I returned from studying abroad to find a future sister-in-law in my house. She proclaimed herself the future lady of the Sherman family, the young mistress. She even threatened to put this never-before-met little sister in her place. But no one told her my brother was adopted. Being the sole heir of the Sherman family, I even had my brother tread carefully around me. When my brother, Rylan Sherman, picked me up from the airport and brought me home, my parents were eagerly waiting. Due to the pandemic, I hadn’t been home in ages, so everyone was overjoyed. After exchanging warm greetings and catching up, Rylan pulled a strange woman toward me. With slight awkwardness, he introduced her, “This is my girlfriend, your future sister-in-law, Kenna Burke.” Then he tilted his chin at her. “This is my sister, Adeline Sherman. Just call her Ada.” “Hello,” she said with a polished smile, extending both hands. Still buzzing from the reunion, I greeted her briefly before turning back to chatter with my parents. That night, curled up with Mom, I learned Kenna was an intern at a branch Rylan managed, sweet, uncomplicated, and utterly adored by him. Within weeks of dating, he’d brought her home, already talking about marriage. “Seriously? He’s really getting married?” I gasped, thrilled by the gossip. “Your father and I hoped for someone of equal standing,” Mom sighed. “But if he’s set on her, we won’t interfere.” Mom had always been open-minded, so I wasn’t worried. Until the next day, when I realized I’d underestimated Kenna. Jet-lagged, I woke in the late afternoon. Heading downstairs for food, I was halfway through breakfast when a voice drawled behind me. “You just woke up? Your brother’s already put in half a day at the office.” Excuse me? My brain short-circuited. I turned to see Kenna. “Uh… were you talking to me?” I asked, incredulous. She rolled her eyes so hard I swore they’d get stuck. Arms crossed, she sauntered down the stairs like she owned the place, a far cry from her demure act yesterday. “Who else? Or do you see a third person here?” The hostility was unmistakable. So I hadn’t misread her. After a stunned pause, I laughed, “Thought you were talking to a ghost. We’re not close. Don’t mind my business.” I dismissed her and went back to eating. What did Rylan see in this train wreck? She marched over, ready to snap back, until the front door swung open. Instantly, Kenna morphed into a wounded fawn. “Don’t be mad, Ada. If you hate it, I’ll stop…” Wow. A textbook mean girl act. Did she even hear herself? Mom and Rylan walked in. Noticing Kenna’s pout, Mom hurried over. “What’s wrong?” Seizing the moment, Kenna summoned tears. “Ada hates it when I say she woke up late. I just wanted to be close… Don’t worry. I’ll never do that again.” Her voice trembled. Oscar-worthy. I gaped. Twenty-plus years alive, and I’d never met a real-life drama queen. Mom waved it off. “It’s not a big deal.” Rylan shot me a look. “She’s jet-lagged and grumpy. Don’t take it personally.” Arm around his “distressed” girlfriend, he whisked her away to comfort her. My appetite vanished. When Mom asked what had happened, I shrugged. Let’s see what else this clown had up her sleeve.
Fresh back from abroad, I was like a starved animal, reuniting with old friends every day and eating like there was no tomorrow, determined to make up for all the meals I’d missed over the years. During this time, I had no intention of dealing with Kenna. But then, a friend brought her up unprompted. “So how’s your future sister-in-law? Not your average girl, huh?” It was my childhood friend, Bruce Wall, wearing that smug look he always had, the one that said, “I know something you don’t, but I’ll wait for you to beg me to spill it.” Typical of him. I shot him a glance and played along. “Just spit it out already.” His grin turned downright conniving. “That girl was just an intern at your family’s company. Barely started working before she had your idiot brother wrapped around her finger.” I scoffed, “That’s it? Everyone knows that. Give me something new.” Unfazed, Bruce leaned in. “Did you know her only goal from day one was to seduce your brother? Now she’s parading around as the young mistress of the Sherman family.” That got my attention. I turned fully toward him as he pulled out his phone, triumphant, and showed me screenshots of Kenna’s chats with her friends. Kenna: [Rylan Sherman’s already mine. Rich boys like him? They fall in line for someone like me. He took me home to meet his parents. The Sherman Villa is huge, maids and all. I’m locking this down. His sister’s coming back soon. Girls from these families like hers are always trouble. I’ll put her in her place the second she steps through the door.] I thought to myself, “Pathetic. Bragging about this? She’s got no self-control.” I side-eyed Bruce. “And how did you get these screenshots?” He chuckled, utterly shameless, “What’s the big deal? Mutual benefits. Not everyone’s as clueless as your brother.”
I had no choice but to keep an eye on Kenna. From what I observed, she was very ambitious. On the surface, she played the sweet, unassuming girl, never asking for a thing. In reality, she’d maneuvered Rylan into promoting her, transferring her to a cushy department job, and practically moving her into our house. She was a master at playing the victim and at winning people over. Everyone in the family adored her. Everyone except me and the maid. She buttered up my parents, her future in-laws, and coaxed Rylan, her ticket to becoming Mrs. Sherman. Only with me, her sister-in-law, did she drop the act entirely. One night, when the housekeeper, Marina, brought me a late-night snack, Kenna threw a fit demanding the same. It was past midnight. The soup had been simmering for hours; no time to make more. And Marina needed to sleep. When Marina hesitated, Kenna planted her hands on her hips and snapped, “What, I can’t even get soup now? Are you the maid here or some pampered lady? Since when do I need your permission?” Marina had no choice but to obey. That was Kenna. Tyrannical when no one was watching, yet playing the martyr in front of my parents. I refused to humor her charades, which only made me look like the petty one. Once, I cautiously asked Rylan, “Are you sure you want to marry her? Do you even know who she really is?” He brushed it off as childish tantrums. “We’re getting married. Try to get along.” My parents doted on her more each day. Kenna accompanied Mom on shopping sprees, gushing over every handbag she picked out until Mom was preening with delight. Naturally, she also walked away with lavish gifts, trading flattery for luxury. A win-win. Rylan was thrilled at their “harmonious” dynamic. I was the only one who saw through her. The contrast grew starker. Now I looked like the villainous sister-in-law. Emboldened, Kenna escalated her antics, especially when our parents weren’t around. “Your room is so spacious,” she mused one day, her tone dripping with faux innocence. “Once your brother and I marry, we should swap. You’ll move out eventually anyway, and this room has the best light. Such a waste to leave it empty.” It wasn’t a request. It was a declaration. She’d had her eye on my room all along. I glanced at Rylan. He stayed silent. Livid, I laughed coldly, “Oh? You’re not even married yet, and you’re already claiming my room? Can’t Rylan afford a real home for you? Or are you just mooching off us?” “Ada! Enough.” Mom stormed over. “Kenna, ignore her.” She soothed Kenna first, then scolded me, “Apologize to them. Now.” Not a chance. Even if I regretted my words, I’d never back down in front of her. Kenna smirked, emboldened by Mom’s defense. “It’s okay. Ada’s just upset. We’d never move out. Rylan and I will take care of you forever.” Her saccharine tone was a slap in my face. Rylan played mediator. “Kenna was just teasing about the room. Don’t take it seriously.” He turned to me, placating. “She was joking. No hard feelings, okay?” Mom piled on. “She’s so mature. Why are you so petty? It was just a joke.” The wedding preparations were actually underway now, and I started to panic. I couldn’t let her marry into our family. Living under the same roof with that drama queen was out of the question. I seized a day when Kenna wasn’t around to call a family meeting with my parents and brother. “I object to Kenna marrying into our family.” The moment I said it, everyone turned to stare. Mom chided, “Ada, stop causing trouble.” Rylan looked unsurprised. “Just as Kenna predicted, you’d oppose it.” Wow. She actually saw this coming. He sighed, exasperated, “What’s your problem with Kenna? You’d had it out for her from the start. She warned me, but I didn’t believe her. Yet here you are, making things difficult.”
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