My Family Chose The Fake Heiress Then Begged For Me Back Chapter 01
I have a habit. I say yes to everything. Then I do the exact opposite.
When I was eight, my foster dad told me to keep watch while he stole from Walmart.
I nodded seriously.
Then I turned to a woman nearby and said proudly, “Ma’am! My dad’s in there doing a Mission: Impossible thing!”
Twenty minutes later, my foster dad was in handcuffs, and I was sent to a group home.
At fourteen, a staff member drove me away and told me to sit still and keep quiet.
I nodded obediently.
Then I rolled down the window and yelled at a passerby.
“My uncle told me not to talk, but I’m really hungry!”
He ended up in handcuffs too.
Four years later, a DNA match reunited me with the wealthy Aldrich family.
On my first day home, Mia, the adopted daughter, handed me an antique gold brooch.
“This belonged to Grandmother. It was always meant for you… the real Aldrich daughter.”
“Great. Thanks! I’ll keep it.”
Then she turned around and sobbed to Mom that I had stolen it from her.
My brother, Callum, kicked open my bedroom door minutes later.
“What gives you the right to take Mia’s brooch?”
I blinked at him. “What?”
“Don’t play dumb!”
He was about to search my room when Mr. Hayes, the estate manager, appeared in the doorway.
“Mr. Aldrich, the brooch left by the late Mrs. Aldrich is still on the table in the front hall. One of the maids nearly cleared it away.”
…
The room went silent.
Callum stopped cold.
Mia stood behind Mr. Hayes, with Mom beside her.
She turned to Mom, biting her lip, her eyes glistening.
“I must have… gotten confused. I was so scared you wouldn’t like me, and my mind just went blank…”
She sniffled and added, very softly: “I didn’t realize she didn’t even want Grandmother’s brooch…”
Mom pulled her close, stroking her hair.
Callum’s jaw was clenched.
“Even if you didn’t take the brooch—what’s your attitude toward Mia? She offers you something from the heart and you just toss it aside?”
I looked up, genuinely lost. “I tossed it?”
Mom sighed, patting Mia’s back. Her voice was tired.
“You’ve been here one day, and Mia’s already this upset.”
“She’s lived here for eighteen years. Then overnight, you show up and everything changes. Can you blame her for being scared?”
“Would it kill you to cut her a little slack?”
I thought about it, then nodded. “Okay.”
Callum stared at me. “Then go apologize. Right now.”
“Sure.”
I answered without hesitation. Then I lay back down and picked up my phone.
Some time passed.
Callum’s temple twitched.
“Why are you still lying there?”
I looked up, puzzled. “I said I would. I just haven’t decided when yet.”
Callum drew a slow breath, his jaw tightening. Mom grabbed his arm and pulled him out.
…
That evening, Mia knocked on my door. Eyes red-rimmed, voice barely above a whisper.
“Mom left a welcome-home gift for you on the vanity in the master bedroom. She wants you to go get it.”
I sat up. “Oh—sure, I’ll grab it right now.”
Mia smiled and left. Her footsteps were light on the carpet.
I also turned.
Toward my stack of packages. I’d just gotten access to an Aldrich credit card for the first time in my life—of course I’d been shopping.
I was halfway through a box of new headphones when Mia came flying down the stairs, tears streaming.
“Mom! She went through your vanity—your sapphire earrings—the ones from the Sotheby’s auction—they’re gone—”
Mom’s face went white.
Mr. Hayes hesitated in the doorway before speaking.
“If I may—Miss Nora has been sitting in the living room opening packages. She hasn’t gone upstairs.”
Mia shot him a warning look.
Mr. Hayes flinched. Then he added, more quietly: “The home security cameras would show the same, if anyone wanted to check.”
Mom pulled up the Nest footage on her phone.
There I was, cross-legged on the living room floor for a solid hour, buried in cardboard and bubble wrap. I hadn’t stood up once.
Mia’s expression froze for a beat. Then it crumpled.
“I must have gotten confused again… maybe one of the housekeepers moved them… I’ve just been so anxious…”
Mom pulled her in, stroking her hair. Then she turned to me.
“Do you see how insecure she is because of you? Can’t you just be more careful? Give her some peace of mind?”
I was sitting on the sofa holding a tube of moisturizer I’d just unwrapped.
I nodded. “Got it. I’ll be more careful.”
Then I watched as Mom, Dad, and Callum gathered around Mia, soothing her, murmuring reassurances.
A strange discomfort settled in my chest.
But it was fine.​
I didn’t think much of it.
A little while later, Mia’s bedroom door slammed shut.​
Then came the sound of something shattering inside.