Chapter 1

The day the real heiress of the Reed Family came home, all of the capital’s elite were waiting to see the joke.

Everyone knew about Charlotte Reed, the fake heiress the Reeds had raised for eighteen years. She was gentle, well-mannered, and stunningly beautiful. She was already treated like the Reeds' only precious daughter.

As for the real heiress?

Rumor had it she'd grown up as an outsider in some small town, never even learning the basics of high-society etiquette.

Even if she was found and brought back, there was no way she could ever measure up to Charlotte.

At six in the evening, a black sedan slowly pulled up to the entrance of Reed Manor.

The car door opened, and a girl stepped out, dragging a battered old suitcase behind her.

She wore a white shirt, jeans, and canvas shoes faded from too many washes, completely out of place against the brightly lit Reed Estate.

The servants at the door glanced at her, whispering to each other as they exchanged knowing looks.

So this is the real heiress the Reeds brought back?

She doesn't look like much.

Evelyn Reed ignored their stares and dragged her suitcase inside.

In the living room, her parents Richard Reed and Mary Reed, a few distant relatives, and Charlotte, dressed in a white dress, were all waiting for her.

The moment Mary saw her, her eyes turned red. "Evelyn..."

Evelyn paused, her expression calm, almost indifferent.

"Mrs. Reed," Evelyn said.

As soon as those words left her mouth, Mary's smile froze.

Evelyn's aunt let out a sigh. "She really did grow up away from the family. She's not even close to her own mother."

Another relative added, "It's only natural, I suppose. She wasn't raised by her side. Not like Charlotte, who's been sweet and thoughtful since she was little."

Their words sounded casual, as if they were defending Mary, but in truth, they were throwing shade at Evelyn.

Just then, Charlotte walked over quickly, her smile gentle and graceful.

"Evelyn, you're finally back." she said.

She reached out to take Evelyn's suitcase, acting all thoughtful and considerate, like the ideal little sister.

She added, "I've already had your room prepared. It's in the Reed Garden Annex. It's nice and quiet, so nobody will disturb you. I bet you'll like it," Charlotte said.

As soon as she finished speaking, the living room went quiet for a moment.

The Reed Garden Annex?

Everyone knew that the small building in the Reed Garden Annex had been empty for years. It was far from Reed Manor, and even the servants rarely bothered to go there.

Charlotte called it "peaceful" but honestly, it was a polite way to push Evelyn out of sight.

The relatives' faces lit up with the kind of glee you get when you're watching a good drama unfold.

Evelyn, the real heiress, got shunted off to the Reed Garden Annex on her very first day home.

Talk about getting slapped in the face.

Mary was stunned, turning to Charlotte without thinking. "Charlotte, you..."

"Mom, I was thinking about Evelyn." Charlotte said, giving her best innocent look.

She continued, "There are so many people in the Main House, and Evelyn just got back. She probably isn't used to it yet. I was worried she'd feel awkward, so I thought it'd be better this way."

As she spoke, she shot Evelyn a cautious look. "Evelyn, you don't blame me for making the arrangements on my own, do you?"

Everyone's eyes were on Evelyn.

They were all waiting to see if she'd get embarrassed, if she'd look awkward, or if she'd stand there like a country bumpkin who'd never set foot in a real mansion before.

But Evelyn just looked at Charlotte calmly and suddenly asked, "Where do you live?"

Charlotte blinked, a little caught off guard, and replied softly, "I've always lived on the east side of the Main House."

Evelyn nodded, her tone as calm as if she were talking about the weather. "Good.

"You're moving to Reed Garden Annex today."

Charlotte's smile froze on her face.

The whole living room went dead silent.

Mary was taken aback. "Evelyn..."

Charlotte's eyes welled up with tears, her voice shaky. "Evelyn, I was afraid you wouldn't be comfortable. I really didn't mean anything else."

Evelyn looked at her, her gaze flat and emotionless.

"You were afraid I wouldn't be comfortable, so you sent me to the Reed Garden Annex." Evelyn said, her voice calm but sharp. "Well, I'm afraid you won't be comfortable being the fake heiress, so you can start getting used to it now."

Her words hit Charlotte like a slap in the face.

Charlotte's face turned pale in an instant.

The aunt couldn't hold it in anymore. "Evelyn, that's too much. Charlotte has been part of your family for eighteen years."

"So just because she's been here for eighteen years, she gets to take my spot?" Evelyn looked up, her voice calm but sharp. "By your logic, if a thief squats in someone else's house long enough, does it become his?"

The aunt's face went bright red, totally lost for words.

Charlotte's tears streamed down her face, and she looked ready to fall apart.

"Evelyn, I never wanted to fight you for anything. I just..." Charlotte stammered, her voice shaky.

"If you really don't want to fight," Evelyn cut her off, still sounding calm, "then step aside and let me have what's mine."

The whole living room went dead silent.

No one expected the real heiress from nowhere to come in swinging like this.

And nobody thought she'd skip all the fake niceties and tear the whole 'real vs. fake heiress' mess wide open for everyone.

Right when things were at their most awkward, the sound of steady footsteps came from outside the dining room.

The Head Butler said quietly, "Andrew's back."

At those words, even Charlotte, who'd been wiping away tears, instinctively straightened up.

Andrew Reed, the Reed Family's eldest son.