Chapter 2

Elise already knew the truth.

Lauren wasn't switched at birth by accident. It was a deliberate swap.

Her real parents were poor relatives of Margaret's family. They deliberately swapped the babies at the hospital to get close to the Dickens family.

All these years, Lauren had been living the life that should've belonged to Elise, enjoying all the resources and love that were meant for her.

Meanwhile, Elise had been stuck in the rural town, eating scraps, getting beaten and exploited, and never even got to finish school.

At that thought, Elise's eyes grew icy.

Lauren, Margaret, Patrick, Sheldon, Rueben...

I'd collect every debt you owe the original Elise until it was all paid in full.

Just then, her phone rang.

The caller ID flashed: Sheldon.

It was the male lead.

Elise gave a cold laugh and picked up the phone.

"Elise." Sheldon's voice was low and icy, full of command. "I heard you bullied Lauren and talked back to the elders. Come downstairs and apologize right now, or I'll make sure you won't last a day longer in the Dickens family."

Here it was again: the same old script, the same old favoritism.

Elise's tone was flat, with a hint of mockery. "Mr. Dickens, are you deaf? You only ever listen to Lauren's side of things?

"She deliberately gave me something I'm allergic to, and when I fired back a couple of words, suddenly I'm the one bullying her?

"I'm the real heiress of the Dickens family. When I'm talking to my own family, who are you to stick your nose in?

"And just so you know, I'm not interested in you. You and Lauren can be tied at the hip for all I care. Just don't bother me again."

Click.

Elise hung up.

She also blocked him.

*****

Sheldon stood in his office, staring at his phone, his expression thunderous. He couldn't believe she'd hung up on him.

Never in his life had anyone dared hang up on him.

And nobody had ever spoken to him in such a tone.

Lauren sidled up to him, acting all delicate and vulnerable.

"Sheldon, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. Does Elise hate me?" she murmured.

Sheldon pushed aside his annoyance and replied coolly, "It's not your fault. She's simply being insensible."

But deep down, something unfamiliar stirred inside him.

Elise's voice just now was calm, clear, with a steady edge.

Nothing like the woman who used to fawn over him, desperate for his approval.

Was I really mistaken?

Impossible.

Sheldon immediately dismissed the thought.

Someone as crude as Elise couldn't possibly be innocent.

She must be playing some new game.

*****

The next morning, Elise slept in as long as she wanted.

Downstairs, Margaret's voice snapped impatiently. "Look at the time. And Elise is still in bed? Honestly, she's such an embarrassment."

Lauren's gentle voice followed. "Mom, don't be mad. Maybe Elise isn't used to things yet."

Elise took her time getting ready, slipping into a simple white dress and putting on a light touch of makeup before finally heading downstairs.

Margaret immediately snapped, "Elise, do you care about this family? The whole family's been waiting for you."

Elise walked over to the dining table, picked up a sandwich and took a bite. She said coolly, "I'm the real heiress of the Dickens family. Is it a crime to sleep in?

"If you want to wait, that's on you. I never asked you to.

"If you can't wait, go ahead and eat. Don't try to guilt-trip me."

Margaret was so angry she almost fainted.

Rueben's face turned grim. "In our family, we have rules. We go to bed early and rise early. We value hard work and sensibility."

Elise lifted her gaze. "Grandpa, rules are for people to follow, not for pushing others around.

"I spent eighteen years in the rural town. Nobody cared about rules, and I still got by fine.

"Now that I'm back with the Dickens family, I just want to take it easy.

"I'm not here to fight, stir up drama, or mess with anyone. If you leave me alone, I'll leave you alone.

"But if you come at me, I'll hit right back. Simple as that."

Elise kept eating after that, totally ignoring the family's angry faces.

Lauren was secretly delighted.

The lazier and more obnoxious Elise was, the more the Dickens family would despise her.

She immediately started acting all sensible. "Elise, don't be like that. Grandpa's only thinking of what's best for you."

Elise shot her a cold look. "I'm talking to the elders. Why are you butting in? Who asked for your opinion?"

Lauren's face went pale, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Margaret instantly rushed to shield Lauren. "How could you talk to Lauren like that? She was only being considerate."

"Considerate?" Elise scoffed. "Is that what you call it when she purposely gives me something I'm allergic to?

"Or when she puts on that helpless act to fish for sympathy every time I get yelled at?

"Margaret, if you're not planning to use your eyes, why not donate them to someone who needs them?"

The whole room went quiet.

The servants were so scared, they were holding their breath.

Patrick was stunned, staring at Elise.

Elise had changed so much.

Meanwhile, Elise finished her food, wiped her mouth, and stood up.

"I'm going back to my room. Don't bother me unless you absolutely have to," she said.

As soon as she went upstairs, the system announced, [Ding! Host's laid-back attitude has stunned the whole family.

[Reward: Permanent upgrade to appearance and temperament + ultimate writing skill.]

Elise's eyes lit up.

Ultimate writing skill?

In her previous life, she'd been an webnovel editor. She knew exactly what those readers wanted: swapped heiresses, epic revenge, lazy riches, and feel-good sweet romance.

If she turned her own story into a novel, it would totally go viral.

Elise immediately opened her laptop and started a new document.

She typed in the title: When the Real Heiress Stops Caring

The very first chapter was all about her epic clapback: calling out her biased mom and ripping apart the fake heiress's sweet girl act.

It was fast-paced, loaded with drama, and packed with those satisfying face-slapping moments.

She wrote three thousand words and hit publish right away.

The webnovel's site auto-approved it instantly.

Elise closed the page and went straight to sleep.

She had no clue her story was about to go viral across the internet.