating the competition. Me.

"Emily, honey, you're so quiet," Marian said, her brow furrowed with fake concern as they drove me to their mansion. "Are you feeling overwhelmed?"

`>> Overwhelmed by your Oscar-level performance, maybe. #Gaslighting101`

I managed a weak smile. "It's just... a lot to take in. So, I don't have to go back to community college?"

"Of course not, darling!" Charles boomed from the driver's seat. "You're a Walton now! You'll have tutors for anything you want to learn, if you even want to learn."

`>> "Tutors" who will teach her how to pick out drapes, not calculus. #DumbItDown`

Blake, sitting beside me, squeezed my hand. "We can just hang out. Have fun. You deserve it after everything you've been through."

His touch felt like a spider crawling on my skin.

`>> Fun = parties, shopping, anything to keep her away from books. Blake's on a mission. #HoneyTrap`

The subtitles were a brutal, cynical narrator, but they were my only allies. They showed me the script everyone else was following.

I leaned my head on Blake's shoulder, feigning exhaustion. "That sounds... nice."

`>> She's playing along? Interesting. Or is she just that naive? #Suspense`

Oh, I wasn't naive. Not anymore.

"So," I said, my voice small, "if I'm the real daughter... what about Jessica? Does she go back to... her real family?"

The car went silent. Marian's smile tightened. Blake shifted uncomfortably.

`>> BOOM! She went there. Jessica in Emily's old life? The horror! #Awkward`

`>> Gold digger alert! Oh wait, she's supposed to be the real one. This is rich. #Irony`

`>> They didn't prep for this question. Script malfunction! #PlotHole`

The comments were flying.

Blake recovered first. "That's... complicated, Emily. Jessica's about to take her SATs. It wouldn't be fair to disrupt her life right now."

`>> "Fair to Jessica" = "Our actual investment." #Priorities`

I looked at him, widening my eyes. "Oh. So Jessica needs to take her SATs, but I don't?"

Marian jumped in. "You're different, sweetie. You're our little princess. You don't need tests to prove your worth."

`>> Princess of Pity, maybe. If she buys this. #Delusional`

I smiled. "I guess I'm just really lucky then."

The subtitles didn't buy it.

`>> Lucky? Or playing the long game? This girl might have a few tricks up her sleeve. #StayTuned`

You bet I did.