Falling For The True Heiress

I stared at Sylvia, still shocked by the side of her I’d never seen before. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

I had always known her as the gentle one. But the girl sitting in front of me now felt like someone else entirely.

She spoke as if bringing down an enemy was no different from deciding what to cook for dinner.

A small smile tugged at my lips. And somehow...

I liked this side of her. I slowly turned my chair to face her completely and leaned back.

Sylvia seemed to notice the way I was looking at her. A faint smile curved her lips as she gently bit her lower lip, her eyes never leaving mine.

For a few quiet moments, neither of us said anything. We simply held each other’s gaze. It felt like the rest of the world had disappeared.

Then—

Click.

The doorknob turned. I immediately broke eye contact and looked toward the door. Mom stepped inside first, followed closely by Mr. Clifford.

Mr. Clifford was carrying a large insulated food flask in one hand and a matching water flask in the other. Mom had already changed her clothes.

She was wearing a long purple gown that flowed softly around her as she walked. Her hair was neatly tied back, but the tiredness in her eyes was still there. No amount of freshening up could hide it.

"Mom," I called softly.

She smiled the moment she saw me and walked over. Mr. Clifford quietly placed the food flask and water flask on the bedside table.

I immediately stood up and gently held Mom’s arm, helping her sit beside Dad.

The moment she sat down, her hand reached for Dad’s almost instinctively. She intertwined their fingers together and smiled sadly at him.

I looked away and turned to Sylvia. "Stay with Mom for a while."

Sylvia nodded without hesitation. "I will."

I smiled faintly before turning to Mr. Clifford. "Mr. Clifford."

He straightened immediately. "Yes, Miss?"

I looked at him for a second. "Please follow me."

He nodded without asking any questions. "Yes, Miss."

I gave Dad one last look before turning toward the door.

Mr. Clifford and I walked toward the small waiting area at the end of the VIP wing. The polished floor reflected the bright hospital lights beneath our feet. Somewhere farther down the corridor, a trolley rolled past with a soft squeak.

I stopped walking. "Dad’s secretary..." I said, turning to Mr. Clifford.

"The one who left the hospital. What exactly did he say before he left?"

Mr. Clifford frowned thoughtfully. "He said there was an emergency at the company, Miss."

I folded my arms. "...Without being asked?"

"Yes, Miss. He also said he was supposed to attend to a client while the chairman handled some company matters. But the moment he heard about the chairman’s accident, he rushed straight to the hospital."

I lowered my eyes, then slowly looked back at him. "Pull his employment records," I said.

Mr. Clifford immediately straightened.

"I want everything. From the day he was employed. Who recommended him. Who approved his employment."

"Everyone he’s worked with. And everyone he’s been communicating with inside the company."

"I’ll have everything ready within the hour, Miss," Mr. Clifford said immediately.

I nodded once. "And don’t let him know."

Mr. Clifford nodded.

"Don’t let anyone know we’re investigating him.

His expression immediately became serious. "I understand."

"And also place bodyguards outside Dad’s ward. Nobody is allowed in or out except the doctors, nurses, and our family."

"If anyone else tries. They should stop them. Not even my relatives are allowed."

"Yes, Miss," Mr. Clifford said, nodding his head.

I let out a slow breath. "That’s all."

Mr. Clifford bowed slightly before walking away. I watched him disappear around the corner.

Sylvia was right. If someone was truly behind this...

The worst thing I could do was let them know I had discovered them.

I smiled faintly. We’ll see who wins.

By the time I returned to Dad’s room, everything had become quiet again.

Mom sat beside Dad. Her hand was wrapped around his. Her thumb slowly brushed across the back of his fingers as though she were trying to remind herself he was still there. Sylvia sat quietly beside her.

The room smelled faintly of medicine and antiseptic. The steady beeping of the monitor filled every silent space.

I walked over. Did the doctor say anything else before? " I asked.

Mom shook her head. "No. She smiled weakly. "But he said your dad’s vital signs are stable."

I nodded and then looked at Dad. The pale hospital light made his skin look almost colorless.

The oxygen mask covered half his face. The clear IV tubing disappeared beneath the blanket before climbing toward the drip stand beside him.

I slowly reached down and covered his hand with mine. "I’ll figure it out, Dad."

"I promise."

Mom looked up. "Amelia." She called. "You and Sylvia should go home. You girls have school tomorrow."

I nodded and then looked toward Sylvia. She quietly stood up, picked up her handbag from the sofa, and walked over.

Before either of us could move—

The door suddenly opened, and Camila walked in. Daniela followed right behind her.

The moment Daniela saw me, her face lit up. She ran straight toward me.

"Amelia!"

She threw her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly before pulling back just enough to look at me. The force of the hug made me take half a step backward.

"Hope you didn’t miss me?"

She tilted her head to one side. Her hair slipped over her shoulder, and the dimple on her cheek appeared immediately.

I couldn’t help smiling. I reached out and gently touched it with my fingertip.

"Extrañaba tu hoyuelo," I said.

(I missed your dimple.)

Daniela pouted dramatically. "Hmm..."

"No echas de menos al dueño, ¿verdad?"

(But you don’t miss the owner?)

A soft laugh escaped Camila. "Pequeño bribón..."

"¿Puedes tener un poco de autocontrol incluso en público?"

(Little rascal... can you have a little self-control even in public?)

Daniela immediately turned toward her. "No es asunto tuyo."

(None of your business.)

"Amelia es mía."

(Amelia is mine.)

She hugged me even tighter before sticking out her tongue playfully at Camila. I couldn’t help laughing. Then my eyes drifted toward Sylvia.

She was standing there with her arms folded across her chest, frowning.

She wasn’t looking at Daniela. She was looking at me.

I blinked. Why was she looking at me like that?

...

Doesn’t she realize...

I’m already dealing with another version of her? I quietly snorted.

Then looked at Daniela. "Let’s go."

She frowned. "¿Vamos?"

(We’re leaving?)

"¿No vas a la escuela mañana?" I asked, smiling.

(Aren’t you going to school tomorrow?)

She immediately nodded.

"Sí."

"So..."

I intertwined my fingers with hers. "Let’s go home."

Daniela smiled immediately. She grabbed my hand, and together we started walking toward the door.

I glanced back, and Sylvia hadn’t moved. She was still standing exactly where she’d been before, still frowning.

I honestly didn’t understand why. Camila followed behind us and quietly closed the door.

The door clicked shut.

~~~~~ Third-person POV ~~~~~

Sylvia remained standing inside the hospital room. Her handbag rested against her shoulder, but she barely seemed aware of it.

Her gaze lingered on the closed door. Daniela’s laughter still echoed inside her head. The way Daniela had hugged Amelia without hesitation. How Amelia had smiled back easily.

Something tightened inside her chest. Her fingers slowly tightened around the strap of her handbag until her knuckles turned pale.

She hated it. She hated how easily people walked into Amelia’s space. And also how Amelia smiled for them.

And somehow...

She hated even more that Amelia didn’t seem to realize what she was doing.

"Honey." Mrs. Stella’s gentle voice pulled her back.

Sylvia turned, and Mrs. Stella looked at her quietly. A small smile slowly appeared on her lips as if she knew what Sylvia was worried about.

"She’s always been like that," Stella said softly. "When Amelia trusts someone... she forgets the rest of the world."

Sylvia lowered her eyes. "...I know."

But knowing it didn’t make the feeling hurt any less.

She took a slow breath before quietly walking out of the room.

---

Outside the hospital, Amelia was leaning against her car. Camila stood close in front of her, talking quietly.

Amelia closed her eyes. The exhaustion she’d been holding back all day finally caught up with her. She leaned forward until her forehead rested lightly against Camila’s shoulder.

Camila didn’t move. Instead, she gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind Amelia’s ear. Her fingertips barely grazed Amelia’s skin before falling back to her side, allowing her to remain exactly where she was.

Just then, the hospital doors slid open.

Sylvia stepped outside. The evening air was cool against her skin. The hospital lights cast long shadows across the parking lot.

Her eyes immediately found Amelia and Camila. The two of them were close enough that almost no space remained between them. Camila gently wrapped her arms around Amelia.

She stopped walking. Her fingers slowly tightened around the strap of her handbag. The warmth in her expression disappeared.

Something sharp twisted inside her chest so that it almost hurt. She couldn’t look away.

She didn’t have a name for the feeling.

She only knew she hated the sight in front of her.

She didn’t even realize she’d started walking toward them until her voice escaped.

"Amelia," she called. Her voice cut through the evening air.

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