Falling For The True Heiress

I stopped walking but didn’t turn around.

She was right. I did have to meet the tutor. Our team needed to prepare early before next month’s competition, and I couldn’t afford to lose that time.

But there was something more urgent now.

I couldn’t let Sylvia carry the blame for what happened in that cafeteria alone. She had slapped Xander because of me. Because of what he said to me. If anyone was going to answer for that mess, it should be me, not her.

"I will send his details and location to you," I said, already walking faster toward my car.

"Hey, Lia. You—" Camila said, sighing.

Daniela laughed softly. "Bye, Lia," she said.

"Bye, Ela," I said without slowing down.

I got into my car, started the engine, and pulled out of the lot. Different thoughts started running through my head.

What would happen if Dad saw this?

How should I handle it?

I hope it won’t affect the Winston Group’s investments.

And Sylvia. What happens to her now?

I stepped on the gas pedal and sped up.

By the time I turned into the driveway, my hands were tight on the wheel. A few servants were trimming the hedges, and Dad’s car was already parked near the entrance.

Mr. Clifford walked over the moment I stepped out, bowing.

"Where’s Sylvia?" I asked nervously.

"She’s inside, Miss," he replied.

I glanced around. Some of the servants nearby were watching me, then quickly looking away when I caught their eyes.

Something felt wrong.

I turned to Mr. Clifford. "Did anything happen?" I asked, looking up at him.

He didn’t say anything. He only bowed again and gestured toward the front door.

"Where is my dad?" I asked, and this time I felt the tears before I even realized they had started falling.

"He’s inside with the second Miss and Madam."

I stepped back a little.

If I had just ignored Xander. If I had just walked away instead of asking what he meant. None of this would have happened.

What am I supposed to do now?

I shook my head and forced my legs to move toward the mansion.

Every step felt heavier than the last, like my legs had been cut open and I was walking through it.

I had never felt this weak in my entire life.

I pressed my hand against one of the pillars, using it to keep myself steady. My legs didn’t feel like they belonged to me anymore.

I stared at the front doors of the mansion, doors I had walked through thousands of times, that now felt like a threat.

I dragged my feet and walked in.

The moment I stepped inside I heard Dad’s voice, raised in a way I rarely heard, echoing through the house.

My eyes were already burning, tears slipping down faster than I could wipe them away, until I could feel them swelling.

I swallowed hard, forcing the lump in my throat down. I braced myself and walked in slowly.

"Dad, I’m sorry; it’s all my fault," I said the moment I walked in.

I looked up and froze.

Dad and Mom were sitting down, laughing at what Sylvia was demonstrating. They turned immediately when they heard my voice.

"Hey, Amelia, you’re back." Sylvia said, walking toward me, smiling.

Wait... what was really happening here? Why were they laughing?

I had spent the entire drive home worried that I was walking into a disaster. I had pictured Dad furious, Mom in tears, and Sylvia being blamed for everything that happened at school.

Instead, I had just walked in on what looked like a perfectly ordinary, happy evening.

"What is really happening here?" I asked, my voice cracking as the tears started rolling down my cheeks again.

Sylvia reached for my hands first, gently wiping at my tears with her thumb. "Why are you crying?"

I looked at her, then past her toward my parents.

"Dad...Mom, don’t you see that video posted online? The one from the cafeteria?"

Dad let out a laugh, the sound echoing in the large living room.

Mom immediately stood up and walked to me, guiding me into a seat.

"I’m very proud of Sylvia," Dad said, laughing softly. "She was so fierce, protecting her sister. That’s exactly what a Winston does."

Mom brushed her thumb gently under my eyes, wiping away the tears at the corner.

"Honey, don’t worry yourself over this." She said softly, cupping my cheeks in her hands. "You’re still my sweet girl."

"And I’ve decided," Dad continued, clearly pleased with himself. "I’m hosting a recognition party for Sylvia next week. I want the whole world to know she’s my daughter."

Sylvia let out a soft laugh from beside me, looking down at where she still held my hands.

"Was that really why you were crying this whole time?" She asked, reaching up to pat my head.

"Of course it was. You slapped the heir of the Vale family because of me. How was I supposed to stay calm?" I said, looking at her, and started all over again, crying. But loudly this time.

I broke completely, sobbing louder than before, all the fear and guilt I had been carrying since that cafeteria finally spilling out of me at once.

I turned and buried myself against Mom, crying. She just held me, patting my head and smiling.

Dad was still laughing quietly to himself. Sylvia leaned back against the sofa cushions, watching me with a soft smile before tilting her head a little.

"But Amelia, why did you come back so early?" She asked, with a confused expression.

I lifted my head just enough to look at her, and immediately the tears started again.

Weren’t you the entire reason I rushed back?

I thought you would be the one getting scolded for what happened. If I had known none of that was true, I wouldn’t have panicked the way I did.

I didn’t say any of it out loud. I just let my tears fall instead.

Mom and Dad were laughing again, like the whole evening had been nothing but a funny little misunderstanding.

"What about the Vale family?" I said, still sobbing.

Dad lifted his wine glass and took a slow sip. "Don’t worry about them. They’ve already sent their apology for their son’s behavior."

"Apologized?" I repeated, staring at him in disbelief.

The proud and noble Vale family apologizes? Impossible? That’s absurd.

The fact that they had bent enough to send an apology felt almost impossible to believe.

"Why does that surprise you so much?" Dad asked, raising an eyebrow at me. "You thanked your sister today. Something you’ve never done for a single soul outside this family. If that’s possible, an apology from the Vales is nothing."

"Dad," I groaned, frowning.

Mom laughed quietly, shaking her head at the two of us.

"Don’t worry," Dad said, his tone shifting into something more serious now. "I’ll make sure no one bothers you at school again."

Then his expression changed a little.

"There’s also something important I need to tell you both."

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