Lost Heiress of the Belfort Brothers

ne's

uzzing, bouncing on their chairs like we were about to witness the arrival of actual royalty. The principal tapped her mic,

e in welcoming Gentle, Jack, and Bobby Belfort, heirs to the Belfort fo

whole place erupted in applause. Some kids whistled, some stomped the

aking in the cheers. "And that's not all. They

n the aisles, handing out shiny boxes. The sound of cardb

k on paper again!" a boy

'll give us free Wi-Fi too?" The plac

her hands. "On that note, I expect you a

eyes glued themselves to the entrance of the gymnasium, the doors like a

-they wa

tly in sync, like the floor belonged to them. All neck tilted, jaws dropped, and eyes widened as they crossed the aisle. You could practically feel the room holding its breath. Ea

in her seat like a toddler on a codeine diet. Her squeals pierced the air, her hands clutching her chest d

his voice smooth but heavy with meaning. "I know you all must be wondering

op. "We vowed not to rest until we found her, chasing every lead and never

, added, "We have come to bring her home. To b

n the room. "She would be sixteen by now. Blond hair. Outrageously attractive, just like her

back his sleeve. My stomach tightened instantly. "

identical bracelets glittered under the gym lights. A

intest whisper, meant for no one but myself. My fingers

ping the crowd. "Sis, wherever you are, come

t. Could it be me? Could I actually be the missing Belfort heiress? My bracelet... it was t

rom my seat, with legs shaking and my knees threatening to buckle. But jus

y, trash." The venom in

n front. My eyes darted up-and of course, it was her-Tricia.

Plea

ad perfume. Her arm shot up, flashing a bracelet. My bracelet

t softening their sharp features. "Baby sis!" t

th candy. "Brothers!" she cried again, her voice so high-pitched it hurt. She

st have dealt with so much," one of the

almost sounding like she had it all rehearsed. "

med to notice. All the students gushed, sig

, she's the

ieve it? Tri

just chang

can't be happening. How could they fall for this? Couldn't they see the way her

all these years. So of course, we brought presents. We tried to gu

rkling under the lights, rows of designer shoes gleaming like treasures. Jewelry cases clicked open, dazzling g

"a new wardrobe straight from the runways of Miami, ten luxury cars t

the other students'

car

e one! J

y jet. Forget college,

just so excited to finally reunite with my family," she sa

ugh, every cheer for her made me want to scream. But another scene? More humiliation? My chest

ile everyone else was lost in Tricia's performance. Maybe di

th

but determined. Her words pierced straight through my panic. "But the bracelet is yours. I

mistake. Or... or something. I can't be the Belfor

your whole life wondering where you came fr

lenched at my sides. She was right. Deep down, I knew it. I knew it from the first second I saw thei

ia steal what was m

, strong and steady now. I turned back toward the center of th

to step in