Chapter 2

I gave Faye a quick glance. Honestly, her figure wasn't made for that dress. I was about to say something when her expression abruptly changed.

"What's up with that look, Audrey? Who do you think you're judging?" Faye asked.

I frowned slightly, never expecting her to get so worked up over one glance.

"What's your deal?" I shot her an annoyed look before continuing to deal with the papers on my desk.

"You feel good being the usurper, huh? This is the Stones' company. What makes you think you belong here? Don't you get it? You're not part of the Stone family anymore." Faye rolled her eyes, glaring at me like she could burn a hole through me.

"The Stones' company?" I asked, incredulous. "I'm the usurper?"

Hadn't Mom and Dad told her by now? This company wasn't hers and definitely didn't belong to the Stones. It belonged to Uncle Declan.

Faye walked right up to me with her chin raised, her confidence practically spilling out. "Can you stop with the drama already? You've been living my life for years. How much more do you want? Now that I'm back, it's time for you to get out."

I let out a frustrated laugh and looked her straight in the eye. "Maybe you should check with Mom and Dad before you start talking nonsense again. Or better yet, get your head checked.

"Maybe an MRI scan will show if your brain's turned to mush because that's the only reason you're talking like this."

I didn't want to argue with her. It was a waste of time.

Unexpectedly, she knocked the potted orchid on my desk to the floor. The crash was deafening, and I saw her smug, satisfied grin.

My face went stone cold. For the first time, I was seriously pissed.

"Who gave you the right to break my stuff?" I demanded.

That orchid wasn't just any plant. My cousin, Lucas Lewis, had spent forever getting it shipped from overseas, and now, Faye had ruined it.

When she saw the look on my face, panic flashed in her eyes. She bit her lip and snapped, "You shouldn't have said that to me!"

She didn't look the least bit sorry. Instead, she straightened up and glared at me like she was the one in the right.

"Faye!" Dad rushed in, his face red with anger. He could tell who was responsible for the mess with just one look at the scene. "Apologize to Audrey!"

He gave Faye a little shove toward me, his eyes warning her silently. But, of course, she didn't catch on.

"Dad, I was just checking out my soon-to-be office. I saw Audrey here and was surprised. So I asked why she was here. But then, she started yelling at me!"

My frown deepened with every word she said. She'd twisted everything into something so ridiculous. How could she lie so blatantly?

Dad turned to me, his tone much gentler. "Is that true, Dree?"

I laughed and pointed at the surveillance camera above the filing cabinet. "Well, since that's the story, how about we take a moment to hear what the heiress just said?"

Dad's expression shifted.

I grabbed the office phone and called my assistant. "Jane, gather the senior executives for a quick meeting in the conference room. Those who aren't in the office can join remotely."

"Dree… you…"

I sat back down, my face blank as I locked eyes with Dad. He looked clearly pained, and it hit me right in the gut.

By now, Faye had enough sense to hide behind him, but her burning glare was still fixed on me. Still, the way her body shook gave away her panic.

"Let's go, Dad." I pushed my feelings aside, got up, and walked out ahead.

"Good day, everyone," I greeted the executives politely, one by one, then went straight for the seat at the head of the table.

The smiles on everyone's faces faded, and they grew more serious. I didn't usually sit there. That seat was typically saved for the elders out of respect.

Then, I pulled up the surveillance footage. Their expressions darkened further. They had been friends of Uncle Declan for years. Naturally, they weren't going to let some outsider push me around.

"So, here's the real daughter of the Stones. You all know I'm not a Stone by blood. Since the precious heiress had brought it up, I guess it's only right that I step aside and let her take my place."

I forced a bitter smile, and everyone could see I'd been completely wronged.

Dad's eyes flickered as he heard the distant tone in my voice. He stepped forward and reached for my hand. "No, Dree, that's not what I meant. Faye crossed a line today. I'll make her apologize, okay?"

Faye should've been at the center of all this, yet now, she was hiding behind Dad, refusing to meet my eyes.

"You're part of the Stone family. Your mom and I have treated you like our own all these years. She hasn't been eating since you've been gone these past two days. She's losing weight. Please, come home and see her, okay?" Dad gripped my hand, his eyes showing a hint of desperation.

I'd never seen him like this before, and something heavy settled in my chest and tightened around my heart.

And then, there was Mom.

"Okay," I agreed.

Dad immediately let out a sigh of relief and pulled Faye forward to apologize. "Apologize to Audrey!"

Faye was pushed toward me reluctantly, already preparing to play the victim.

I stopped her before she could start. "I'm not accepting your apology. Since you're so eager, you can take my spot. I'll hand everything over to you tonight.

"And one more thing—the orchid you broke, including the pot, is worth 168 thousand dollars. I'll send you the invoice later, and after depreciation, you owe me 148 thousand dollars.

"For now, you must clean up every piece of that orchid and the broken shards. Otherwise, you're not leaving this building today."

I stared her down, watching her face go pale and her limbs shake. The heaviness I'd felt earlier was gone.

Faye looked around the conference room and saw everyone silent with their heads down. She immediately knew I wasn't joking.

"You're her sister, Dree. Is this really how you're going to handle it? You know Faye has no clue about running a company—"

Dad tried to defend Faye, but one of the senior executives spoke up before he could finish.