The Andersons' rule was simple and brutal: the inheritance passed to sons, never daughters.

So, I lived as a man for ten years. Even Winston Quinn, the one I had been promised to since childhood, had no idea. To him, I was just his best friend.

After taking control of everything, I was finally ready to tell him the truth.

Before I could say a word, Winston grabbed my arm, smiling like he couldn't be happier.

"Sam, there's something I've been keeping from you. Louise quietly came back last month. We're getting married! She really looks like you."

My whole body went rigid.

That “sister” I had made up, the one who was supposedly recovering overseas?

Before I could react, a woman who looked eerily like me peeked out from behind him. She shoved me aside, her expression sharp and smug.

"I'm back, Sam. Stop clinging to Winston just because you're my brother. Have some shame. Otherwise, I'll tell everyone you've got twisted feelings for your future brother-in-law!"

I looked at the arrogant impostor in front of me and almost laughed from sheer anger.

She was Louise Anderson?

Then who the hell was I?

"Louise, knock it off. Are you seriously jealous of your own brother?"

Winston Quinn lowered his voice to calm the so-called Louise Anderson. There wasn't a trace of real anger in it, just a kind of helpless indulgence.

He turned to me.

"Sorry, Sam. Your sister just saw how close we've been lately and was just throwing a tantrum. Don't take it personally."

Louise's lips pushed out even further. Her voice came out soft and bratty as she snapped back at him.

"I haven't seen him in over ten years. I don't want a brother like him! I told you to keep it from him. Sam's always hanging all over you. Who knows what he's been imagining about you all these years? It's disgusting just thinking about it."

She shot me a look and went on, "How shameless, going after your own sister's man!"

She grabbed Winston's arm, trying to pull him away.

I stepped in front of them and blocked her. "You're right. I haven't seen my sister in over ten years. Why should I believe you're Louise?"

Her face twisted instantly, like I had hit a nerve. "Why? Because of this face, obviously! Isn't that enough to prove it?"

I let out a quiet laugh and shook my head.

"People who look alike aren't exactly rare. If you really wanted to fake it, with what cosmetic surgery can do now, I doubt it would be hard."

She choked on her words, her face flushing red.

She pointed at me and turned to Winston, her voice breaking as she cried out, "See? He's after you! You love me, so now, he won't even admit I'm his sister. He's just making excuses to drive me away!"

She covered her face and ran off in tears.

Winston immediately moved to go after her.

I raised my voice, stopping him in his tracks. "Wait. Winston, are you sure this 'Louise' in front of you is the same one you fell for over the phone?"

He froze for a split second, then his expression hardened. "Of course. We've been talking for years. I know it's her. Sam, what you just said was way out of line."

I watched him jog after her, my gaze turning colder.

I pulled out my phone. It rang three times before someone picked up.

"Six million dollars. Look into someone for me. I want to know where this 'Louise' came from."

The second the call ended, a new message from Winston popped up on my phone.

To make Louise happy, he had decided to throw a big welcome dinner in a couple of days, introducing her as his fiancée. It wasn't just a celebration for her return; it was his way of announcing their engagement to everyone in their circle.

He added, [You have to be there. Apologize to Louise properly.

[You're her brother. Your mom's gone, and your dad's seriously ill. You're the only family she has left. You need to stand up for her and give her support, make this look good.

[If you don't come, you're disrespecting me. We're done as friends.]

Done as friends?

I stared at the screen, my fingers going cold.

He hadn't even mentioned this to me beforehand, let alone asked. He just made the call on his own, stepping right over me, the actual Anderson, to back up that fake Louise.

Memories surged up, one after another.

All those nights over the past ten years, Winston would sling an arm around my shoulders, a little drunk, completely unguarded, talking like it was just the two of us in the world.

He would tell me how badly he wanted to meet the "Louise" on the other end of his phone, how perfect they were together, and…how much he loved her.

I could only swallow that bitter sweetness and play my part, answering him like a friend.

"She's probably waiting for you, too."

Heh.

So that was how much he loved me.

Not even enough to recognize me when I was standing right in front of him.

After a long while, I picked up my phone again and replied to him.

[Fine. I'll be there.]

The night of the dinner, the ballroom glittered with polished suits and evening gowns. Anyone who mattered in Silverridge had been invited.

Winston spotted me almost immediately. He pushed through the crowd, grinning.

"Sam, I knew you'd come."

Louise clung tightly to his arm, looking me up and down with open hostility.

"Why did you even invite him?" she said. "All dressed up like this… Who knows if he's here to apologize or just trying to get your attention?"

Winston saw she was still upset and nudged me lightly. "Since you're here, just apologize already. What you said last time was out of line."

I looked at Louise, her face full of smug satisfaction.

Then I smiled, like I was giving in.

"Alright."

I turned, flagged down a server, and took a small cup of mango pudding off the tray. Then I stepped forward and held it out to her.

"That was my fault. Have something sweet, cool off a little. Don't stay mad at me, okay?"

Her gaze flicked between me and the dessert. She let out a soft, disdainful huff through her nose before finally reaching out to take it.

"Hmph. That's more like it."

She poked at it lazily with a spoon. The taste must've been decent, because her expression eased just a little.

"As long as you disappear from Winston's life completely and stay far away, I might consider taking you back as my brother."

Her words were sharp enough to cut.

I just gave a quiet laugh and shook my head, not a trace of anger, like an overly indulgent older brother.

Seeing the tension ease between us, Winston finally relaxed. He took Louise's arm, looking energized as he led her toward the center stage.

He took the microphone from the host, his voice carrying clearly across the room.

"First of all, thank you all for coming tonight. Please join me in welcoming the love of my life, Louise, back home."

Applause broke out instantly.

Winston glanced at Louise beside him, his expression soft, then continued, "While we're here, I have more good news to share. Louise and I will be getting married very soon."

The applause grew louder, mixed with cheers and congratulations.

Winston's gaze swept through the crowd and landed right on me.

"Now, I'd like to invite Louise's brother, and my best friend, Sam, to come up and say a few words."

All eyes turned to me at once.

I walked up to the stage, steady and unhurried, and took the microphone.

"Good evening. I'm Sam, the current head of the Andersons."

I paused on purpose, my gaze sliding over the two of them standing side by side. Winston's smile faltered slightly, as though he couldn't quite read what I was about to do.

I met his uncertain look and spoke, slow and clear.

"On behalf of the Andersons, I fully oppose this marriage between Winston and Louise."

Before I even finished, a sharp wave of gasps rippled through the crowd.

I raised my hand and pointed straight at the woman leaning against him. My voice cut clean through the noise.

"Because this 'Louise' is a complete fake!"

The entire ballroom erupted. Shock and disbelief were written all over every face.

Winston was the first to snap out of it. He stepped forward, practically shouting.

"Sam, do you even hear yourself? Have you lost your mind?!"

His defense steadied Louise instantly. The panic drained from her face, and she slipped out from behind him, suddenly looking all wounded and aggrieved.

She glared at me, eyes shining with tears.

"Don't listen to him. He's lying! Sam, you think no one can see what you're really after? You couldn't have Winston, so you snapped. You'd even call your own sister fake just to tear me down. You don't care about anything anymore. You're so sick and twisted. It's disgusting!"

Her voice rose, thick with emotion.

With all that thrown at me, and every eye in the room turning strange, I just let out a quiet laugh.

I looked at Winston, his face dark, and asked evenly, "Do you remember when you and Louise were rushed to the hospital when you were eight?"

The question came out of nowhere.

Winston froze, his voice stiff. "I remember. Why are you bringing that up?"

I didn't answer him. My gaze shifted back to Louise, a faint edge of mockery in it.

"That was because Louise is allergic to mango. You snuck her into the kitchen and gave her some they were using for dessert. Her throat swelled up so badly that she almost suffocated. Louise, I just handed you a mango pudding. You ate plenty of it, and nothing happened. Care to explain?"

It clicked for Winston. His grip on her loosened without him even realizing it.

Louise's eyes flickered, then she shot back sharply, "Explain what? It's just an allergy. It's not a problem anymore! You said it yourself, that was when I was eight. After that, I got treated overseas with the latest desensitization therapy. It's been cured for years."

"Wrong again."

I gave a soft, almost amused shake of my head.

"I lied. That didn't happen when you were eight. It was seven. It happened the day after your birthday party. Right, Winston?"

Louise's eyes went wide. She never thought that was my real trap.

She turned instinctively toward Winston.

He didn't answer directly. But in front of everyone, he looked at her, then slowly stepped back, putting a good couple of feet between them.

That said enough.

The room shifted, the air tightening as whispers spread.

Louise faltered for a second, but she still forced herself to hold on.

"That was over ten years ago! Who remembers something like that perfectly? Besides, everything you've said is just guesses and word games. Where's your proof? Without real evidence, all you're doing is trying to trap me with your words."

She took a breath and looked around at the crowd.

Wronged, but refusing to back down, she straightened her spine.

"Fine. Since everyone's doubting me, let's settle this here. I swear to God, I'm the real Louise. Sam, show them your evidence.

"But let me make one thing clear. I knew you'd come after me the second I came back. I came prepared. And if this proves you're lying…

"I won't just make you apologize. I'll have you begging for forgiveness. And you can forget about ever stepping foot in Anderson Corporation again!"

I nodded, satisfied.

"Sure."

I was done wasting time on her anyway, so I agreed without hesitation. I lifted a hand slightly toward my assistant in the crowd.

"Josh, since everyone's waiting, bring it up."