Chapter 1: She Is the Fake Heiress
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
The pain of her hangover became especially sharp after the alarm started blaring.
Vivian Lowell squinted, shielding her eyes from the brilliant sunlight streaming through the window as she struggled to get up from the bed.
"Nurse!"
But the expected weakness in her limbs never came. Vivian sat up in one smooth motion, then froze.
’Wait a minute.’
’This isn’t a hospital!’
The scene before her was both strange and familiar. It was her old bedroom in the Lowell Family’s Aethelburg villa—the one she had before she turned twenty.
Glancing at her still-ringing phone, Vivian’s breath caught in her throat. The date on the screen was April 17th—from four years ago!
Heaven had actually heard her regrets and sent her back to before it had all happened!
’It’s today!’
Today, her parents would bring home a thin, frail, and somewhat dark-skinned girl and tell her that she was the true heiress of the Lowell Family.
Vivian had merely been switched at birth.
Vivian was expected to return everything that had belonged to her, including this very room, to the real heiress, Shelly Lowell. Even the engagement ceremony between the Lowell and Grant families, set for a month later, would feature Shelly as the bride-to-be, not Vivian.
Her childhood sweetheart, Mason Grant, would not be marrying her.
Vivian had been devastated, but her parents consoled her, saying that after so many years together, they already saw her as family. If Vivian was willing, she could still remain with the Lowell Family.
Vivian had been so touched. To preserve that ridiculous familial bond with her parents, she had diligently taught Shelly everything about high society.
From etiquette, dance, and music, all the way to the Lowell Family’s pride and joy—the field of jewelry design. Shelly, riding on the coattails of Vivian’s design talent, even managed to win the title of "Top Female Designer in the Chinese-Speaking World."
Flush with fame and fortune, Shelly had arranged a "business trip" for Vivian that very night.
It was on this trip that Vivian got into a car accident. She woke up alone in a hospital with only a junior nurse assigned to watch her. The nurse, taking pity on her, told her the truth.
Her car accident had been arranged by the Lowells. It was meant to be a death sentence, so that Shelly could, as a matter of course, use Vivian’s organs after her death, according to the "organ donation" agreement she had signed while she was alive.
’Shelly had a disease!’
’And only Vivian was a perfect match for her!’
"So stupid."
Vivian lightly slapped her own cheek and gave a self-deprecating smile.
’Family affection?’
’Those bloodsucking maggots deserved her affection? As if!’
Putting down her phone, Vivian quickly went to the bathroom, splashed her face with cold water to wake herself up, and then sat back down at her vanity.
She was going to do her makeup perfectly.
Otherwise, how could she be properly dressed to welcome the Lowell Family’s true heiress, Shelly, home?
「Half an hour later.」
Vivian looked at her radiant and elegant reflection in the mirror, smiling with satisfaction.
Just then, the sound of the maid, Ms. Shaw, knocking came from outside the door. She asked softly, "Miss, are you awake? The master and madam are back and have asked you to come downstairs."
"I know,"
Vivian answered lazily. She placed the sapphire necklace Mason had given her the day before into its gift box, then stood up and opened the door.
"Miss..."
The maid waiting at the door gasped the moment she saw Vivian.
’My goodness.’
’The young miss is so beautiful when she’s all dressed up!’
’So regal and poised, every bit the perfect heiress!’
’What a pity, though.’
The maid shook her head. Not daring to say more, she could only follow timidly behind Vivian, walking towards the first floor under the force of her powerful aura.
From the stairs, Vivian saw the "touching" scene unfolding in the living room.
Vivian’s mother, Sharon, was holding Shelly and sobbing softly. Sharon’s hand stroked Shelly’s back again and again, her body trembling slightly as she choked out, "It’s all my fault. I’m a terrible mother."
"If I hadn’t been so careless back then and made that mistake—"
Hearing this, Vivian let out a cold laugh.
’Hah.’
Just then, her father, Robert Lowell, saw Vivian coming downstairs. He felt a bit awkward, cleared his throat softly to get Sharon Galahad’s attention, and then turned to look at Vivian.
"Vivian, you’re here. Let me introduce you. This is..."
Vivian sat down opposite the Lowell family of three.
She leaned back into the armchair, a lazy expression on her face. Her arms were crossed, and she tapped her index finger lightly against her arm.
Everything was just like last time. After Robert laid it all out, he expressed how guilty he and his wife felt toward Shelly and how they wanted to make it up to her.
"Oh, ’make it up to her,’"
she concluded, looking at Robert. "I get it," she said flatly. "From now on, let Shelly manage the Lowell Family business! I’m out!"
!?
Robert and Sharon were instantly ecstatic. They never expected Vivian to withdraw on her own initiative!
But before the smiles on their faces could fully form, they suddenly realized something!
’Wait, no!’
’Vivian can’t leave!’
’At least, not before Shelly gets the hang of everything! Vivian can’t leave yet!’
!!
Robert quickly shot Sharon a meaningful look.
Sharon smiled awkwardly, let go of Shelly, walked over to Vivian, and took her hand, starting to play the family card.
"Robert and I have raised you for many years. In our hearts, we’ve always seen you as our daughter."
"We hope you’ll stay with the Lowell Family, treat Shelly as your younger sister, and take good care of her. The Lowell Family won’t shortchange you or your sister on what you’re due."
"And you know, the Lowell Family is a prominent family in Aethelburg. If you leave us, you won’t be a wealthy young lady anymore."
’Oh, so now we’re moving on to threats and bribes.’
’A wealthy young lady?’
Vivian sneered internally. She calmly pulled her hand away from Sharon’s grasp, looked up at her, and a mocking smile appeared on her lips.
’So what if I’m not?’
’Three years ago, the Lowell Family was a complete mess!’
’If it weren’t for her exceptional talent in jewelry design that pulled the family back from the brink of death, the Lowells would have collapsed long ago!’
’And now they’re still putting on an act in front of me!’
Sharon was obsessed with saving face.
Sensing Vivian’s "rebellion," her expression soured. "Vivian," she said, displeased. "Your father and I raised you for so many years. You were always so well-behaved. How could you..."
"Vivian!"
Robert, also afraid that Vivian couldn’t accept the reality of the situation, quickly tried to console her as well.
Vivian listened nonchalantly.
After a long moment, under the earnest gazes of her "parents," she finally nodded and said with a beaming smile, "Alright, I agree. I’ll stay with the Lowell Family, but I’m moving out."
"Mmm, let’s say for one month. Once I find a place to live, I’ll come back to pack up my room. Shelly, once I’m gone, you can have my room! It’s the most spacious suite in the entire Lowell estate. As the true heiress, it’s the most fitting place for you."
After saying this, Vivian turned to look at Shelly.
Just like in her memory.
Shelly, who had grown up in a small fishing village, was dark-skinned. Although her features were striking, without any makeup or styling, she looked like a clown.
Shelly also had a great deal of pride.
Catching the mockery in Vivian’s tone, her face flushed a dark red. She bit her lip, tugged on Sharon’s sleeve, and said, "I won’t live in a place someone else has already lived in."
"Silly child, you—"
Sharon was about to persuade her further, but Vivian cut her off with a gentle smile. "Oh, that’s perfect! I have so much jewelry in my room, and I was just worrying about how difficult it would be to move it all!"
"This works out great. It’s better to leave it at the Lowell estate anyway. After all, it’s my home, so I don’t have to worry about anyone coveting it. Oh, by the way, this is the sapphire necklace Mason gave me last night."
"I was just worrying that my skin is too pale for this sapphire necklace to really suit me. Shelly, it’s all yours!"
With that, Vivian thrust the gift box she had prepared into Shelly’s hands.
Shelly froze.
She looked down, catching a glimpse of the sapphire necklace inside. She wanted to refuse, just as she had before, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
’What a beautiful sapphire necklace,’ she thought. She had never owned such an expensive piece of jewelry.
Swallowing her pride, Shelly accepted it.
Vivian didn’t say another word. She stood up, grabbed her small handbag, and walked out.
’One month. That’s enough time.’
’As for the mess that was the Lowell Family—however she had cleaned it up, she would simply give it right back.’