In my family, we were all supporting characters. My oldest brother, Donovan, was the polished heir to a New York dynasty, the kind of man who’d drop a million dollars on a whim for the story’s heroine. My second brother, Emmett, was the brilliant, aloof surgeon who would drop everything to be by her side at a moment’s notice. And my third brother, Flynn, was her childhood friend, the hot-headed protector who’d ruin anyone who dared to upset her. According to the script, I was supposed to be the heroine’s loyal sidekick, her faithful lackey. But I was born a hellion. I didn’t bow to anyone. At four, I was climbing onto the roof. At five, I was trying to build a pipe bomb in the garage. By six, I’d conquered the kindergarten playground. My three brothers spent their days cleaning up my messes, so exhausted they never had a spare moment to even meet their supposed leading lady. Then I went to college and found myself sharing a room with her. She looked down her nose at me, a smirk playing on her lips. “Well, well. You’re the little sister of my fan club, aren’t you?” “Everything your brothers have is mine for the taking. Which means you can start by being my new gopher.” “First, go wash my clothes.” My temper, that old familiar beast, flared. I saw red. I hit her. The second it was over, regret washed over me. What if my brothers chose her over me? A moment later, the three of them burst into the room, their faces like thunderclouds. I hung my head, suddenly as quiet as a mouse, my mind racing for an excuse. But Donovan pulled me behind him protectively. Emmett’s face was a mask of cold fury. Flynn’s eyes were blazing as he stared down my new roommate. “Who the hell do you think you are?” he snarled. “You don’t get to touch my sister.” … It was the first day of school. I had just stepped into my dorm room. A girl in the bed by the door looked up. Her eyes widened in recognition. “You’re Audra Conrad, right?” “You used to live in Eastgate, didn’t you? We were neighbors.” Running into an old neighbor as a college roommate. What are the odds? “Yeah, that was me,” I said, thinking it was a nice coincidence. Once she had her confirmation, she lifted her chin, her tone shifting. “It’s so hot today, I’m dying of thirst. Get me a bottle of water.” I blinked, taking a second to realize she was talking to me. But it was the first day. I didn’t want to start a war. I grabbed a bottle of water from my bag and tossed it to her. Irene Bishop glanced at it and pushed it away with a look of disgust. “I don’t drink this.” “It has no taste. Who can even swallow this stuff?” She spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “Go get me a boba tea. Less ice, thirty percent sugar.” I was stunned. Was this girl insane? I snatched the water bottle back and rolled my eyes. “Did you leave your legs at home? If you want it, go buy it yourself.” Irene’s expression soured. “You’re just like your brothers said you were. A real pain in the ass, even as a kid.” “You know, if I wanted something to drink, they’d be fighting over who could buy it for me before I even had to ask.” Her voice was full of unshakeable confidence. “Your brothers have been wrapped around my finger since we were kids. Always trying to find new ways to impress me.” “Too bad for them,” she added with a sigh, “I wasn’t interested in any of them.” It was so absurd I could only stare. “Are you delusional?” My brothers knew her? Were “wrapped around her finger”? Irene wasn’t flustered. She pulled out her phone, found a photo, and shoved it in my face. It was a picture of my three brothers as teenagers. Standing next to them was a young girl. It was her. My lips tightened. “What’s one picture supposed to prove?” Irene scoffed. “You don’t believe me?” “Fine. I know your oldest brother, Donovan, has a birthmark just below his shoulder.” My eyes shot wide open. “Your second brother, Emmett, is lactose intolerant.” “And Flynn, your third brother, isn’t afraid of anything in the world… except thunder. Right?” My heart sank into my stomach. These were things no outsider could possibly know. Could what she was saying be… true? Irene sighed, her voice slow and patronizing. “I know a lot about you, too, actually.” “Your brothers used to complain about you all the time.” “They said you were always getting into fights, causing trouble, turning the whole house upside down.” “Honestly, they were sick of you. They thought of you as this dead weight they couldn’t get rid of.” I froze. Because it was true. I was a hellion. I caused trouble everywhere I went. My parents were always overseas for business when I was a kid, so it was always my three brothers trailing behind me, cleaning up my messes. Irene twisted the knife. “They told me they hated having a sister like you. They wished you’d never been born.” My fists clenched, a tight band squeezing my chest. “My brothers would never say that!” Impossible. The brothers who were so gentle with me, who took the blame for everything I did—how could they hate me? “Hah.” She laughed, her eyes full of a lofty pity. “Of course they wouldn’t say it “to your face”.” “For men, a sister isn’t that important. Not really.” One of my other roommates, who had been watching the drama unfold, decided to chime in. “She’s right. What guy doesn’t put his girlfriend first? A sister is nothing.” “I can’t stand sisters who don’t have boundaries. Always hanging on their brothers. They’re just jealous of the girlfriend’s attention. So pathetic, like some kind of wannabe mistress.” A hot rage flared inside me. “Then why have I never heard my brothers mention you once?” I shot back. “And I have three brothers. Which one are you supposedly involved with?” “Or are you just that charming? You have something going on with all three of them?” Irene’s expression flickered for a second. “Of course they wouldn’t mention me to you. They were afraid you’d get jealous.” “They know how petty you are. Just look at you now, throwing a tantrum.” The other roommates started whispering. “Oh my god, what if she’s one of “those” sisters? The psycho, possessive kind?” “Terrifying. I feel sorry for whoever has to deal with her as a sister-in-law.” My head was spinning. I didn’t want to believe it. But how did she know so much about my family? And it was true that recently, my brothers had been out of the house a lot, acting… secretive. Was there really something going on that I didn’t know about? My patience evaporated. I pulled out my phone and opened the group chat with my three brothers. I needed to ask them. Right now. But I typed and deleted, deleted and retyped. I had no idea how to even phrase the question. As I was agonizing over it, a new message popped up in the group. Donovan: [Little sister, you all settled in? Let’s take you out for dinner.] Emmett: [I booked a table at your favorite place.] Flynn: [We’re roasting alive out here at the school gate. You’re always so slow! I told you we should have just sent the housekeeper in to help you unpack, you dummy.] I stared at the screen. When I didn’t reply, they started spamming the chat. Meanwhile, Irene was holding court with the other roommates, her voice animated. “I’m telling you, those Conrad boys might look cold on the surface, but they’re actually sweethearts.” “Anything I ask for, they’d give it to me, no questions asked.” The roommates oohed and aahed. “Wow, Irene, you’re so lucky!” “It’s like you’re the main character in one of those romance novels!” I felt sick to my stomach. I’d lost all interest in arguing with her. I turned and walked out the door. “Audra, where are you going?” Irene called out from behind me. I didn’t even turn around. “None of your damn business!” Her voice rose, thick with entitlement. “Well, bring me back some dinner when you come back! No onions or cilantro!” I let out a cold laugh but didn’t say a word. “SLAM!” I yanked the door shut behind me. When I got to the front gate, a Rolls-Royce was parked by the curb. Three tall, lean figures were leaning against it. They stood out. Flynn, with his sharp eyes, spotted me first. He raised an eyebrow, his voice lazy and teasing. “What took you so long, kid? Did you demolish the dorm room already?” I was already simmering with anger, and his words made me snap. “Who demolishes a dorm room?!” Seeing me bristle, Flynn’s tone immediately softened. “Okay, okay, you didn’t. My bad. Hop in, we’re taking you somewhere good.” Donovan was in the driver’s seat. He glanced at me. “How are the dorms?” “I told you we could get you an apartment off-campus, but you insisted on the ‘college experience.’ I bet you regret it now, don’t you?” My mind was a mess of unanswered questions. I just nodded vaguely. “It’s fine.” Emmett passed me an iced tea from the back. “‘Fine’ means it’s not fine. You shouldn’t stay there. What’s so great about some rundown dorm anyway?” I chewed on my straw, silent. My thoughts were consumed by what Irene had said. Was she really that close with my brothers? We got to the restaurant. As soon as the food arrived, my brothers started piling food onto my plate out of habit. The table was filled with all my favorite dishes. I took a deep breath. I was done guessing. I had to test the waters. “Hey, guys… back when we lived in Eastgate, did we have a neighbor who was a girl?” Donovan’s hand, which was peeling a shrimp for me, paused. “I think so. Why the sudden interest?” I felt it instantly. The air shifted. And then, bizarrely, all three of them picked up their phones. They never, ever used their phones at the dinner table. I pressed on. “Did you guys ever… keep in touch with her?” Their answers were evasive, dismissive. “Don’t think so. I don’t remember…” As I watched them give their vague replies, a sudden realization hit me— They were hiding something from me. The fire in my chest roared to life. Irene’s words echoed in my ears. “—They were sick of you.” “—They wished you’d never been born.” The more I thought about it, the more wronged I felt, and the angrier I became. I shoved my chair back and stormed out of the restaurant without a backward glance. “I’m not hungry. I’m going back to school!” Long after I was gone, the three of them stared at my empty seat, looking at each other. Flynn spoke first, his voice laced with regret. “Damn it. She’s pissed.” “Are we sure hiding this from her is a good idea?” Donovan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Why would she suddenly ask about the old neighborhood, though?” “Do you think she found out we’ve been secretly buying up all the property around the old villa?” Emmett leaned back in his seat, loosening his tie. “No way. The plan to build an entire estate for her birthday was top secret.” “Who could have leaked it?” Flynn was getting agitated. “I didn’t even dare to look her in the eye just now! I was afraid she’d see right through me!” Donovan sounded weary. “Look, her birthday is just a few days away.” “Just keep her happy for now. But don’t let her find out about the gift.” On the day of my birthday, I got permission to leave school early. The house had already been meticulously decorated. Though I’d been mad at my brothers for a few days, their constant barrage of gifts and apologies had melted my anger away. I was in high spirits, directing the house manager, Mr. Lowell, on where to set up the dessert table. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. My eyes lit up, thinking my brothers were home early. But when I opened the door, I was met with a crowd of uninvited guests. Leading the pack was Irene Bishop. Behind her stood a boy I’d never seen before, and behind them, a chattering mob of at least a few dozen classmates. The smile on my face vanished. “Who let you in?” “How do you even know where I live?” Irene smoothed her hair, not even bothering to look at me directly. “It’s your birthday. We’re here to celebrate with you, of course.” She gave a coy little smile. “As for how I found out… I have my ways.” With that, she turned to the crowd behind her. “Come on in, everyone! Make yourselves at home!” Dozens of people surged into our living room. I frowned, looking at the strange boy behind her. “Classmates are one thing, but who is he?” Irene waved a dismissive hand, introducing him as if she owned the place. “Oh, silly me. This is my brother, Corbin.” Corbin shot me a look, his eyes raking over my body. I was on the verge of laughing from sheer rage. If it had just been Irene and a couple of friends, I would have had security throw them out already. But with a whole crowd of clueless classmates, I couldn’t just kick them all to the curb. Irene surveyed the room. She casually picked up a macaron, took one bite, and tossed it back onto the plate in disgust. “This is too sweet. Get rid of it.” Even Mr. Lowell looked uncomfortable. I had reached my limit. “Irene, are you out of your mind? Who said you could touch anything in my house?” Irene rolled her eyes and had the audacity to turn it back on me. “Why are you acting like you’ve never seen a party before? So petty and possessive over food.” “I’m here to help you.” “Look at this pathetic little birthday. You didn’t even invite anyone. How embarrassing for you.” I didn’t mince words. “How I celebrate my birthday is none of your business, especially since you weren’t even invited.” The moment I said it, a hush fell over the room. The classmates froze. “What does she mean? Didn’t Irene invite us?” “Yeah, she said Audra was too shy to ask people herself, so she was helping her organize it.” “Oh god, no way. This is… so awkward.” Hearing the murmurs, Irene’s face stiffened. But she quickly composed herself, adopting a generous, forgiving expression. “Alright, alright. It’s your birthday, I won’t argue with you.” “But all our classmates are here. You can’t just let them stand around, can you?” My two roommates, acting like her personal lapdogs, started ushering people toward my family’s leather sofas. They tried to smooth things over. “It’s fine, it’s fine! Since Irene invited everyone, let’s just get comfortable!” I looked at the sea of people filling my home. Irene stood in the center of it all, acting like the lady of the manor, barking orders. I took a deep breath and addressed the crowd directly. “Thank you all for coming.” “But today was planned as a private family dinner, with only relatives.” “I didn’t extend any invitations to anyone else.” The hall fell silent. Everyone looked at each other, then scrambled to their feet, their faces burning with embarrassment. Irene’s expression turned thunderous. I ignored her and turned to our house manager. “Mr. Lowell, please book the largest private room at the restaurant down the street.” “Since my classmates are already here, I don’t want them to have made the trip for nothing.” “I’ll treat everyone to a meal there. It’s all on me.” Irene’s smile was strained. “Audra. You’re making this difficult.” I gave a cold laugh, offering her no quarter. “This is my house. My birthday party. You can get out.” I thought after that, if she had any shame, she would leave. But instead, she turned to the classmates, her voice trembling with manufactured emotion. “You all see this? From the moment I walked in, I’ve been trying to help her host, and she tells me to get out.” “Well, I guess I have no choice but to say it.” I was losing my patience. “What bullshit are you going to spew now?” “Why do you think your brothers aren’t here?” Irene’s chin lifted. “It’s your birthday, and they haven’t even shown their faces.” “Don’t you have any idea why?” “It’s because they can’t stand you. They can’t even be bothered to look at you!” I was speechless with fury. “Who said my brothers aren’t coming today?” Irene shook her head, her eyes filled with pity. “You really think your brothers care about you?” She suddenly stepped closer, lowering her voice so only I could hear. “Audra, do you have any idea what your family is?” “Your entire family—you, your brother Donovan, your brother Emmett, your brother Flynn—you are all just supporting characters in my story.” Then she stood up straight, turned to the house manager, and switched her tone to one of familiar authority. “You’re Mr. Lowell, right? You may not know me now, but soon, everything in this house, inside and out, will go through me.” “Your eldest young master will one day buy out an entire auction for me, just for a smile. Your second young master, so cold to everyone else, will drop everything for me with a single phone call if I’m sick. And your third young master will fight the world for me…” Absurd. I felt a wave of nausea. Did this woman have some kind of delusion disorder? My three brothers, with their impossibly high standards, would all fall for… this? But even Mr. Lowell was hesitating. He was stunned by Irene’s unwavering confidence, suddenly afraid to offend a potential future mistress of the house. The classmates started whispering again. “She sounds so sure of herself. It must be true!” “No wonder she dared to bring us all here. Turns out she’s the real one in charge.” Irene grew more smug by the second. She pulled her brother forward. “Audra, it’s your birthday. I came here in good faith.” “My brother, you’ve met him. Corbin has very high standards; he doesn’t just notice any girl. The fact that he’s here today is, frankly, an honor for you.” Corbin tilted his chin up, sizing me up. Irene continued, her tone matter-of-fact. “Out of respect for your brothers, I’ll let your attitude slide.” “As for my brother, I think you two would be a good match. Having someone to keep you in line would be good for you.” She really thought my brothers liked her, so she was trying to set me up with her useless brother as some kind of twisted peace offering? I couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Have you been kicked in the head by a donkey?!” Irene frowned, scolding me like a child. “Audra, don’t be ungrateful.” “Do you really think you’ll have a say in this family in the future? Me introducing you to my brother is me doing you a favor!” My temper finally snapped. I spun towards the house manager and yelled, “Call my brothers! Tell them to get back here now!” Mr. Lowell stood frozen, his face a mask of conflict, his eyes flickering nervously toward Irene. Irene sneered. “It won’t do you any good to call them. They’ll just make you apologize to me.” My inner hellion broke free. To hell with her nonsense about supporting characters and main characters. To hell with her favors! I lunged forward, grabbing a fistful of Irene’s designer collar with one hand and yanking her hair with the other. “Ah!” Irene shrieked, struggling wildly. I’d been in enough fights to know what I was doing. She didn’t stand a chance. But one of the roommates suddenly jumped in, grabbing my arm and digging her nails into my skin. I winced in pain but didn’t let go, my focus entirely on Irene. In the chaos, a sharp slap echoed through the room, striking my face. “SLAP!” My head whipped to the side, my ear ringing. Irene stood over me, a triumphant smile on her face. “You ungrateful little thing. I’m just teaching you a lesson on your brothers’ behalf.” Just as the words left her mouth, the entire living room fell silent. The front door swung open. Three towering figures stepped inside, their presence instantly commanding the room. Irene’s eyes lit up. Her expression morphed into one of a wronged, fragile victim as she rushed to meet them. “Donovan, Emmett, Flynn! You’re finally back.”
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