Chapter 1

As an office drone who had fought her way from a small Midwestern town into a New York advertising agency,I envied rich people who never had to clock in.

When the wealthy Walker family finally found me,I thought I could say goodbye to overtime for good.

Instead,they refused to give me money or shares in the family company.All they wanted to give me was love.Lots and lots of love.

So I had no choice but to keep suffering through endless workdays and late nights.

One night,I came home late again after rushing to finish a project.Lillian,the Walkers'adopted daughter,was sitting in the living room in tears.

"Erin,why are you always hiding at the office?Do you hate me so much that you can't even stand being in this house?"

Mr.and Mrs.Walker looked at me with disappointment.

"Erin,do you have to treat Lillian like this?She waits up for you every night.She gets so anxious she can barely sleep."

My so-called brother,Kyle,stepped into my path."This family hasn't had a moment of peace since you came back.You owe Lillian an explanation."

I stared at the stale family drama playing out in front of me and felt nothing but exhaustion.

“How long are you going to keep this act up?”

"Can we speed it up?I have a pitch meeting tomorrow morning."

...

All four of them fell silent.

My phone buzzed again.The client sent over an eighteenth round of revisions,and I nearly blacked out.

All I wanted was to go upstairs and collapse onto my bed.

I had barely turned away when Kyle grabbed my arm.

"What kind of attitude is that,Erin Walker?Is your job really more important than Lillian?"

I rolled my eyes."Obviously.If I don't work,where am I supposed to get money?It's not like any of you gave me shares in the company."

All four of their faces changed again.

I had disappeared before I turned three.By the time the Walker family found me,I had already been working for two years.

When I learned that I was the long-lost biological daughter of a wealthy family,I almost popped open a bottle of champagne on the spot.

For Lillian's eighteenth birthday,the Walkers had given her an eight-figure trust fund and ten percent of the family company.

If their adopted daughter had received that much,surely their biological daughter would receive at least as much.

But after I completed the identity paperwork,took back the Walker name,moved into the estate,and asked about my shares,they told me they had prepared nothing for me.

"Why?"I asked.

Mr.Walker gave me a solemn look."A transfer of equity involves the board and the terms of the family trust.It isn't as simple as you think."

Right.

It had not been complicated when they gave shares to Lillian.It only became complicated when it was my turn.

Fine.If shares were out of the question,they could at least give me an allowance.

Mrs.Walker refused that too."Erin,it isn't that we don't want to.Lillian hasn't asked the family for money since she came of age.If we give money to you and not to her,she'll think we don't love her anymore."

I nearly laughed from sheer disbelief.

Her trust fund could support an ordinary person for several lifetimes,and she collected dividends every year.Of course she never needed to ask for money.

If I had all that,I could afford to act above it too.

When I said nothing,Kyle spoke coldly."Money.Shares.Trust funds.Is there anything else in your head,Erin?"

"Mom makes cream of mushroom soup for you herself every day.Have you touched it once?Lillian waits for you every night.Have you ever thanked her?"

"They've both tried to welcome you,but you walk around with a sour face every day.Besides,you were the one who wandered off back then.Who exactly are you blaming now?"

He stood on his moral high ground,accusing me of being ungrateful and incapable of appreciating family.

I laughed.

Kyle's face went livid.He raised his hand to hit me.

"You have no manners at all,Erin.Today,I'm going to—"

Before his hand could come down,Lillian rushed over and stopped him.

"Kyle,don't hit Erin!"

She looked at me with reddened eyes."Erin,this is all my fault.I took your place,and I received the shares that should have belonged to you.If you truly want them,I can give them back."

Kyle immediately panicked."No!Those shares are part of your trust.They're your security in the Walker family.If you give them to her—"

"Great."I cut him off and smiled at Lillian."Since you're so willing,have the lawyers prepare the transfer documents tomorrow."