bChapter /bb96 /b

“I don’t want to bargue /bwith you. Just figure out how we’re going to get back to Uncle’s house,” Jocelyn said.

She gged down a cab, and the two of them got in. When they arrived at Linda’s older brother’s ce, they found everyone sitting on the curb, looking dirty and dejected..

As soon as they bsaw /bLinda and Jocelyn get out of the cab, the whole group rushed over, bombarding them with questions. “What happened? Linda, bwhy /bdid they take the house back? Didn’t you buy it for us? You better do something about this.”

b“/bYeah, that’s right. The Hart Corporation is riding high, more sessful than ever. You’re Mr. Hart’s wife now, basking in glory. Shouldn’t you be getting us an even bigger house?”

Linda bwas /babout to speak when Jocelyn stepped forward. “Uncle, you can’t me us for this. It’s all Sienna’s doing. She’s been way too harsh on us. No matter what, my mom is still their stepmother.”

With her silver tongue, Jocelyn managed to turn the whole group against Sienna.

Jocelyn nced at her uncle, Linda’s younger cousin, who was bnow /bwearing a vicious, scheming look. Satisfied, she looked away.

b*/bbPay /bup. If you don’t. I’m calling the cops. You think you can just ride for bfree/b?” the cab driver shouted.

Jocelyn looked mortified, shooting a pleading nce at the others, but everyone just avoided her gaze. Grinding her teeth, she had to swallow her pride and ask to borrow the fare. Only then did someone reluctantly fork over 15 bucks.

Vivian had been nning bto /bgo to a business meeting, but her boss said he wanted to handle it himself. So she ended up getting off work early.

When Vivian got home, she overheard Amber telling Elisa all about her day at the amusement park with Sienna.

Vivian clenched the hem of her shirt, thinking, They went to the amusement park? Why didn’t Sienna tell me? She must’ve been worried it would mess with my work. Yeah, that’s definitely the reason.

There’s no way Sienna would take Amber to the amusement park. Amber’s such an idiot, always siding with Jocelyn just to piss Sienna off. Sienna must be so disappointed in her.

Going to the amusement park must’ve been something Amber begged for, clinging to Sienna and refusing to let go.

When Amber saw Vivian standing there, her happiness was practically written all over her face. That smug grin and the way she looked at Vivian, all cocky and challenging, bjust /bdrove Vivian crazy.

Vivian stomped past her in her high heels, each stepnding with a loud, deliberate click.

As Vivian walked by, Amber suddenly piped up, “Hey, someone gave me this giant jar of candy. There’s so much. I can’t even finish it.”

Vivian could totally hear the bragging in Amber’s tone, and it made her furious. She gripped her bag even tighter.

‘It’s just a jar of candyi. /iDoes Amber really have to show off like that?‘ Vivian fumed. ‘Does she even realize how embarrassing she looks acting like this? Seriously, it’s like she’s never had candy before. She must lose her mind.

Upon watching Vivian stomp off in a huff, Amber’s goofy little ahoge swayed side to side as she cheerfully wiggled her shoulders, bouncing to the beat all the way back to her room.

Vivian stormed into her room and hurled her bag onto the floor with a loud thud.

“Amber is too much,’ she fumed inwardly. ‘Why did Sienna give her a whole jar of candy? It must be the kind they had today—so delicious I can still taste it in my mouth. And I can tell for sure it’s not some local candy from Sra!

‘No way. I can’t let things keep going like this, Vivian seethed, getting more and more agitated. She grabbed her hair and tugged at it hard, almost pulling it out.

“Ugh, this is driving me crazy. Amber, you stupid girl,” Vivian shouted. “I won’t let you take her away from me.”

She really hated herself for speaking up for Amber today, for giving her another chance to stay at the Hart residence.

“Yeah, I helped her out today. It’s only fair bI /bget something in return, right?‘ Vivian tried to convince herself.

Vivian cleared her throat, straightened her jacket, and made her way to Amber’s room.

Amber wasn’t inside. Vivian seized the opportunity and walked right in, immediately spotting the big jar of candy sitting out in the open.

bVivian /bpopped the lid, grabbed several handfuls, and stuffed them into her pockets. Then she tore open a few wrappers and tossed the candies into her mouth. bWow/bb, /bthis is bseriously /bdelicious, Vivian thought.

Amber had just gone downstairs to see if Sienna was back yet. After all, Sienna had promised to sleep in her room tonight.

b‘/bShe can’t break that promise or go back on her word, Amber wondered. ‘I have beven /bgiven Sienna ba /breward for it. I havee in first in the boat brace /band won Bartholomew Bear for her.

b‘/bSienna has to sleep with me tonight. If she dares to go to sleep with Vivian instead, I swear I’ll never talk to her again, and I definitely won’t forgive

bher/b.

“Vivian, what bare /byou doing?b” /bAmber’s voice snapped from the doorway, catching Vivian red–handed.