Chapter 1
Chapter 1
“Janie, wait” Lindsey Carter called out.
Janic, dragging her half–broken suitcase toward the gate, stopped dead in her tracks. Tears were streaming down Lindsey’s face, her voice shaky and full of desperation.
Janie, you can’t just leave like this! Lindsey cried out. “Please, forgive me! I’m begging you to stay..
Janie gave Lindsey the coldest look she could muster.
She’d spent years under this roof, never once feeling like she fit in. Lindsey had made it clear from the start that she wasn’t wanted–hell, she couldn’t even call her “Mom,”
As she got older, the lies started to unravel. So, Janie did what anyone would do–she got a DNA test. And ham–turns out they didnt even share the same blood.
Not that it cleared anything up. Her real parents? Still a mystery. Maybe they dumped her, maybe they swapped her at birth, maybe she’d been kidnapped–no one knew,
But a few days ago, the Jenkins showed up. And the truth hit like a brick; she wasn’t just Janie, she was Janie the Jenkins.
For almost eighteen years, she’d been kicking around until she finally figured out what was going on–she could’ve grown up as the little princess of the Jenkins family, rolling in cash, power, and all the love from her parents and three older brothers
That said, she got swapped at birth by Lindsey and ended up stuck in this mess with her.
“Spare me the crocodile tears.” said Janie, her voice was steady, but her words cut deep. “Even if you’d treated me halfway decent, it wouldn’t change the fact you stole my life. I could’ve had a real family–parents and brothers who actually cared. But you? You’re just a thief. And a bad one at that.”
Lindsey flinched, but Janie wasn’t done. Watching pure panic flickered in Lindsey’s eyes, she continued. Just tell me. Lindsey–are you crying because you feel bad, or you’re scared? Scared of jail? Scared for your real kid? Save the act for someone who cares.”
Lindsey’s sobbing stopped like someone hit pause.
“That’s not fair! I do care about you!” She stammered, grasping at straws, “I got you into school, or you’d just be some uneducated girl, married off real early… I’m not never wronged you like that!”
Janie raised an eyebrow. ‘Oh, yeah, real saint–level generosity there, she thought to herself.
Lindsey “ler” her go to school–on scholarships she worked her tail off to earn, since Lindsey never bothered to support her studies.
If it were up to Lindsey, her life would’ve been a total disaster, exactly what Lindsey was gunning for.
Lindsey’s words made Janie’s stomach turn. “Oh, what now? You want a thank–you? Want me to clap for you? You think you’re some kind of hero?” Janie snapped, her voice cutting and dripping with sarcasm.
“So what? Should I thank you now? Are you looking for a pat on the back? You think you’re some kind of saint?” She retorted.
She didn’t stop there, her words slicing through the air like knives. “Not abusing me is your big favor? You let your daughter live my life, spoiled her like royalty, while I got the scraps. And now, after everything you’ve done, you actually think you did me a solid? You’re beyond shameless.”
Before Lindsey could stammer out a defense, Janic jerked her suitcase free and stormed off without a second glance.
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At the edge of town, a sleek black sedan stood out like a spotlight in the dim street. Two men stepped out as soon as they spotted Janie.
The first was all business–tall, sharp suit, and the kind of no–nonsense energy that screamed “CEO Edan Jenkins, eldest brother, already running the family empire at twenty three.
The second was the complete opposite–laid–back in a hoodie and sunglasses, his easy wirk giving off troublemaker vibes. Ryan Jenkins, the second brother, pop star heartthrob for doing anything but corporate life.
Ethan walked over and took her suitcase without a word, his face unreadable. Ryan, meanwhile, grinned like they’d met before. “What’s up, sist Ready to roll
Jamie nodded with hesitation. She had no clue how to deal with her brothers showing up out of nowhere, and the figured they were probably just as lost.
She followed them to the car. Inside, someone was already sitting, turning his gaze away as soon as she opened the car door.
That must be Zion Jenkins, the youngest of the Jenkins clan, about to turn eighteen–her twin brother, the one who was always close to the girl who had taken over Janie’s life.
Janie didn’t bat an eye on him–she was definitely not about to kiss up to anyone for nothing. She slid into the seat and buckled up, but the silence didn’t last long.
“So,” said Zion, voice dripping with sarcasm, “ditched your fake mom already, huh? Guess loyalty’s not your thing. Makes sense, though–guess you are who you roll with.”
The air turned cold as ice. Ethan sighed, clearly over it. “Zion, shut up! Janie, don’t listen to him. He’s just a spoiled brat being a pain.”
Spoiled? Janie grinned. That word was a real eye–opener for her–she’d never known what that felt like.
Zion shot Ethan a glare. “Oh, I’m sorry, am I lying? We don’t even know if we can trust her! She grew up with that woman. I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking.”
“Now you are being the Einstein right here, huh?” Janie turned to Zion, a sharp smirk on her face, “Let’s just hope you never get kidnapped. You’d probably end up thanking your captors. Maybe call them ‘dad‘ I guess?”
Ryan busted out laughing in the backseat. Zion, totally shocked and pissed, went bright red.
“You–you’re freaking cursing me!” he yelled. “That’s not the same, and you know it!”
Janie just rolled her eyes and turned away. She didn’t really feel their cold shoulder, and she wasn’t about to hold a grudge over it.
Everything hit so suddenly; she couldn’t expect them to suddenly get all emotional just because they found out the truth.
As for Zion, he and Xena, the girl who swapped Janie’s life, were so–called “full siblings–super close, and since he was close with Xena, even if he was being a jerk, Janie could kind of get
Janie believed that if she stopped expecting so much from people, she’d be a lot freer and happier. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to hope for anything–it was just her way of protecting herself.
About an hour later, the car rolled up, and Janie, half–zonked, squinted her eyes open.
Outside the car was a chill standalone house with a garden full of flowers and plants, all looking pretty dope. It was clear that the owner knew how to live, but Janie just gave it a quick once–over before looking down.
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“Let’s head in,” Ethan whispered, “Mom and Dad are waiting
Janie nodded. Inside, her “Mom and Dad‘ shot up from the couch the second she walked in.
The man, Frank Jenkins, was all commanding presence like he’d been through years of business battle
But the woman, Kathy Jenkins, was in a whole different vibe–graceful and sweet, with tears in her eyes, already rushing ove to pull her into a hug.
“My baby… My daughter…” She ran her hand over Janie’s hair. “You’ve been through so much. I’m so, so sorry!
Janie froze, like a deer caught in the headlights. She had no clue how to handle this–Lindsey never hugged her like that, like a mom would. After a long awkward pause, she gave Kathy a quick pat on the back, but it just made her cry even harder.
Janie let out a quiet sigh inside–if only she’d gotten this kind of warmth before.
“Alright, Mom, let her breathe. Ethan finally stepped in.
Sniffling, Kathy finally let go but kept Janie’s hands in hers. “Our family’s finally whole again, Janie” she beamed with a sof smile, “I’m Kathy–your real mom. This is your dad, Frank Jenkins, and well, you’ve already met your brothers”
Before Janie could even think of what to say, Zion snorted from the comer.
“What do you mean ‘whole‘? What about Xena? She’s my real sister. How can you all just forget her like that?” He turned to Janic, glaring. “And you–why couldn’t you stay where you were? You’ve ruined everything!”
“Zion!”
It was Frank. His voice snapped through the room like a whip. “Enough!” he barked. “One more word, and you’ll regret it.”
Zion flinched but muttered under his breath. “Everything was fine before she showed up. What’s the big deal with me! She’s been hanging with her fake mom for ages, who knows what kind of person she is? Honestly, we should just send her back and pretend none of this ever happened. This isn’t even her home, after all”
Janie’s heart slammed in her chest. But before she could snap back-
Smack! Frank had already laid one right across Zion’s face.
Zion’s he
Zion’s head snapped sideways, and Janie watched the chaos blankly as the whole room froze.
“Dad! You’ve never hit me before! Zion clutched his cheek, eyes wide like he couldn’t believe it, then came the waterworks. “And now, because of her, you re going to start? What’s next–kicking me out of here?”
He whirled around to glare at Janie, face all twisted up. “This is all on you! Why would you even bother coming back? Nobody needed you here! Just stay gone next time!”
Janie didn’t even give him a blink. She looked at him like he wasn’t even there. It was Ethan who stepped in again.
“Zion, just quit playing the fool!” He frowned, “Go to your room before you make it worse.”
Zion completely lost it, having a full–on meltdown. “No! I’m not going anywhere!” He shot back, “I didn’t even do anything You guys are acting like I’m the bad guy here! The second she walked in, it’s like I’m the villain. Fine, you hate me! I’ll just
leave!
“Zion!” Kathy voice cracked as she pointed at him, eyes blazing. Do you hear yourself right now? Your sister is home, and this is how you act? What’s wrong with you?”
“Cut it out, you hear me, Zion” Ryan chimed in, crossing his arms and throwing Zion a death glare.
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Zion finally damper fos mooh det test was done glaring daggers Jenie
Kathy quickly bornest in Janie her voice way sofies now Janie, my sweetie, don’t take this to heart, okay? Ite
jot immature And we he really four to Xens Home around eventually. I promise
Janie dodici speak toge a word. Any warm fuzzice she’d had earlier one Burnt to a crisp What a joke! She should’ve known
Kathy whipped back to Zion, her voice hitting an all–time low Zion, apologize. Now Or don’t bother calling me Mom
Zion looked like he was choking on air, four finally spat out a half–assed, “Sorry”
“See?” Kaily In up like shed won the lottery. “Thars better? Family should stick together
“So now that I’m here,” Janie cut in, icy and blunt, “what about Xena? Is the heading back to her real family
