Falling For The True Heiress

I sat down on the wet ground near the iron gates, not caring at all. Cold water immediately soaked through my gown, and the rough gravel beneath me dug painfully into my skin. The rain lashed against my face and blurred the world beyond the gates.

Different thoughts kept running through my mind, each one more painful than the last.

What if they don’t want me anymore?

How will everyone see me now?

A fake?

How do I even start searching for my real parents?

I buried my face between my knees, the rain hammering against my back, soaking through my gown that the storm hadn’t already ruined.

Eighteen years.

Eighteen years of believing I was Amelia Winston. Eighteen years of being loved, pampered, and prepared for a future that was never truly mine.

And just like that, in a single night, everything turned out to be a lie.

"What are you doing out in the rain?" A soft voice called, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I turned toward the voice. It was her, the real biological daughter. The true heiress.

"Here it comes," I said with a bitter laugh.

She could have at least waited for me to leave before coming to torment me for stealing her life for eighteen years.

She was running toward me through the rain, her black gown already soaked through, her hair coming loose from its neat ponytail and clinging to her cheeks.

Why would she come out in the rain without an umbrella? Is she insane?

"Stand up, Amelia," she said, gently pulling me up from the ground. Her hand was surprisingly warm against my freezing fingers.

I was surprised. I had read so many web novels and watched so many movies about true and fake heiresses, but nothing happening right now matched what I expected.

I stood up and pulled away from her, a bitter smile tugging at my lips.

"Hope you’re satisfied? Or are you here to torment me more?" I said. "Go ahead. I stole your happy life."

"What are you talking about, Amelia?" she asked, looking at me with serious eyes.

I was confused. I wasn’t expecting that question.

"I’m Sylvia," she said. "Sylvia Ashford."

I just stared at her, still confused.

"Let’s get out of the rain and find somewhere dry," she said, gently grabbing my wrist.

We ran until we found shelter beneath a small awning a few feet from the gates. Rain hammered against the metal roof, so loud it almost drowned out our voices. Water dripped steadily from the edges, forming puddles around our feet.

"Amelia, I want to apologize for everything," she said, looking up at me. "For ruining your birthday."

Wait, is she insane? Why is she apologizing to a fake like me?

"I’m not here to torment you for stealing my life," she continued, smiling softly.

"Because it has nothing to do with you. And I wasn’t suffering these past eighteen years."

I kept staring at her, completely confused. Is this another birthday prank? Why is she being so nice?

I looked around, checking for hidden cameras somewhere in the dark.

I didn’t understand her at all. And somehow, that scared me more than anything else tonight.

A black-tinted SUV stopped in front of us. Mom came running toward us, holding an umbrella that did almost nothing against the downpour. Her silver gown was soaked at the hem, and strands of wet hair clung to her face.

"What is really going on here?" I whispered to myself, feeling even more confused. "Or are all those web novels and movies just lies?"

"Babies, are you alright?" Mom asked, looking between us. Her voice was shaking.

Sylvia smiled and stood up. "We’re fine, Ma."

I didn’t say anything because right now, I was only getting more confused.

Tears started rolling down Mom’s face mixing with the rain.

"I’m sorry, Amelia. I didn’t expect things to turn out like this," she said.

"Please forgive Mom, honey." She wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

I couldn’t stand seeing Mom cry, even though I now knew she wasn’t my biological mother.

She was the one who made me who I am today. So why would I hate her? She was still my mom, even if they eventually kicked me out of the house.

"Mom..." I said, reaching out to wipe the tears at the corners of her eyes. "I’m sorry."

Three more black SUVs came toward us and stopped behind the first. Dad stepped out and walked quickly in our direction.

"Dad," I said, surprised. I wasn’t expecting him to come out here himself.

I glanced at the line of cars, then back at Dad standing in front of me, his secretary holding an umbrella over his head.

"Dad, why all the cars?" I asked.

"We were looking for you, Amelia," Dad said, smiling gently.

I suddenly felt guilty for making my parents worry. Tears started rolling down my eyes again. I had run away screaming that I hated them. And they had sent four cars out into the rain just to find me.

"I’m sorry, Mom... Dad," I said, feeling remorseful for everything.

"Now let’s go home, Amelia," Mom said, patting my head softly.

Home? Do I still have a home?

I nodded quietly. Sylvia helped pull me up while Mom held my hand, and together we walked back toward the car, rain still falling steadily around us.

The mansion doors opened the moment we stepped inside. Warm golden light spilled across the wet stone steps, and heated air wrapped around me instantly. The scent of vanilla candles and polished floor replaced the smell of rain and wet earth.

Sylvia’s foster parents were still in the sitting room. The glasses of orange juice and plates of cake that had been served to them remained untouched.

The moment we walked in, they rushed toward Sylvia.

"Sylvia!" the middle-aged woman called out, checking her all over. "You are all wet."

Sylvia smiled, and honestly, I was just noticing that she had a nice and sweet smile.

Wait, what was I really thinking? I should be really thinking about myself more right now. I don’t even know what my fate is anymore.

"How about you too, Amelia?" The middle-aged woman said, turning toward me with genuine worry written across her face.

Did I hear her correctly? She was actually asking the girl who took over her goddaughter’s life for eighteen years if I was fine.

I forced a small smile. "I’m good, Ma."

Sylvia turned toward me, smiling, then looked back at her godparents.

"Mom... Dad, let’s sit down," she said, walking toward the couch behind them.

When everyone was seated, Dad cleared his throat. The room fell silent except for the faint ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner.

"I’m very sorry for everything that happened," he said, smiling at Sylvia’s foster parents. "Thank you for taking care of my daughter all these years. And for helping us reunite with our daughter."

The middle-aged couple smiled warmly.

"Sylvia has been a quiet and nice child since she was little," the middle-aged woman said, turning toward her husband.

"That was exactly why we wanted to help her find her biological parents, so she could meet them."

"Sylvia," Dad said, looking at her with sadness in his eyes. "I’m very sorry for everything. I’m very sorry for the birth switch incident. For all of it"

"I won’t force you to stay if you don’t want to. But please find a place in your heart to forgive Mom and me," Dad said softly.

Sylvia smiled and turned toward me. She met my gaze and didn’t look away.

"I will stay, Dad," she said. "But only if Amelia stays too."

"Huh?!" I said, caught completely off guard.

What does she mean if I stay? Why is she smiling like that?

A fake is always a fake.

The warmth of the mansion, the concern in Mom’s eyes, and Sylvia’s strange kindness couldn’t change that.

Deep down, I already knew the truth.

I was living on borrowed time.

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