Chapter 1

The real heiress of the richest family in the city was finally found. However, she decided I was her biggest threat to her family's love.

There was no "fake heiress", but she insisted I was one.

She mocked me in front of everyone, saying, "Who do you think you are? A butler's kid has no right to attend a private academy."

Well, she was right about one thing. I was the butler's daughter. But with a dad pulling in millions a year, I could pay the tuition just fine.

*****

On her very first day back, Leah Wilcox made it clear she saw me as her biggest threat.

Leah barely stepped through the door before her eyes welled up with tears. She stared right at me and asked, "Mom, Dad, so this is the girl who's been living with you all these years instead of me?"

Her parents, Hugo and Grace Wilcox, were so caught up in the happiness of having Leah home, they totally missed the sarcasm in her tone.

Grace wiped away her tears and said, "This is Natalie Hudson. She's a thoughtful kid. I'm sure you'll become good friends with her. If you ever need help settling in, just ask her."

But Leah pursed her lips. "Mom, now that I'm home, isn't it time for this impostor to pack up and leave?

"Are you really going to play favorites with a fake heiress? If that's how it's going to be, maybe I shouldn't have come back at all."

The room fell silent, and the heartwarming reunion turned awkward.

Hugo's mouth fell open, clearly bewildered. "Fake heiress? What are you talking about?"

Grace looked at Leah with confusion. "Sweetheart, what nonsense are you going on about? What fake heiress?"

Leah jabbed a finger at me. "Here she is—the fake heiress. Surely you all didn't mistake her for your real daughter just because you let her stick around for a few years?"

I watched from the side, feeling rather helpless. "Miss Wilcox, my father is right here."

I nodded toward the butler, Alexander Hudson, standing beside me in his formal tailcoat.

Leah blinked in surprise. "So you really are just the butler's kid. Perfect. Since your dad only works here and I'm finally home, let's get one thing straight—I'm the real daughter of Wilcox family.

"Doesn't matter how long you've hung around, from now on there's only one Wilcox princess in this house—and that's me."

Zoey Wilcox blinked in confusion. "Wait—are you saying I'm not your real daughter anymore?" She looked at Hugo and Grace, completely at a loss.

Hugo's expression turned dark. "Leah, stop with this nonsense. Natalie is Alexander's daughter, not ours. And Zoey—your sister—is standing right here. How could you possibly think you're our only daughter?"

It finally clicked for Leah; she suddenly noticed Zoey, about eleven or twelve years old, standing off to the side.

When Leah got a good look at Zoey's face, she slapped a hand over her mouth, shocked. "Mom, Dad, did you really have another daughter to replace me after I went missing?"

Zoey looked heartbroken as she turned to her parents. "Mom, Dad, did you only have me because you lost Leah? Am I just her replacement?"

Grace and Hugo looked even more upset.

Grace pulled Zoey into a hug, softly reassuring her, "Zoey, you're you—no one's substitute, okay? Don't overthink."

Hugo couldn't help but snap at Leah, "Leah, honestly, what kind of nonsense have you picked up out there? Your sister was already three when you disappeared. How could she possibly be your replacement?"

Leah looked awkward, rubbing her nose. "Back then I was just a kid. I don't remember having a sister."

Hugo looked helpless and suspicious at the same time. "Leah, you were nine when you went missing. Do you really not remember having a sister?"

For a split second, panic flashed across Leah's face. She quickly clutched her head, like she was having a really bad headache.

She said, "Dad, I really can't remember. When I got abducted, those people beat and yelled at me. Just recalling it gives me a splitting headache."

Seeing Leah so upset, Hugo and Grace couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

Grace rushed to envelope Leah in a warm hug. "Sweetheart, don't force yourself to remember. All that matters is you're home now. We'll make sure to make up to you everything you've been through."

Zoey stepped forward, her voice gentle. "Leah, I'm so glad you're back. Mom and Dad never stopped searching for you—not even for a second."

Leah buried her face in Grace's arms, wiping away her tears. "Thank you, Mom, Dad. I knew you'd never give up on me."

After a long round of comfort from the Wilcox family, Leah finally stopped crying.

She lifted her head from Grace's arms and shot me a venomous look. "Mom, Dad, every time I think about how I suffered all these years, while Natalie got to enjoy the good life here under our roof, I feel so upset."