Chapter 1

The true heiress, lost to the world for twenty years, came home and the first thing she did was drop to her knees in front of me.

"Thank you for taking care of Mom and Dad in my place. I'm back now, so from here on you can go be with your own parents."

"But no matter where you end up, we'll always be the people closest to you."

I caught her meaning right away. She had my identity all wrong.

Before I could open my mouth to explain, though—

Reg Baxter and Violet Goodwin, who had only just gotten their child back, cut me off, wiping away tears.

"Evangeline Baxter is such a thoughtful girl, so considerate of others."

"But this is Amber Baxter's home. Her parents are here too, and she'll be good to you from now on."

The true heiress looked awkward, certain I was just working some angle, and her hostility toward me only deepened.

In front of Reg and Violet, she was their sweet, devoted daughter.

In front of me, she turned snide and mocking, vowing to sell off the fake heiress who had stolen her nest.

All this true-heiress-fake-heiress talk of hers was giving me a headache.

"I know you've read a few gigabytes of true-and-fake-heiress stories and you want to go a round with me."

"But you've got the wrong target. I'm a true heiress too. In fact, I'm a true heiress one generation above you."

—

Reg Baxter and Violet Goodwin held the true heiress, Evangeline, and cried their eyes out for the better part of an hour. It wasn't until they saw me start yawning that they realized how late it had gotten.

"Amber got a room ready for you a few days ago. Go rest for now!"

Evangeline offered up another round of snide thanks, then followed sweetly behind me into the elevator.

But when we reached her room, she didn't go in.

"There are needles in the bed, mold on the pillow, dust and allergens all over the room."

"So when something happens to me, you can say I'm too delicate and pampered, that I threw your kindness back in your face. Right?"

"This room should be yours. I'm taking your room instead."

I was surprised how fast her face changed, but I didn't bother explaining. I just pushed the door open and let the clean, immaculate, exquisitely luxurious interior speak for itself.

"Your parents said I prepared this room, but all I did was pick which one."

"Everything inside was arranged by your mother. I'm not your nanny. These things aren't mine to do, because I'm—"

Evangeline looked at the room, and her face seemed to sting a little.

So she didn't let me finish. She cut me off through gritted teeth.

"You're the fake heiress who stole my nest. You're the knockoff Mom and Dad brought home to replace me after I was taken."

"Everything you have is mine. The moment I come home, you should know your place and get out. Since ancient times, no knockoff has ever dared to strut around in front of the real thing."

"But you can't bear to leave all this wealth and comfort, so you won't go. I'm not afraid of that either."

"Because I've read every true-and-fake-heiress story there is, and people like you are exactly who I know how to beat. Sooner or later I'll sell you off and make you wish you were dead!"

I couldn't be bothered to say more.

Yawning, I turned to leave. All this true-and-fake-heiress business could wait until tomorrow.

But Evangeline grabbed my hand and held on tight, glanced around, then pulled me over to the edge of the stairs. Under my puzzled gaze, she started walking down slowly.

I thought she was going to run off and tell on me. But the next second, she just lay down flat on the floor and let out a scream.

"Ah, sister, why did you push me!"