My Sister Tried to Frame Me

I love money more than life itself. I would do absolutely anything for it.

When I was ten, my foster mother, Fiona, accused me of stealing. I decided to play along and make it official. I emptied her purse, stuffing every single dollar into my pockets.

You want to call me a thief? Fine. Id hate to let Fiona's accusation go to waste.

When she realized her money was actually gone, she went completely ballistic. She whipped me with a cane, forced me to kneel on broken glass, and screamed at me to hand over the cash.

"You little trash! Youre born rotten! How dare you steal Victor's college tuition!"

Trash?

I listened to her in silence. That night, I snuck into Victor's room, tore his graduation project into confetti, and stole his phone.

I had paid for that phone myself by selling wild herbs I picked in the woods.

"Now," I whispered to myself, "were both rotten."

When Fiona tried to sell me to a human trafficker, I beat her to the punch. In the middle of the night, I led the town's creepy old bachelor into her bedroom.

"Shes your new wife. Just give me ten grand in cash, and she's yours!"

Fiona went wild, chasing the old man out of the house with a butcher knife.

The day my billionaire biological family finally found me, Fionas eyes practically bled with jealousy.

"Shes a thief! She cant be your daughter! You must have the wrong girl!"

My biological father didnt even blink. He gently guided me into the back of his Rolls-Royce.

Once inside, he handed me a black card. "Spend whatever you want."

I twirled the card between my fingers and looked up at him.

"Christian, can you buy Fionas pigpen?"

"I want to live in it for a few days. Ive never lived in such a big place before."

Christians eyes welled with tears, but he remained silent.

When we arrived at the Williams estate, my eyes were immediately drawn to the majestic statue at the entrance.

That thing looked like it was worth a dozen pigpens.

My biological sister, Barbara, ran up to me, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.

"Maia, welcome home."

"I heard you didn't have much before. If you need anything, just ask me. Don't go taking things on your own."

I walked right past her, straight to the statue, and pointed.

"Christian! This is mine."

Christian froze for a second, then smiled.

"You like this, sweetie? I'll buy you a better one..."

"No, I want this one!" I interrupted, jamming my fingers into the statue's carved mouth. "Right now."

Barbara couldn't help but shriek.

"Are you insane? That's a priceless antique! It guards the house!"

"Guard the house?" I sneered.

"I'm more useful than this rock. With me here, the Williams family will be printing money."

Eleanor quickly stepped in to keep the peace, handing me a black card.

"Maia, take this. Spend whatever you want. Consider it a makeup gift..."

I didn't take the card. My eyes were still locked on the statue. "How much cash can this thing be worth?"

Barbara, as if finally catching me red-handed, lunged forward and grabbed Eleanors hand.

"Mom! You can't! She only cares about money! We should treat money like garbage!"

She slapped her own cardloaded with half a million dollarsonto the statue's head.

"Look! I'm donating my entire monthly allowance to the stray cat shelter!"

"We'll donate Maia's share too, to wash the scent of greed off her!"

She reached out again, trying to snatch the black card meant for me.

Just before her fingers touched it, I snatched her card off the statues head and shoved it into my back pocket.

Then, I grabbed a heavy decorative brass candlestick nearby and smashed it right into the statue's head!

Crash! A piece of marble chipped off.

The entire courtyard fell into a dead silence.

"You... you..." Barbaras finger shook violently.

I weighed the candlestick in my hand and looked at her. "I'll accept the donation."

"As for my money..."

I turned my head, my gaze sweeping past my pale parents before landing squarely on Barbara.

"If you ever reach for my things again..."

I raised the candlestick and smashed the statue again!

Crash!

"I will smash this statue, and then I will smash you, just to hear the sound it makes."

I tossed the candlestick aside, slipped the black card from Eleanors frozen hand, and patted both cards in my pocket.

"Money is my life," I told Barbara, pronouncing every word clearly.

"Touch my life, and I'll take yours."

Without looking back, I picked up the chipped statue and walked upstairs through the stunned silence.

"Put the guardian statue by my door."

"From now on, I'm the one protecting the Williams fortune."

At dinner, Barbaras eyes were still red from crying.

She picked at her food with her fork.

Christian set down his spoon and looked at me. "Maia, do you have Barbara's card?"

I poked a piece of steak. "Yeah."

"That's Barbara's allowance," Christian said, his voice firm. "Give it back."

I put down my fork, pulled out the $500,000 card, and slid it to the middle of the table.

Barbaras eyes lit up, and she reached for it.

I pinned the card down with my finger.

"Are we donating it?" I looked at Christian. "For the stray cats?"

Christian frowned. "What?"

"This half a million," I tapped the card.

"Barbara said she wanted to donate it to cleanse my soul."

I looked at Barbara. "Are we donating, or should I just keep it?"

Barbaras face drained of color, and her lips trembled.

Christians face darkened. "Enough! What donation? Allowance is for you girls to spend!"

"Oh," I said, sliding the card back into my pocket. "Then I'll spend it for her."

"Maia!" Christian raised his voice. "That is Barbara's money!"

"It's mine now," I met his gaze.

"She said it herselfwe're family, so her stuff is my stuff. You didn't object then."

Christian choked on his words, his chest heaving.

Barbara burst into tears, pointing at me and screaming.

"Dad! She stole my money! She's robbing me!"

Eleanor immediately hugged Barbara, comforting her while looking at me with disapproval.

"Maia, you went too far."

I wiped my mouth with a napkin and looked at the sobbing Barbara.

"She can try to take my card, and that's fine. But when I take hers, it's too far?"

"Your logic is pretty warped."

I stood up to go upstairs.

"Stop right there!" Christians angry voice boomed from behind me.

I paused at the stairs and turned. Christian was glaring at me.

"Tomorrow morning, nine o'clock. You're coming to the office with me."

Barbara's sobbing stopped instantly. She looked up, tears still on her face, but her eyes flashed with disbelief and jealousy.

"What?" Eleanor was surprised too. "Maia just got back. Isn't that too sudden?"

"She needs to see how Williams money is made!"

Christian interrupted her, his eyes still locked on me.

"She needs to see that wealth is built through hard work!"

"Not through extortion and bullying her sister!"

I nodded. "Fine."

Back in my room, I locked the door.

The walk-in closet alone was larger than my entire old room.

Actually, it wasn't even a room. I used to live in a run-down shack in the backyard used for storing junk.

I had never even dreamed of a life this luxurious.

When I was eight, Fiona locked up all the food.

"This is all for Victor! Don't you dare touch it!"

I was so starved that I was nothing but skin and bones, without even the energy to talk back.

My only friend back then, Karl, wasn't doing any better.

He lived with his elderly grandmother. One day, she gave him their very last bowl of oatmeal.

But Karl gave it to me.

"Maia, I'm not hungry. You eat."

Starving, I didn't think twice. I devoured the whole bowl.

The next day, when I went to return the bowl, I found Karl and his grandmother had both starved to death in their beds.

I didn't cry.

I just stood by Karl's body for a very, very long time.

That was the moment I realized the absolute power of money.

Without money, you die.

I would tear through anyone and anything before I ever let myself go back to that life.

At 5 AM, I woke up in a panic, about to run outside because I thought Id be beaten for feeding the pigs late.

Once I realized where I was, I lay back down on the memory foam mattress, but sleep was gone.

I got up and went downstairs to grab a glass of water.

As I passed Barbaras room, the door was cracked open. Her whispered, sharp voice drifted out.

"...I don't care! Dad is taking her to the office tomorrow! Why her?"

"The bitch will probably make a fool of herself, but what if Dad softens up?"

"Mary, you need to do something for me..."

The voices faded into hushed whispers.

I stood in the shadows, finished my water, and smiled.

Barbara, you're right. I love money because I know what real poverty feels like.

When you have nothing left to lose, you'll do anything.

Even if I have to destroy my own sister.

Early the next morning, I rode to the office with Christian.

The moment Christian stepped out of the car, his phone rang. His face turned grim instantly.

"When did this happen? Are you sure?"

He hung up and snapped his head toward me. "Were you in my study last night?"

I blinked. "No."

He turned and strode toward the elevator. "Come with me!"

Outside the CEO's office, the secretary and assistants stood in silence, barely daring to breathe.

Christian threw the door open. The study was a total disaster.

Drawers were pulled out, and documents were scattered all over the floor.

Most noticeably, an empty luxury watch box lay discarded on the desk.

Barbara and Eleanor were already there.

Barbara looked at me with red eyes, shaking her head in fake disappointment.

"Maia... I know you love money, but stealing from family? How could you..."

Eleanor looked worried. "Maia, if you needed money, you should have just asked. Why would you..."

"I'm asking you one last time," Christian pointed at the empty box, glaring at me.

"Did you come in here last night and take what was inside?"

"No."

"Don't lie to me!" Christian slammed his fist on the desk.

"Mary saw you sneaking out of the study in the middle of the night!"

Mary stepped in, her head lowered, avoiding my eyes.

"Sir... I got up to use the bathroom last night, and I saw Maia coming out of the study... she looked really frantic..."

Barbara gasped, covering her mouth.

"Maia! That limited-edition Patek Philippe pocket watch was Dad's favorite piece! How could you..."

"I didn't take it," I repeated coldly.

"Search her!" Christian ordered the female assistant. "Search her bag and her pockets!"

The assistant stepped up, grabbed my bag, and searched it thoroughly. There was nothing inside.

Christians brow relaxed slightly, and he was about to speak.

Barbaras eyes flashed, and she pointed at my simple black coat.

"Maia, what's in that inner pocket of your coat? It looks bulky."

The assistant took the hint and reached into my inside coat pocket.

Her hand paused, and she pulled out an exquisite gold pocket watch.

Christian looked at the watch, the last bit of warmth draining from his eyes.

"Caught red-handed. What do you have to say now?"

I looked at the watch, then glanced at Barbara.

"I was framed."

"Framed? By Mary? Shes been with us for fifteen years!"

Christian pointed at the watch, trembling with rage. "Did the watch sprout legs and crawl into your pocket?!"

I suppressed my anger and spoke slowly.

"I have no motive to steal a watch that I can't easily liquidate."

"How do you know it can't be liquidated?"

Barbara shrieked immediately.

"You did your research! You came here for the money! You didn't even care that it was Dad's favorite keepsake!"

Eleanor looked at me with deep disappointment. "Maia, youve broken our hearts..."

"Call the police," Christian waved his hand, closing his eyes in exhaustion. "Take her away."

"Take back every cent of allowance I gave her. We don't keep thieves in this family."

The assistant picked up the phone. Beside her, the corner of Barbaras mouth twitched upward in a smirk.

Looking at her triumphant face, I didn't feel angry. Instead, I burst out laughing.

They want me to take the fall? Fine. But trying to take my money? No way.

Since they wanted to play dirty, I didn't need to show mercy anymore.

The assistant froze with the phone in her hand. Everyone was stunned by my laughter.

"What are you laughing at?" Christian's voice was full of disgust.

I stopped laughing and stared at Barbara.

"Barbara, you said I steal from family?"

Barbaras eyes flickered, but she forced herself to stay calm. "Isn't it true?"

"Sure," I nodded. "So I'm curious, how much have you stolen from this family?"

I turned to Christian. "Christian, I'll admit defeat on the watch."

Christian sneered but didn't speak.

"I'll return the allowance," I said slowly.

Hearing this, Barbaras smirk widened.

"However," I pivoted.

"Before I return a dime, there's an account I want to settle with Barbara in front of everyone."

Barbara gasped, then yelled, "What lies are you trying to tell now!"

"Last month, the 15th, at 3 PM," I paused. "The VIP room at Chase Bank downtown."

Barbaras face drained of color instantly.

Christian looked confused. "What was she doing there?"

"It doesn't matter if I was there," I stared at Barbara. "What matters is, Barbara, what did you do with Moms ID and her private signature stamp?"

Eleanor was stunned. "Barbara? My stamp is locked in..."

"You opened a joint account in Mom's name," I interrupted, my voice steady.

"And you transferred the five million dollarsthe money meant to be saved for your truststraight into it."

"You're lying!" Barbara shrieked in panic. "Dad! She's making things up! I didn't!"

"Do you want me to call Manager Johnson right now to check the security footage and wire records?"

I smirked at her. "The same Manager Johnson you always have high tea with?"

Barbara looked like she was being choked.

Eleanor looked at her in disbelief. "Barbara... that money was for your future! How could you..."

Christian glared at Barbara, his eyes sharp. "Is this true?"

Barbara collapsed to her knees, grabbing Eleanors legs, sobbing hysterically.

"Mom! I didn't mean to!"

"I just... I found an investment project and wanted to try it on my own..."

"I wanted to prove myself to you and Dad!"

She looked up with a tear-stained face.

"I just wanted to prove that I'm not worse than Maia! I can make money too!"

Eleanor softened, hugging her, and looked at Christian. "Barbara just wanted to prove herself..."

Christians expression softened too. "So that was it... I thought..."

"Oh, a great investment," I interrupted, walking over to Barbara.

"Is that why you wired three million from that joint account to your boyfriend Chriss shell company? What project is that?"

The crying stopped instantly. Barbara looked up, complete terror on her face.

"Boyfriend?" Christians voice dropped to a whisper.

"Chris?" Eleanors voice was shaking.

"The same Chris Monroe whose family drove your grandparents to their graves?"

The office fell into a dead silence, save for Barbaras frantic breathing.

Barbara shook violently, stammering. "No... I didn't... Dad, let me explain..."

"Explain what?" I looked at her. "Explain how he took that three million and lost every penny at a Las Vegas blackjack table?"

I took a step forward, looking down at her.

"Or explain the two-month-old baby in your stomach?"