Chapter 1

The moment I was born, the housekeeper swapped me out.

She dumped me in the servants' quarters, claiming I was some maid's illegitimate child.

Meanwhile, she put her own daughter in the gold-trimmed crib, making her the real heiress everyone envied.

For three years, I watched her twirl around in princess dresses, sip imported formula, and get pampered by my parents.

Meanwhile, I slept on the floor, ate leftovers, and was given a name they picked on a whim.

That night, the housekeeper got drunk and let something slip.

I heard it all, loud and clear.

That night, while everyone was fast asleep, I snuck into the master bedroom.

The impostor Grant heiress was sleeping soundly in the crib.

I climbed up, positioned myself over her, and raised my foot.

A muffled thump sounded as her body hit the carpet.

Right after, Anna Hughes let out a gut-wrenching scream.

The lights in the whole villa snapped on in an instant.

I heard a chaotic stampede of footsteps thundering down the hallway.

My dad, Richard Grant, my mom, Sarah Grant, and the housekeeper, Margaret Hughes, all came rushing in together.

They stormed into the room as one.

The sight before them left them all stunned.

I, Olivia Grant, the so-called servant's bastard, was chilling in the crib, meant for the Grant heiress.

Meanwhile, Anna, the apple of their eye, lay on the carpet, crying so hard she looked like she was about to faint.

"Anna!" Sarah was the first to react. She rushed over and scooped her up into her arms.

Richard shot me a dark, furious glare.

Margaret's face went deathly pale.

She knew better than anyone what this meant.

"Anna, sweetheart, are you hurt? Where does it hurt? Let Mommy see, okay?" Sarah said, her voice trembling with worry.

She clung to Anna, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Anna's cheeks were wet with tears as she pointed right at me.

"It was her! She pushed me." Her words came out garbled, but everyone knew exactly what she meant.

Everyone's eyes snapped back to me.

Richard's gaze turned colder.

"What's going on here?" His voice was thick with barely contained fury.

Margaret was shaking like a leaf.

She rushed over and roughly yanked me out of the crib.

Her grip was so tight it made my bones ache.

She apologized, "I'm so sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Grant. It's all my fault. I should've kept a closer eye on this little brat.

"She must've sleepwalked. She probably wandered up here on her own."

As she spoke, she pinched my arm hard, her glare a clear threat.

I bit back the pain.

I looked at the couple who should have been my parents, with wide, frightened eyes like a little deer caught in headlights.

But that was all for show.

I'd already learned how to fake it to survive over the past three years.

Sarah was completely focused on Anna, not sparing me a glance.

But Richard was scrutinizing me, his eyes sharp and full of suspicion.

His brows were drawn together in a deep frown.

Perhaps he was wondering how a three-year-old could sneak all the way from the servants' quarters to the master bedroom and manage to climb into such a tall crib.

"Sleepwalking?" Richard repeated, sounding skeptical.

Margaret broke out in a cold sweat.

"Y-Yes, sir," she stammered.

"She's had this problem since she was little. I'll take her away and lock her up. I swear I'll never let her bother Miss Grant again."

As she said that, she started dragging me away.

I sneered inwardly. Lock me up? In your dreams.

My goal tonight was not only to give Anna a good kick but also to stay with my parents.

I started trembling all over.

My scrawny little frame shook so hard that my teeth were chattering nonstop.

I stared at Richard, eyes wide with terror, like I'd seen a monster.

Then, I suddenly burst out crying, loud and shrill, more miserably than Anna.

My cries were desperate and scared, mixed with a heartbreaking sense of being wronged.

I choked out, "It... wasn't me. It wasn't me. There... There was a bad guy.

"Some scary man... in black brought me here. He wanted to take Anna too. I got scared, so I pushed him."

My words came out all jumbled and confused.

But the main point was clear. An outsider had slipped in.

Richard's face changed in an instant.

His concern wasn't for me at all. It was all about whether the Grant Estate was safe.

"What did you say? Someone in black?" Richard snapped.

I shrank back at his tone, bawling harder.

Margaret was stunned.

She never thought I'd make up a lie like that.

She wanted to call me out, but she was too scared to say a word.

Because if she said there was no bad guy, how would she explain me being here?

Was she going to fess up that she got wasted and blabbed her secret, and I caught it?

She didn't dare take that risk.

"Mr. Grant, this little brat is making things up." Margaret denied. "There's no way anyone could get into the house!"

Richard didn't spare her a glance. His sharp eyes swept over the bedroom.

The windows were shut tight, and the door was locked.

It didn't look like anyone had broken in.

His gaze fell on me again, filled with scrutiny and impatience. "Enough. Stop crying."

Sarah finally managed to calm Anna down.

She held Anna close, shooting me a look full of disgust.

"A servant's child is nothing but a liar. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Margaret, get her out of here. She's so annoyed."

Margaret looked like she'd been handed a lifeline.

She grabbed my arm and tried to drag me out of this mess.

I knew this was my last shot.

If she dragged me back to the servants' quarters, I'd be in for worse misery.

I couldn't let that happen.

Just as Margaret tried to drag me away, I broke free from her grip with all the strength I had left.

I fell to my knees with a heavy thud.

But I wasn't kneeling to Margaret or Sarah, but Richard, the one who called the shots in this house.

I looked up at him, tears streaming down my face.

But this time, my eyes weren't full of fear. There was a hint of childlike trust and a desperate need for love in my gaze.

"Daddy, I... I'm scared," I whispered, my voice trembling.

The room instantly became dead silent.