Chapter 1

Irene Shaw was Kingston's darling, the beloved fake heiress, armed with a strategy guide system.

I was the real daughter they brought back. And I could hear every word her system said.

When she tried to cheat by stealing exam answers, I turned her in without a second thought.

When she tried to steal my luck, I found a loophole and crashed her system.

When she broke down, screaming inside, I smiled and handed her a cup of coffee. "Irene, I think your system is smoking."

*****

I was Jessica Lane, the real daughter that the Shaw family finally tracked down.

Standing at the gates of that estate, more palace than house, in faded jeans, an old T-shirt, and clutching a canvas bag, I could feel the stares, the judgment, and the disdain.

The maid who opened the door didn't try to hide her contempt. She didn't let me in. She turned and walked back inside to announce my arrival, leaving me standing there in the blazing sun.

A few minutes later, a woman in flawless makeup and expensive clothes appeared. She had to be my biological mother, Grace Shaw.

She looked me up and down, her brow furrowed, like I was a piece of merchandise she wasn't sure she wanted to accept.

"You're Jessica Lane?" Her voice was cold, not a trace of the joy a mother should feel seeing her long-lost daughter.

I nodded, nervously gripping the strap of my canvas bag.

"Come in." She turned and walked ahead, every step elegant and deliberate. I followed, feeling like an ugly duckling stumbling into a lake full of swans.

In the living room, a girl around my age sat on the couch. She wore a white dress, her long hair softly curled, her skin smooth. The moment she saw me, she rose at once with a sweet, innocent smile.

"You must be my big sister, right? I'm Irene Shaw. Welcome home!" Her voice was warm, welcoming.

She was the fake heiress who had lived my life for eighteen years.

My father, Richard Shaw, sat at the head of the room. He barely glanced at me before returning to his financial newspaper.

Nearby, there was a young man a few years older than me. His features were a mirror of Richard's. He lounged on the sofa, arms crossed, watching me with cool, disinterested eyes. That had to be Ian, my brother.

"Jessica, this is your home now," Grace said, pointing to Irene. "This is Irene. I expect the two of you to get along like real sisters."

Before I could respond, a strange, mechanical voice suddenly echoed in my head.

'Ding! Detected: the real heiress has returned. Host's 'Irresistible Charm' buff activated.'

I was stunned, instinctively looking around, but nobody seemed to notice anything weird.

Irene approached with a friendly smile, reaching for my arm, her expression perfectly attentive. "Jessica, you must have had a long trip coming from the poor village.

"I had Claire prepare a room for you right next to mine. Go take a look. See if you like it."

Her smile was sweet, and her eyes were sincere.

But ringing clearly in my mind was another voice of hers, dripping with arrogance and sarcasm.

'Ugh, she's such a country bumpkin. Where did she dig up those clothes? Does she actually think she belongs in this house? And she wants a room next to mine? What a joke.'

Right after that, the mechanical system voice chimed in again.

'Main Quest: Put the real heiress in her place.

'Task 1: Make the real heiress embarrass herself at the first family dinner, reinforcing your image as the Shaw family's 'perfect daughter.'

'Reward: +10 Charm, and a custom designer dress.'

Irene said in her heart, 'Got it! System, watch as I make her want to crawl into a hole.'

I shivered, staring at Irene in disbelief. Her radiant smile was still fixed on her face.

I could hear every thought in her head and the voice of her so-called system, too.

She noticed me zoning out, and a flicker of smug satisfaction crossed her eyes, but she softened her voice even more. "Jessica? What's wrong? Don't you like it?"

Grace's brows tightened further. "Jessica, Irene is speaking to you. Why are you being so rude? Didn't they teach you any manners out there?"

I took a deep breath, pushing down the tidal wave of emotions inside, and managed a small smile for Irene. "No, I really like it. Thanks, Irene."

'Yeah, like anyone's buying that act.' Irene scoffed inwardly.

'Ding! Host's first encounter handled smoothly.

'Reward: one Memory Bread from the starter pack. Eat it, and you'll remember everything perfectly for the next hour.'

I looked at her, the smile on my lips growing wider.

Irene, your system was interesting. But now? I was the one listening in.