Chapter 1

Ethan started dating a luxury boutique sales associate.

Victoria wanted me to check her out beforehand.

Over the weekend, I stopped by the high-end boutique where Ethan's girlfriend worked.

I barely looked at two items before a sales associate blocked my path in disgust.

"Don't touch if you're not buying. You can't afford to ruin it."

"This is a designer boutique, not a flea market. Anyone thinks they can just walk in."

Embarrassed, I was about to leave when Ethan's girlfriend, Jasmine, stepped in front of me.

"A brooch just went missing. I suspect you stole it."

"Young and already a thief. Do your parents know what you do?"

I pulled out my phone and dialed Ethan right away.

"Ethan, your girlfriend is accusing me of stealing."

"If Victoria finds out, she'll never let her set foot in our family!"

The call didn't go through; Ethan was probably in a meeting.

My call went straight to his voicemail.

Hearing what I said, Jasmine exchanged a look with another sales clerk, Fiona, and burst out laughing.

"Jasmine, she's really putting on a show!"

"Faking a connection is one thing, but claiming to be Mr. Sterling's sister? Everyone knows you're his real girlfriend!"

Jasmine sneered and reached out to snatch my phone.

I stepped back quickly.

She lunged forward, digging her fingers into my wrist.

Her sharp acrylics sank into my flesh, making me gasp in pain.

"Still trying to play the part? I deal with girls like you all the time."

"You pretend to browse, swipe a small accessory when no one's looking, and drop names the second you're caught!"

I shook my head. "I didn't steal anything, and I never would!"

Jasmine looked me up and down. "Whether you stole it or not, a search will tell."

I struggled to pull away. "No!"

Fiona chimed in immediately. "What are you scared of if you're innocent? Open your bag and show us."

"People always talk tough until the evidence comes out."

Watching them play tag team, I finally understood why Victoria wanted me to scope her out first.

Jasmine was undeniably gorgeous, and she knew how to play her cards right.

Around Ethan, she was probably sweet, considerate, and gentle.

Yet standing before a plain-dressed, seemingly ordinary girl, she could barely hide the raw contempt in her eyes.

It was an ingrained habit of looking down on people.

There was no way I would ever accept her into our family.

Not wanting to waste any more time, I slipped off my canvas tote and dumped its contents onto the glass counter.

Keys, tissues, lip balm, student ID, a dog-eared paperback, and a box of stomach medication Victoria had slipped into my bag this morning.

Nothing else.

"See? No brooch."

Fiona frowned.

Jasmine froze for a second.

Instead of apologizing, her expression turned even colder.

"Just because it's not in your bag doesn't mean it's not on you."

My heart dropped. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Jasmine crossed her arms, raking her eyes over me in a way that made my skin crawl.

"That brooch is worth forty thousand dollars."

She spoke slowly. "You walked through the display area, and you were in a hurry to leave right after it disappeared. You have to submit to a search."

I countered, "I wanted to leave because your clerk insulted me!"

Fiona raised her voice. "Insulted you? We just told you not to touch things."

"Don't blame us for being sensitive."

"Can't afford it and can't handle the truth?"

A crowd had already gathered.

Some raised their phones to film, while others whispered among themselves.

"Did she steal something?"

"She looks so young."

"Girls these days are bold, shoplifting in a luxury store."

"Forty grand? That's felony grand larceny."