Before my best friend, Maya, officially returned to her wealthy family after being identified as their long-lost daughter, she sent me a text message with details about my potential match. The guy in the photo had perfect features and was impressive in every aspect. While I was scrutinizing the photo. Maya’s older brother was silently eating breakfast across from me. His expression was indifferent. Every move he made held the icy distance typical of old-money heirs. Maya pressed me online. [Has my brother still not agreed to let you join the family formally? Why is he so harsh on you?] [Just take my place in the arranged marriage. We’ll act now and ask for forgiveness later.] I happened to be placing a bowl of chilled pear soup in front of Caleb Hudson. “Maya mentioned you’ve had a cough recently. This is to soothe your throat.” He didn’t even raise his eyes, pointedly avoiding me. The soup I had spent all morning simmering spilled onto the table. Caleb’s expression was cool. “Miss George, you only have a seat at this table because of Maya.” “Don’t overstep.” Caleb wasn’t wrong. My best friend, whom I grew up with in the orphanage, had been taken home by the Hudson family, transforming from an orphan into a genuine heiress. In the morning, Maya was riding an electric scooter; in the evening, she was driving a Maybach to pick me up. “Elara George, I told you, when I strike it rich, I’m bringing you up with me.” She wanted to adopt me. I playfully cried and called her "Mom." But she said she wanted to raise me as her sister. My best friend shared her princess-themed room with me and linked a subsidiary card with a seven-figure allowance to my account. She even printed a booklet detailing Caleb’s likes and dislikes to help me join this grand family. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson were rarely home. Maya’s older brother, Caleb Hudson, was the strict gatekeeper of the Hudson family. Even though I played the role of a perfectly obedient sister, Caleb didn't like me. He even snapped at Maya. “Do you have any idea what her actual intentions are? Ever heard of a femme fatale?” Maya couldn't help but defend me. “Caleb, I just want her to enter our family, to be our...” Caleb’s face darkened with frustration, and he snapped at her to shut up. Immediately after, he arranged for Maya to go abroad for advanced studies. Only Caleb and I were left at home. Maya sent me daily tips, teaching me how to be a proper sister. I brought him tea in the morning and warm milk at night. Hearing that Caleb liked fish, I was in the kitchen early making it. When he came downstairs and saw me. He told the housekeeper to throw the fish away immediately. “I don't eat fish with green onions. You want to join this family, but you don’t even pay attention to these details?” “Hypocrite.” Caleb grew increasingly annoyed with me. He couldn't hold eye contact with me for three seconds. Sometimes, if I stared at him a little longer, Caleb’s ears would turn bright red with fury. Even when we ate together, his face was like thunder. Ding. On the dining table, Maya sent another photo of my potential arranged match. [I don't want an arranged marriage. I want freedom! Do you want it? You get to be on my family registry.] I typed '111' to agree. Thinking I would soon be Maya's sister on paper. I would finally have a family. I chuckled to myself while nibbling on my toast. Caleb, across the table, let out a cold snort. “Don’t try flattery or playing the victim with me.” Me: Excuse me? The date with my potential match was set at a Hudson family hotel. Maya said it was a family business, so it was free. The dress for the date was ordered from the brand-name store the Hudson family frequented. Because it was also free. I only rushed over to try on the dress after finishing a full, free spa treatment. I chose the cheapest gown, feeling content already. I hadn’t officially entered Maya’s family yet, so I needed to be economical and proper to be liked. But the sales clerk had already bagged all the other gowns. “Miss Maya Hudson said that as long as you look at a dress, you must like it. She made the choice for you.” “She swiped the internal card directly again. Good luck with your date tonight!” Hugging the clothes, I wished I could fly to Maya's side and be her loyal servant for life. Then someone stepped into the store. Caleb Hudson had changed into a dark suit, his hair perfectly styled. He tapped his knuckles on the marble counter. His prominent brows slightly furrowed. “Just saw the charge. Thought Maya was back. Why is it you?” “Return all the clothes.” No wonder Maya said it was all free. It turned out she was swiping Caleb’s card behind his back. The clerk quickly explained. “Mr. Hudson, this lady has an important date tonight. These are all perfect for her, chosen by your sister. Do you really want to return them?” I was already a bit scared of this brother, even before formally joining the family. He had constantly shut me out. If not for Maya, I would have left long ago. But my best friend’s brother was also my brother. I clutched the dress, my lips refusing to move. The air grew drier, and my face flushed in agitation. Hearing the word "date," Caleb’s gaze landed on my face. His lips thinned in a cold snort. “Want to climb the social ladder, but you don’t even know how to hide your ambition.” He inspected the gowns in the bags and only pulled out a dark, tea-length dress. “...I don’t like light colors. You need to be proper and modest. Return all the rest.” I could only agree. “Right, you’re paying, so as long as you like it.” “Thank you, Mr. Hudson.” But Caleb didn’t leave. He gestured for me to change. He was odd today. Staring as I put on the long dress, Caleb was then dissatisfied with my hair. He was going to take me to get it styled. Caleb sat behind the mirror while the stylist assessed his expression, styling my hair. I quietly messaged Maya. [Your brother isn’t as repulsed by me anymore. He even brought me to get my hair done! I’ll change how I address him when you get back. I’ll call him 'Big Brother.'] Maya was screaming on the other end. [Good! Chat well with your match tonight, and it’ll be a double celebration. I get a sister, and you get a boyfriend.] I didn’t look up until the stylist sprayed the setting spray. Huh? Caleb was wearing a dark suit, his hair slightly swept back. I was also in dark colors, with an iris floral hair accessory pinned to my updo—the exact same design as Caleb’s pocket square. A slight smirk crossed his lips. “Heh. Got your wish? Ecstatic?” It seemed like we were wearing sibling outfits. I quickly nodded, genuinely praising my future brother. “Thank you, I like it very much.” Receiving the gift, I spun around in front of the mirror. I caught Caleb making eye contact with me in the reflection. His smile flashed and vanished, quickly replaced by his cold indifference. A socialite greeted him from outside the door. “Caleb, the gala is starting. Let’s go.” Caleb picked up his suit jacket and walked out. By the time I caught up, they were back to talking and laughing. I wanted to circle around them, but my hearing was too good. I heard the socialite's chuckle. “Is that Miss George girl about to succeed in social climbing? She used to cling to your sister, now she’s clinging to you, trying to fly up and become a phoenix.” I stopped in my tracks. I waited for Caleb’s reply. “A little favor just to dismiss her. The Hudson family isn’t that easy to enter.” “Gets a hairstyle and smiles like an absolute fool.” “Haha, Caleb, keeping up with the push-and-pull method? Clever! Oh, Miss George is out?” The socialite arched an eyebrow at me. The mockery and contempt in his eyes were glaringly obvious, not hidden at all. I pretended not to hear. It was happier to play the fool. Pinching the skin of my palm, I summoned an appealing smile and bowed to Caleb. “Thank you, Mr. Hudson! I’m leaving first. Won’t disturb your chat.” Observing people was a skill I had developed since childhood. Even if this brother didn’t like me, as long as Maya was here, I could endure it. Caleb seemed slightly dissatisfied, pointing at his wrist watch. “Mind the time. The gala is starting.” Right, I was almost late for my date too. I circled around to the elevator, not wanting to go up with them. Ignoring Caleb’s gaze, which followed me. I needed to find my potential match’s location. I chatted with my potential match for half an hour. The younger son of the Lee family was the same age as me, and we got along well. Liam Lee owned a ranch in Europe, and I had also worked on a farm in the countryside. He played video games but was terrible at them. I, however, had been a gaming champion in the orphanage. Liam praised me for being amazing, making me blush. He had also brought a gift, a piece of auctioned jewelry. “Maya mentioned you’d be joining the Hudson family formally soon. We’re a good match. Since it's an arranged marriage, as long as we can coexist peacefully. Let's start as friends.” I felt the same way. Being around this person was pressure-free; at least I could laugh freely. I didn't have to follow strict rules for every smile and move in front of Caleb Hudson, playing the perfectly obedient sister. There was music coming from the main hall. Liam said it was a Hudson family reception. He was looking at his group of friends' chat, sharing gossip. “I heard Caleb Hudson was stood up by his dance partner. They were even wearing matching couple outfits. This is Caleb's first time bringing a girl, how did he get stood up?” “Someone took a photo of Caleb’s somber face. He couldn't even hold his red wine steady and pushed past several CEOs’ conversations, seemingly walking this way?” I was curious too. I quickly shared the gossip with Maya. [Your brother has a dance partner tonight. It might be your future sister-in-law!] [Wow! Triple celebration!] Liam was gossipy too. He smiled and leaned close to me to look at the messages. Seeing my bare neck, he said, “Put on the gift first. Girls need some jewelry to show their nobility. Let’s go out later, okay?” I had just nodded. A somber voice interrupted our laughter. “Go out where?” Caleb was standing across from us, a forced smile on his face, scrutinizing the necklace on my neck. “Are you so smitten by a cheap, hundred-thousand-dollar trinket that you can't walk away?” He ignored me and stared at my potential match, his tone mocking. “Her intention was originally to enter my home. You are just a backup.” Liam was stunned. “Caleb, you are Ellie's first home. I am just the second. I’m willing, and it's voluntary.” Caleb was stunned, then cursed under his breath, “Morally corrupt.” Then he glared at me. I could only try to diffuse the situation. “Mr. Hudson, in the future I will live at his house and come to yours on weekends. Is that okay?” Caleb made an aggressive move toward the red wine glass on the table. His tone was icy. “He gets five days, I get two. Who gave you the courage?”
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