The Shameless and Invincible True Heir

'Wanna tattle?'

I shot him a sly, wicked grin and slammed both hands hard onto Ryan's chest.

"Mom! Dad! Ryan got so worked up over the engagement news that he lost his balance and passed out! I'm doing CPR! Call 911—hurry!"

Each compression hit with the force of a truck in low gear.

Ryan could only wheeze, his face turning a deep, blotchy red.

Mom and Dad fumbled with their phones while I wrapped my arm around his neck under the guise of brotherly concern.

"Ryan's always looked out for me. Without him, I'd never survive in this crowd! Be a man and hold on—I'm not letting you die!" I yelled as I locked his neck in tight.

Ryan's eyes bulged, rolled back, and he went completely limp.

A cold smirk tugged at my lips.

Trying to play games with me? Someone who'd survived Sophia Harrington's brutal interview process—did he really think I was an easy target?

…

When Ryan finally stirred in the hospital, the first thing he did was grab Mom's sleeve, his face a mask of wounded innocence.

"Pete… I know you're upset. This engagement should've been yours. If you really like Sophia, I can step aside… just please, don't hit me anymore, cough, cough…"

Ryan had some nerve, acting like the Harringtons would give him a second look. All that polished, blue-blood act—what, did he think marrying into old money was like picking apples off a tree?

I was about to fire back when the hospital room door suddenly swung open.

A woman in a sharp business suit stormed in.

"Ryan! Are you okay?"

Before I could even process who it was, Ryan immediately cranked up the act, looking even more pathetic:

"Vi… my whole body hurts, Pete… he…"

Ah. So this was my "bonus older sister," Violet Sanders.

Seeing Ryan like this, her face crumpled with worry. She spun around and fixed me with a glare full of venom. "Pete! Are you even human?! Ryan was just trying to help you make connections, and you beat him for it?!"

"Don't blame Pete… it's my fault. I shouldn't have taken his place all these years, shouldn't have stolen his engagement… It's only natural he hates me…"

Ryan let out a sigh. But his "good sister" went rigid, her voice shaking, "Engagement? You and who…?"

"The Harringtons. Their steward delivered the engagement gift today…"

Violet's hands clenched.

Ohhh.

This reaction—was I walking into one of those classic "she's in love with him but he doesn't see it" situations?

My internal drama radar lit up. I was enjoying the show when Violet sucked in a sharp breath and unloaded on me, "Pete! You violent, small-minded psychopath! Ryan is this family's pride and joy! Sophia noticing him is a testament to who he is. And you—some hick from nowhere—think you're even fit to compete with him?!"