"“Let me have him—I’m pregnant,” my sister announced as she walked down the aisle at my wedding in a dress nearly identical to mine, expecting me to fall apart, but instead I looked toward the billionaire who had agreed to officiate the ceremony, smiled, and said, “Since today’s plans have changed, how about you marry me instead?”—and suddenly nobody in the room knew where to look.

Three months later. Early spring had returned to Manhattan.

I was sitting in my corner office at the law firm, reviewing a corporate merger file, when Sarah walked in, looking hesitant.

“Victoria... your sister is downstairs in the lobby,” Sarah said quietly. “Security blocked her at the elevators, but she’s refusing to leave. She says it’s an absolute emergency regarding your mother.”

I paused, setting my pen down. I hadn't spoken to Danielle or my parents in nearly six months.

“Bring her up,” I said calmly. “And have security stand outside my door.”

Five minutes later, Danielle walked into my office.

She looked entirely unrecognizable. The glamorous, arrogant younger sister who had strutted down my wedding aisle was completely gone. She wore cheap, oversized clothes, her hair was limp, and her face was thin and pale.

She stopped near the door, looking at my massive corner office, the floor-to-ceiling views of Park Avenue, and the fresh flowers on my mahogany desk.

“Vicki...” Danielle whispered, her voice trembling.

“Sit down, Danielle,” I said, pointing to the leather chair across from me.

She sat down awkwardly, holding her canvas purse tightly in her lap.

“Is Mom okay?” I asked directly.

“Mom... Mom had a mild angina attack two days ago,” Danielle whimpered, tears filling her eyes. “She’s in the hospital in Westchester. The doctors say she’s under extreme stress.”

I felt a faint pang of concern in my chest, but kept my expression neutral. “And why are you here?”

Danielle burst into hysterical sobs, burying her face in her hands. “Because everything is ruined, Vicki! Everything! Ryan left me! His family sued us for defamation! The baby... the baby was a miscarriage two months ago! I lost everything!”

She looked up at me, her eyes red, swollen, and filled with a desperate, ugly jealousy.

“Our family is broke!” Danielle cried out. “Dad had to mortgage their house to pay for Mom’s medical bills and the legal fees! And look at you! You’re a senior partner! You’re married to a billionaire! You’re living in a brownstone and a penthouse while we’re starving!”

I leaned back in my chair, looking at my sister with a deep, profound pity.

“You didn't come here because Mom is sick, Danielle,” I said softly. “You came here for money.”

Danielle froze, her crying instantly stopping.

“You brought cameras to my wedding to humiliate me,” I continued, my voice cold as steel. “You slept with my fiancé, stole my dress design, and tried to ruin my life so you could take my place. And now that your little scheme completely blew up in your face, you want me to write a check to fix your mess.”

“You owe us!” Danielle suddenly screamed, slamming her hands on my desk, her face contorting with rage. “Mom and Dad raised you! They spent everything on your education! You’re living like a queen while your own family suffers! If you don't give me two hundred thousand dollars today to pay off Dad’s mortgage, I will go to the press! I’ll tell Page Six that Sebastian Sterling’s wife left her sick mother to die in a public hospital!”

I didn't panic. I didn't flinch.

I calmly reached out, clicked a button on my desk intercom, and spoke into it. “Sarah, send them in.”

The heavy mahogany door opened immediately.

Two men in dark suits stepped into the office, accompanied by my firm’s chief investigator.

“Danielle Vance,” the investigator said calmly, pulling a legal folder from his jacket. “You are currently being served with a formal legal summons.”

Danielle blinked in panic. “What?! What is this?!”

“This is a formal indictment for corporate espionage, wire fraud, and harassment,” I explained smoothly, standing up behind my desk. “Three weeks before my wedding, you accessed my private email account without authorization to download the invoice for my wedding dress from Madison Avenue. You also used my stolen login credentials to access my bank account information.”

Danielle’s face turned white as snow. “I... I didn't—!”

“We have the IP logs from your phone, Danielle,” the investigator added sternly. “We also have audio recordings of you attempting to blackmail Mrs. Sterling in this office today. Harassment and attempted extortion of a officer of the court carry a mandatory minimum sentence of three years in state prison.”

Danielle collapsed back into the leather chair, gasping for air, realization finally crashing down on her like a tidal wave. She had tried to play a game against a high-powered senior partner and a billionaire’s legal team. She never stood a chance.

“Please...” Danielle sobbed, dropping to her knees on my office rug, holding her hands up in desperate plea. “Vicki, please... don't send me to prison... I’m sorry... I’m so sorry...”

I looked down at my sister lying at my feet.

“I won't press criminal charges, Danielle,” I said softly, looking at the investigator. “On one condition.”

Danielle looked up frantically. “Anything! I’ll do anything!”

“You will leave New York tomorrow,” I ordered flatly. “You will go to Oregon to live with Aunt Fen. You will get a job, pay off your own debts, and never set foot in Manhattan again. As for Mom and Dad... I will pay off their mortgage and cover Mom’s medical bills directly through my foundation’s charitable trust. But they will never see a single cent of cash from me, and neither will you.”

Danielle stared at me, tears streaming down her cheeks, nodding repeatedly. “Okay... okay... I promise... I’ll go...”

“Take her out,” I told security.