Playing Innocent: The Real Heiress's Game Chapter 2

Seeing Ashley's smug "See? Told you so" expression, I reached out and squeezed Mom's hand, my face falling, my voice barely a whisper.

"Mom, that's not what I meant."

"I don't want an Escalade. I just... I want a shopping cart."

As soon as the words left my mouth, Ashley burst out laughing. "Oh, Paige, just say what you mean. You want Dad's credit card with no limit, right? That's a bit greedy, don't you think? People might think you see Mom and Dad as walking ATMs."

Dad chimed in, "Paige, don't push it. Ashley's being more reasonable here."

Mom's face grew darker and darker with their words.

Seeing the time was right, I quickly shook my head.

"Ashley, you misunderstood."

"Unlike you, I didn't grow up surrounded by Mom and Dad's love."

"The shopping cart I'm talking about... it's really just the kind you find at the supermarket."

"When I was little, I'd see other kids riding in the carts, whining and cuddling with their parents. But me? I had to push the cart, trailing behind my foster parents."

"If I pushed too slow, I got hit. If I pushed too fast and bumped into them, I got hit too."

"But those carts... they always wobbled, went crooked. I was so small back then, I really couldn't control it."

"So," I paused, looking hopefully at Mom, "I just want a shopping cart. For you guys to push me in."

"Even just once."

Mom's eyes widened slowly, filling with pain and guilt until tears overflowed, splashing down her cheeks.

"My poor baby... what kind of life did you have? You suffered so much."

"Here," she pulled out a card. "This is my supplementary card. Use it for whatever you want."

I took the card. Might as well.

But then, I immediately hugged her, gently patting her back.

"Thank you, Mom. But that's all in the past now."

"From now on, I have you and Dad to love me."

Dad nodded awkwardly, speechless.

Mom held me even tighter.

I glanced in the rearview mirror. Sure enough, Ashley was staring daggers at me, her eyes red with fury.

If looks could kill, I'd be ashes right now.

I tilted my head slightly and gave her a small smile.

My dear sister, this is just the beginning.

If you're looking at me like that now, what's going to happen when I take back everything that belongs to me? Your eyes might just pop right out of your head.