The Fake Heiress Is Our Cheat Code
Chapter 1Right before the dust storm hit and the world went to hell, Mom and Dad brought me home and heard the fake daughter’s thoughts in their heads.“Is this the jinx who’ll get the whole family killed, no, I have to save her, save Mom and Dad.”Their smiles froze. From that moment on they stopped looking at me, their real daughter.When the disaster struck they followed the fake daughter’s predictions and locked me in the basement until I ran out of air.I got another life, this time I could hear her thoughts too.“Welcome home, Mia, I’m Pippa Lawson.”She stood there all wide-eyed and clean as a spring morning. If I couldn’t hear the voice in her head I might have fallen for it.“So this is Mia Lawson, the walking disaster that dooms the family.”“No way, I crossed into this story with the power to see the future, I’m going to save her and save our parents.”Her lips never moved, yet I heard every word.That was when I understood why I had done nothing wrong last time and still earned nothing but their loathing.I knitted a scarf for Mom, she decided I was eyeing her designer silk one.I was underfed and sickly, Dad said I was faking it because I envied Pippa.I even cooked Pippa a bowl of birthday pasta to ease the tension.They said I was jealous, that I did it on purpose to trigger her egg allergy, they shoved me into the storage room for a night.I listened to the laughter outside while I sat there stunned. I hadn’t known about the allergy, yet they acted like I meant it.So that was it.I saw the shock on my parents’ faces and knew they believed her without a blink. That trick had worked for her plenty of times.Last time I swallowed my pride for a crumb of affection.All I got back was a clean cut.When the sandstorm rolled in they sent me to a half-basement on the edge of town to fetch food. I dragged myself back through the grit and knocked with what I found.They took the supplies I nearly died for and pushed me off the step.I pounded the door and begged them to let me in.What came back was their laughter.“Finally got rid of the jinx.”“Now the rest of us can be saved.”The wind howled, the air turned to grit, I staggered to the half-basement hunting for scraps.They were the ones who insisted on bringing me home, then tossed me like dead weight.If that was the plan why not leave me at the orphanage.Sand filled the basement. The door jammed under the pressure. I couldn’t get out. I choked in the dark.That last life still lived under my skin. I shook without meaning to.I ignored Pippa’s chirpy greeting and my parents took one look at my face, decided I was hard to get along with, and leaned even harder on what they heard from her.Dad’s voice went cold. “Pippa said hi, did you not hear her.”Ethan Hayes stepped out from behind Pippa and shoved me. “What’s with the attitude, you just got back and you’re already giving Pippa the stink eye, who do you think you are.”I stumbled and almost went down. I frowned at him.He was supposed to be my fiancé. Now he belonged to Pippa.My parents blinked, surprised I was that weak.Pippa dropped her head, the picture of wounded innocence. “Looks like Mia really hates me, and that’s fair, I stole eighteen years from her, now that she’s back I should leave and give everything back.”They heard that and whatever pity they had for me evaporated.Ethan kept a straight face. “I barely touched you, why the big scene.”Mom hugged Pippa tight. “Sweetheart, even with Mia home our love for you won’t change, you didn’t steal anyone’s life, we will never give you up, you’ll always be the Lawson family’s treasure, no one can throw you out.”Then she shot me a look full of annoyance. “Don’t bring those bad habits you learned outside into this house, Pippa didn’t do anything wrong.”I pushed myself up, calm on the surface. My wrist bones stuck out like a twig that would snap with one twist.“I don’t know what you’re talking about, what exactly did I do to her.”“I know you didn’t mean it, it’s just that I never had a full meal for eighteen years so my health is terrible, that’s why I fall over so easily, I don’t blame you.”Ethan flinched and looked away. Chapter 2Mom looked at round-cheeked Pippa Lawson, then at me, all skin and bones.
She softened, told me to clean up and get ready for the dinner.Pippa burrowed into her arms, playing small.“Poor Mia, life at the orphanage must have been rough, that’s probably why she takes other people’s money, it’s my fault, I ruined her and taught her bad habits.”Mom’s face darkened again.“Forget it, you just got back and don’t know the rules, don’t embarrass the Lawson family at the event, take Pippa along.”Pippa lowered her head, eyes rimmed red like she was spooked.“Mia was so scary when she bullied the other kids and grabbed their things, what if she’s jealous that I have parents who love me, what if she picks on me and throws me out.”She flinched and tears welled, the three of them fussed over her in hushed voices.Their real daughter stood to the side like a stranger, watching their cozy family picture with cold eyes.Compared to Pippa I was ice.That only made my parents like me less.
They decided I was a thankless wolf they could never tame, trouble waiting to happen.“Wipe that look off your face, you act like we owe you, toss that junk you brought, scrub off the stink of poverty, looks like we need to hire a tutor and teach you some manners.”They stopped looking at me and took Pippa to choose a gown.I watched their backs and let out a quiet laugh.No need to learn manners.The dust storm would hit soon, they would pay for what they had done.This time I did not chase their approval.Even so, Pippa could not stand that I existed.“I’m about to secure the entire Lawson estate, the plan is working, then Mia Lawson showed up and ruined the run, what a mess.”They were out of the house.
I kept my face blank and listened to the voice in Pippa’s head.“Looks like I need to get rid of her.”A laugh slipped out.So she had been planning my death from the jump.The storm crept closer day by day.
I started thinking about how to dodge the fate from last time.I was on my own.
Even if I ran early I had nowhere safe to go, and I might tip the Lawsons off and make them suspicious.If I sat on my hands and waited for that day to come, Pippa would still turn them against me and they would brand me the family jinx.
I was no match for three healthy adults.The only move left was to find a safe place to hide.I was broke, so I needed cash, fast.I didn’t expect Pippa to hand me the chance.“Mia, I didn’t know you could be this awful.”Dad sat on the couch, disappointment all over his face.Pippa stood beside him with her head down. “Dad, maybe Mia didn’t take my necklace, please don’t come down on her.”In her head she was saying, “I saw her go into my room, but she’s never worn anything that expensive, I should have just given it to her, this is on me.”Mom’s expression went even darker.“Mia, you’ve been rude and uncouth and we’ve let it slide, but you can’t steal from your sister, I’m so disappointed in you.”I hadn’t said a word and they had already passed judgment.“Where’s the proof.”“What.”“If I’m a thief, show me the goods, where’s your evidence.”Only then did they realize they’d taken Pippa’s word and never checked a thing, they hadn’t even thought to hear me out.In their heads I was already greedy, cold, and selfish.“This…” A moment ago they’d been full of righteous fury, now they looked embarrassed.Pippa stayed perfectly calm.I watched her confident little act and heard the voice in her mind.“I saw Mia leave my room and go to hers, it’s probably hidden in there.”“But I don’t blame her, everything in this house should be hers, I stole her life, maybe she’ll only be happy if I disappear, I should just go.”Sure enough their eyes lit up and they stormed into my room to search.They turned the place upside down and found nothing.The mask of wounded innocence on Pippa’s face cracked.“Could it… could it already be sold.”I snorted.“If you can’t find it, can you leave, I need to rest.”They were awkward about it, but with no proof they had to walk out wearing stone faces.I took in Pippa’s look like she’d swallowed a fly, let a smile tug at my mouth, and shut the door without a second thought.I lay back on the bed.
The long string of numbers in my account made me finally smile. ***本内容需购买可见***
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