Hired To Destroy My Own Sister

Just as I'd planned, I fell straight into a warm, solid chest.

The man who caught me barely registered my presence, steadying me with an impersonal touch before letting go. "Are you alright?"

I gave a small nod, forcing the words out. "I'm fine. I just… lost my balance."

Our eyes met. And just like that, he froze.

But in Sloan's eyes, this was a betrayal of the highest order.

She shrieked and lunged. "Griffin, what are you doing touching her?! Is that little tramp trying to sink her claws into you again?"

Before she could reach us, Griffin caught her arm.

A muscle in his jaw twitched—a clear sign his patience was wearing thin—but his voice was steady. "Sloan, what has gotten into you today?"

"Lila is the daughter of my parents' friends. If she gets hurt on campus, it will only make my parents hate you more."

"You know I love you," he said, his voice dropping. "But you also know how much my parents' approval matters. How are we supposed to build a future if they despise you?"

Brad chimed in, "Lila hasn't done anything but be nice. Sloan, why did you push her?"

Sloan gasped, realizing the cafe audience had turned on her. She forced a smile that was more of a grimace. "I'm sorry, Lila. I mistook you for someone else."

I risked a glance at Griffin before dropping my gaze to the floor, my voice barely a whisper. "It's fine. I'm sorry for getting in the way."

He looked at me, his expression stiffening. Then he pulled something small from his pocket. "A gift. My mom asked me to give this to you."

From a paper bag in his other hand, he produced a pair of envelopes and handed them to Sloan. "I got these for you. You deserve nice things, too."

Sloan's entire demeanor shifted. The moment she saw the two VIP tickets to Coachella, her eyes lit up. "Thank you, Griffin! I love you so much!"

I glanced down at my own gift. A keychain from the university bookstore. It was a designer brand, but it was cheap, generic.

She got love. I got a formality.

Sloan shot me a smug look. "Wow, Lila, your keychain is adorable. You should really show it off."

As everyone watched, a few silent tears tracked down my cheeks.

Brad looked horrified. Even Griffin's smile faltered.

"Thank you… but I can't accept this."

Griffin frowned. "Why not?"

I looked up, my eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Sloan is the one who deserves the best of everything—the designer labels, the center stage, the fairytale ending."

"I'm a nobody. It's a miracle I can even go to the same school as all of you. I wouldn't dare ask for anything more."

I wiped my cheeks and turned to a girl standing behind Sloan, offering her a gentle, determined smile. "You're so beautiful. I think this would look better on you. And since Sloan already has Coachella tickets, I'm sure she won't mind if I pay it forward. Here—please, take it as a gift from me."

As far as I knew, the word "share" didn't exist in Sloan's vocabulary.

Just as I'd predicted, the girl—Maya Flores—lit up. "Thank you! No one's ever given me a gift before! We're officially best friends. If you ever need anything, I've got your back!"

My performance of humility and kindness was so pitch-perfect that no one even thought to question it.

I saw a flicker of something in Griffin's eyes. Appreciation.

Meanwhile, Sloan stood frozen, clutching her tickets, visibly torn between keeping them and making a show of her own generosity.

With one simple move, I had won the room's sympathy.

And Sloan? She just looked shallow and petty.

As I turned to leave, Griffin called my name. He pressed a black credit card into my hand. "My parents were out of line. You shouldn't have to apologize for existing. Go buy yourself something you truly want."

My ears burned. I gave him a shy, grateful nod.

Sloan glared daggers at my back, trembling with a rage she was forced to swallow.

I had just stepped outside the school gates when two figures blocked my path.

They were storming toward me.

Mark and Linda. My "dear" parents.