The Counterattack of the True and False Heiress

Chapter 1

Okay, so imagine this: I found out I was switched at birth. Like, twenty years late to the “you’re a long lost heiress” party.

And get this, when I finally got back to the mansion, there was already a golden child in place – a total fake heiress.

Tiffany, the fake, straight-up hated me. She was pulling stunts left and right.

It all started because Mom decided to split up this antique set of jade bracelets, gave one to me, one to her.

Tiffany threw a fit, went on a hunger strike. I didn’t want to make things hard for my folks.

So I grabbed my bracelet, headed to Tiffany’s room in the dead of night.

I heard my “parents” inside, buttering her up.

“Honey, we only love you. The bracelets? We’re using them to swap lives with her!”

“After a month, we’ll kick her out and we can be a family again, deal?”

That’s when the bomb dropped. Tiffany couldn’t have kids.

But her fiancé, like, the top billionaire in the country, wanted a baseball team’s worth of children.

My parents had tracked me down to use some dark magic, swap my life with Tiffany’s, so she could be a fertile baby-making machine.

I clutched the bracelet. I backed away.

But after the swap, my “parents” and Tiffany were begging me to switch back.

1:

Strike one. I got nothing today, so I packed up my cardboard sign, and rubbed my aching knees. I heard shoes approaching me.

There was a pair of expensive heels and a pair of men’s dress shoes, what was going on? Were these the Samaritans that I’ve been waiting for?

I went down to my knees and begged, “Please, can anyone help me? I just need a little…”

“Miss, please get up. We’re here to take you home.” Sheesh, talk about cutting to the chase.

I remembered the blood test I did a couple of weeks ago to see if these people were my biological parents. The test results must have been in.

I shot up and saw two pissed-off faces staring at me.

“You have arms, legs, and you spend your days on the street?”

“I can’t believe I gave birth to someone like you. It’s a good thing we switched you, or else I’d be dead from embarrassment.”

I didn’t know what to say, my mouth was dry, my eyes were burning, and my nose was running. At least my fellow “kneelers” had my back.

[Your daughter’s in this situation, and you’re going to scold her? What kind of parents are you?]

[Blame yourselves for switching daughters and dooming her to this life.]

[You know what, your daughter…]

My fellow “kneeler” was cut off by the man who gave a nod to his security guy.

“Take her away. We’re already embarrassed enough.”

The security guy grabbed my arm, not so gently, and threw me in the car.

I wanted to pick up my stuff, but I chickened out.

My bait money was in that box, but I didn’t want to cause a scene.

My “parents” made eye contact, and my dad spoke first.

“The switch already happened, and both of you are victims. Tiffany’s mom passed, and Tiffany’s your sister now. Don’t be mean to Tiffany, got it?”

2:

It felt like someone was sitting on my chest, but I nodded, “Whatever you say, Mom and Dad.”

They were relieved. The car ride was an hour, and when we stopped, I saw a mansion.

I knew they had money, but I didn’t expect this.

But before I could explore the place, I heard someone crying.

“No! That room is for my dolls! I won’t let anyone stay there!”

“Even if I’m not your blood, I’m still a Lin! You can’t do this to me!”

My “parents” looked like they had seen a ghost and ran inside.

Inside, I saw Mom comforting Tiffany, a woman my age, and Mom whispered, “Tiffany, honey, we’re just letting her stay there for a little while…”

My dad joined in with, “Our Tiffany is the best. Can we have her permission to let her stay?”

I figured it out, and tried to take the high road. “I can stay anywhere, I don’t need that room.”

Tiffany rolled her eyes, and said, “That’s what I thought.”

Tiffany walked away with her head high, while my parents told the nanny, “Find somewhere for her to stay.”

I ended up in the storage closet in the north wing. It was clean, but it smelled like death.

It was the best room I had ever stayed in.

3:

Tiffany didn’t want to see me, so I told everyone I wouldn’t be eating in the dining room. The nannies gave me food and chit-chatted.

Through them, I learned a little bit about the family.

Twenty years ago, Tiffany’s mother was a single mother, and got a nurse to switch us.

She killed herself, and I bounced around her relatives before ending up in the system.

Tiffany had a good life with my parents.

I was sighing for myself, knowing that these stories of the real heir coming back to steal the fake’s thunder were bogus. Blood ain’t thicker than water.

Recalling my dad’s words, I promised myself to befriend Tiffany, to show her I wasn’t here to ruin her life.

But Tiffany was nowhere to be seen, and neither were my “parents.” According to the nanny, I upset Tiffany so much that my parents had taken her to vacation abroad.

I saw them again after a week.

Tiffany looked happy, eyeing me and then my closet. She gave me some of her decor.

“I overreacted, so these are my apologies.

I wanted to take you with us, but Mom and Dad said no. Don’t blame me, you don’t have the refinement for that.”

I knew Tiffany had been badmouthing me. Was she planning to show my parents that I was harassing her?

I smiled, “Thanks, I love it…”

4:

Tiffany punched the wall. Even if she got on my nerves, I was an airhead. She stormed off, not getting what she wanted.

That night, I ate at the dining table for the first time.

For dessert, Mom brought a box. “I’m so glad you two are getting along.”

“These are family jade bracelets. Your dad and I decided to give one to each of you so you could support each other…”

“Inni, don’t blame Tiffany. She’s innocent.”

Mom gave me my bracelet.

When she put the bracelet on Tiffany, she threw a fit and destroyed the dishes. “Are you replacing me with her?”

“If you like her so much, I’ll kill myself. I don’t want to share your love. Here, give it to her.”

Tiffany ran back to her room, crying.

The bracelet was beautiful. I knew it was expensive.

Looking at my parents, I spoke first. “Let’s give this to my sister, and instead you can give me…”

Before I could ask them for cash, my dad said, “You’re our daughter. You deserve it. Your sister just needs time.”

Mom looked at Tiffany’s room, resisting the urge to leave. “You have to wear this. Got it?”

I was thankful and cried.

5:

I couldn’t sleep, so I wore my coat and left. I decided to return the bracelet to Tiffany.

I quietly went to her room, and heard Mom say, “Tiffany, don’t cry. You’re breaking my heart. Hear me out?”

Tiffany sniffled. “You said I was your favorite. Why is she getting a bracelet too?”

Dad sighed. “It’s not a family heirloom…”

I paused.

“You and Zack are getting married, but your body check said you couldn’t bear children. And he wants kids…”

“Are you replacing me? Maybe get Inni to bear a child? I can’t accept this.”

Dad scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous. We paid good money for those bracelets.

“Wear the bracelet, and we’ll switch you and her. You’ll marry Zack, and have as many children as you want.”

Mom said, “After the swap, we’re kicking her out.

“She’s your sister, sure, but I found her begging in the streets! We’ve never been more embarrassed.

You’re our daughter.”

6:

I don’t know how I went back to my room. My pillow was wet.

Now I knew what was happening.

The day after I got back, the security took me to the hospital for a gynecology check. I was embarrassed, but touched.

I thought they were worried about my past. I kept telling myself that Tiffany needed more love.

Growing up, I didn’t have family. My “mom” hated me, and abused me.

When she died, I felt relief.

Her relatives weren’t nice, but they fed me and never harassed me.

The orphanage was worse. I was desperate for my dad.

After my parents found me, I didn’t blame them, or ask why they weren’t in my life sooner.

When they took me for a checkup, I was so happy.

Now, I was sad. I held the bracelet, something I could never imagine having.

Now the bracelet was a sword, stabbing me.

7:

I pretended nothing happened the next day.

Tiffany and my parents were already at the table. Tiffany’s eyes were red, and she was wearing the bracelet.

She looked at me and cringed, but she looked happy. It looked like my eyes were red too.

Tiffany smiled, “Sis, I’m sorry for yesterday. Mom and Dad scolded me.

“You’re the Lin, and I’m the fraud.

“I’ll treat you better. Let’s never leave each other.”

Never leave?

Was she planning on watching me?

I smiled and agreed.

My parents were happy, praising me. We were a happy family.

For the next few days, I moved to the big room next to Tiffany’s. I started living like a rich girl.

Tiffany took me everywhere and introduced me as her long lost twin.

Everyone thought I was a bastard child, and they mocked me.

I let them, since Tiffany came to my defense.

8:

Half a month later, Tiffany wanted to see a horse race, but I spoke out. “I can’t go, my knees hurt.”

Tiffany dragged my parents to the hospital.

“She’s got an old fracture. The weather must have triggered it.”

I frowned. “I’ve never broken a bone.”

Before the doctor could answer, Mom said, “You can’t remember your baby years.”

I knew the bracelet gave me her old fracture.

A month went by. Tiffany disappeared with my parents to the hospital.

They looked happy when they came home.

Tiffany ripped my necklace. “You stole from me?”

They called me a thief, and packed my bags before tearing off the bracelet and kicking me out.

At least I wasn’t completely broke, since they got me an apartment downtown.

I was living the high life, but six months later, I heard them banging on the door during a blizzard. Tiffany was wailing, “I want to switch back!”