Emma, my childhood playmate, giggled coyly.

"Emma, your dad is over fifty but he looks so well-preserved!"

I forced a laugh in response.

She then leaned in close and whispered in my ear.

"Emma, your mom passed away too young to enjoy life. Don't you want another mom?"

I jumped up abruptly, almost instinctively swinging my hand at the person in front of me.

"Watch your mouth!" My tone was cold.

Sophie covered her face, a malicious glint flashing in her eyes before quickly shifting to a wounded expression.

"What's wrong with us sharing secrets, Emma? Do you really look down on me that much?"

Her teary-eyed appearance made me feel guilty, so I patiently explained.

"I just don't want people gossiping about my mom. You overstepped."

She lowered her gaze in thought.

Then, she broke into a grinning facade and steered the conversation elsewhere.

I pondered on Sophie's loss of her father at a young age.

Perhaps prying into others' affairs was just a way to fill the void.

Until that day when I unexpectedly returned home.

I found the master bedroom flickering with light.

There was Sophie, looking utterly infatuated, holding my dad's photo!

A disturbing thought crept into my mind.

Although my parents were divorced, I wasn't open-minded enough to tolerate my friend moving in on my dad.

"Seems like it's time for her to leave our family."

I silently mused, gazing pensively at Sophie.

I agonized for days on how to broach the subject.

Sophie was my childhood playmate from the village.

Back then, I was scrawny and weak, mocked by the other kids.

Only Sophie was willing to play with me.

It was my dad's newfound wealth that caused us to lose touch.

Last week, she came crying to me, saying she had been forced into three marriages by her family and couldn't take it anymore, finally escaping.

As a fellow girl, I hugged her and cried for a long time, even saying she could stay with me from now on, that I would be her family!

But... I never imagined she would become a stepmother figure!

Although difficult to say outright, I steeled myself and thought of several ways.

I went to a luxury store and bought several bags, even a dress.

I even withdrew 30,000 dollars from my savings.

With these, she could at least have a buffer period.

Excited, I returned home carrying the items. The moment I pushed open the door, I knew something was amiss.

On the sofa, Sophie was giggling coyly, leaning towards a man.

And that man was my nerdy brother Ethan!

I walked over anxiously, unsure what to say.

"Emma, you're back. Sophie came to my place and you didn't even tell me?"

My brother's handsome face was full of bewilderment, almost scolding me.

"Oh, Ethan, I'm just about to leave. It's normal for Emma not to say anything," Sophie said.

"Leave? Why leave, you're a young girl, stay a few more days," he insisted.

"It's fine, I'll go... Emma should be happy, right?"

Sophie looked at me with teary, pitiful eyes.

I cursed under my breath.

From the moment I entered until now, without saying a word, I had been saddled with a huge burden.

Suddenly, my brother stood up, soothing Sophie while yelling, "Emma, have you forgotten who played with you as a child? She just got here, unfamiliar with the place. Can't you let her stay a few more days?"

I felt like my throat was being strangled, my voice hoarse.

"Ethan, from the beginning until now, have you heard me say a single word? Do you think I would chase her away for no reason?"

A tinge of guilt flashed across my brother's face, but he still retorted.

"But for whatever reason, you can't just stand by and watch..."

I glared fiercely at the smirking Sophie, taking a deep breath.

I grabbed my brother's hand, pulling him towards the stairwell.

Seems like I should share my observations from the past few days.

But before I could lay it all out, my brother coldly remarked, "Emma, she'll be your sister-in-law someday. Be nicer to her."

It was a shocking revelation, and I almost shouted out loud.

Looking at Ethan, who appeared serious and somewhat happy, I decided to approach the topic indirectly.

"Ethan, I know you and she have been childhood friends, but do you know about her past? Moreover... she might not even like you."

"Sophie is just as kind as she was when we were kids. She told me she was forced into marriage, and I feel so sorry for her. If she doesn't like me, who else could she possibly like?"

Ethan replied, surprised.

I found myself in a difficult position; I couldn't just tell him she liked his dad.

Just as I was hesitating, Ethan dropped another "bombshell."

"Plus, I kissed her, so I have to take responsibility!"

Looking at his awkward demeanor, it suddenly dawned on me.

Ethan, this bookworm who had been focused on research for years, had never really interacted with women.

Now, with this childhood friend by his side, it was understandable that he had fallen for her.

I hesitated before asking, "So, are you two officially together?"

Ethan's face turned a shade of red, and I immediately understood.

It seemed he had genuine feelings for her, but what was going on with Sophie?

She was keeping my dad's photo while also being Ethan's girlfriend...

I frowned.

"Looks like I need to investigate Sophie's true intentions!"

Ethan had been homed these past few days since his experiment was over.

Probably caught up in the excitement of new love, I often saw them being affectionate.

It made me feel nauseous, yet I had to stay home to observe Sophie's behavior.

Unable to bear it any longer, I arranged to meet my boyfriend for coffee to discuss strategies.

After all, men understand what other men are thinking.

To my surprise, as soon as I sat down, I saw Sophie wiggling her hips and sitting next to my boyfriend.

"Hey, handsome! I'm Emma's sister-in-law, just call me Sophie," she said.

My boyfriend politely waved her off and clearly stated, "Hello, your makeup looks a bit heavy."

A smile wouldn't fade but would only shift; I smiled back at Sophie, whose face was turning pale.

I signaled to my boyfriend to leave.

Without him around, Sophie dropped her fake smile.

Her red-painted nails began to tap incessantly on the table.

"Emma, I used to envy you. You had wealthy parents, a genius brother Ethan, and you even moved to the city," she said.

"But now? Your brother is mine, your mother is dead, and I finally don't have to please you anymore."

She looked up at me, her eyes filled with provocation.

"So, what? Are you getting close to my family because you can't stand me?"

I was confused, glaring at her in anger.

She let out a delicate laugh and leaned closer to my ear.

"Yes and no... Emma, why don't you choose? Is it your brother or your dad? Or maybe you want to include your little boyfriend too?"

My hands, hanging by my side, clenched into fists.

Suddenly, I thought of something and exhaled sharply.

"Let's see then, who can take out whom first!"

Since that day when the mask was ripped off, Sophie had stopped holding back at home.

She spent money lavishly on various luxury items, of course, using Ethan's money.

"Emma, look at this latest LV bag. Ethan told me you don't have these kinds of bags; how about I give you one?"

Sophie said, stroking the expensive crocodile leather with a feigned generosity.

Ethan, standing beside her, wrapped his arm around her waist and replied, "Emma wouldn't recognize these luxury items, so you should keep them for yourself."

Sophie bit her lip, looking quite regretful. "Oh, I see... Then how about I buy you a little CK bag in the future? It would suit your status better."

With that, she tried to retract the bag she was holding.

"Hey, wait a minute! Didn't I say I didn't want it?"

I forced a fake smile and discreetly snatched the bag from her hand.

Hmm, the leather is exquisite; this bag must be worth tens of thousands. It seems my brother really splurged on it.

Sophie immediately panicked at the sight, but since she had boasted earlier, she felt embarrassed to say anything now.

I watched her tug at my brother's sleeve, throwing him desperate looks.

"Emma, don't be so unreasonable. Give Sophie back her bag; it's her first one!"

Ethan looked displeased, glaring at me.

I scoffed and took a pair of scissors, slicing the bag open.

"Ah!" Sophie screamed, momentarily dropping her facade as she lunged at me.

I sidestepped lightly, and she fell to the ground, crying out in pain.

Seeing her in such a pathetic state filled me with satisfaction, though I maintained an innocent smile.

"But Sophie said it was for me, so how I handle it is my business. Are you really going to get mad at me for this?"

It was just a matter of playing innocent; it was easy to learn.

"Emma! That bag costs several tens of thousands!"

Ethan, holding the startled Sophie, shot me an angry look.

I looked at Ethan, who felt so foreign to me now, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Tens of thousands? Ethan, when you were in graduate school, Dad didn't want to pay for your tuition. I gave you my savings."

"If you can't afford it, why did Sophie say she'd give it to me?"

I shouted, letting a few tears fall at the right moment.

Ethan fell silent, stiffly turning to comfort Sophie.

Sophie's eyes seemed to burn with venom as she stared at me, saying nothing.

I picked up the bag and, right in front of her, used the scissors to shred it to pieces.

"Emma! You've gone too far!"

Sophie cried out, shrinking into Ethan's arms.

"It's okay, I'll buy you an even better one!"

Ethan patted her shoulder, soothing her gently.

"Oh right, Ethan, since you've finished your graduate studies, shouldn't you pay back the tuition? I won't take advantage of you; if you return that money, I'll cover the cost of the bag."

I smiled at the pair of "lovebirds," and Ethan's face turned ashen in an instant.

"Sure! That bag costs 80,000 dollars; how much did you give for graduate school?"

Sophie, oblivious to the situation, urged Ethan to agree quickly.

I rested my chin on my hand, speaking softly.

"Well, it wasn't much; I think I gave him about 150,000 dollars."

Sophie shot up from Ethan's embrace, exclaiming, "What! You're asking for too much!"

But when she saw Ethan's expression, she realized everything.

She wilted again, looking at Ethan as if pleading for help.

"Ethan, what about my new bag...?"

I laughed at her naive hopes. Ethan had just graduated; how much money could he possibly have left to buy her a bag? He probably spent all his savings already.

And now he had to pay me back...

But none of that mattered to me anymore. Once Ethan chose her side, I no longer felt the need to consider our sibling bond.