I envied the CEO’s sister Rachelle, whose desk neighbored mine. While I slaved 9-to-9 for 3K/month, she earned 300K doing nothing. She could even throw wine at investors—her brother made me apologize. Then the Clarkes learned Rachelle wasn’t their blood. I was. “They’ll see you as an intruder,” my friend warned. “And your brother’s obsession with her is psychotic.” I shrugged. “Who returns to wealth just to beg for love?” But if they dared give Rachelle even one share of mine—then we’d have a problem. 1 The Clarke family held a press conference for me. The great Miss Clarke, who used to sip bubble tea while dumping her work on my desk, was now sitting in the main seat, her eyes red and puffy. I found it strange. As the long-lost heiress being welcomed back, why was I seated in the secondary position? Just as I was about to make a statement, Rachelle suddenly stood up, burst into tears, and ran off. The moment she ran, my former boss and now-brother, CEO Leo Clarke, along with Mr. and Mrs. Clarke, all followed her out. The entire venue, with its thousand-plus attendees, was left staring at me. Me, all alone on the stage. My toes were curling in my shoes from the sheer awkwardness. I was contemplating telling a joke to lighten the mood when the sound system suddenly crackled to life with the voices of the Clarke family. “It’s okay, darling. We’re just acknowledging her. You are still the one and only princess of the Clarke family.” That was my father’s voice. Then came my brother’s. “Exactly, Rachelle. At the end of the day, she’s just an employee under my command. If she knows her place, I might grace her by calling her ‘sister.’ But if she tries to take anything that’s yours, I’ll kick her out of the company so fast her head will spin.” The crowd below started murmuring. “Oh no, they forgot to turn off their microphones!” I buried my face in my hands. I’d worked for that idiot Leo Clarke for years. A man so obsessed with public relations would never make such a rookie mistake. It was obvious. This was intentional. A public declaration of my status, a power play to put me in my place. The gazes that were once filled with envy now dripped with contempt. Then, my mother’s voice. “Don’t you worry, sweetie. We just won’t let her move into the manor. You’ll still be the only princess there.” The scrutinizing glares of the crowd felt like they were physically burning my skin. Anyone else would have scurried off the stage in shame. But I stayed glued to my chair, waiting for the full fifteen minutes it took for them to return. When they saw me still sitting there, brazenly refusing to leave, their faces darkened. They clearly hadn’t expected me to be this shameless. What a joke. I’d finally gotten my ticket to the high life. Only a fool would give it up over a few stupid comments. “Ahem, well, Melissa,” my mother began, her voice strained. “You’ve come back so suddenly, we haven’t had time to prepare a room for you. Why don’t you stay in your apartment for now? I’ll give you a living allowance. You can find a nicer place.” A ten-thousand-square-foot manor, and they needed time to “prepare” a room? It was just a flimsy excuse to keep me out. Rachelle, hiding behind my mother, shot me a triumphant smirk. I nodded. “Fine.” My CEO brother gave me a look that screamed, Good, you know your place. “But,” I said, my tone shifting, “since I’m back, a living allowance can’t be all there is, right?” I locked eyes with them. “I heard you prepared a portfolio of shares for ‘sister.’ Where’s mine?” Their jaws dropped. 2 Leo was clearly used to ordering me around. He slipped right back into his boss-to-subordinate attitude. “What nonsense are you talking about? Are you in any position to be asking for that?” I nodded and stood up. “Alright then. I see you’re not sincere about welcoming me back. In that case, I won’t bother.” And I actually started to walk away. My mother rushed to stop me. They were a prominent family, after all. The news of the switched-at-birth scandal had already spread. If it got out that their real daughter refused to acknowledge them, it would be a major embarrassment. “We need to discuss the shares. We’ll give them to you later.” “No. Now.” We’re all adults here. Did they really think I’d fall for such a transparent delay tactic? Leo frowned. “Stop making a scene!” “Look at this,” I said, addressing the room. “As your biological daughter and sister, you won’t even let me live in my own home, and you’re refusing to give me any compensation. What’s the point of this sham press conference?” “And I’m guessing these reporters are your trained dogs, too? I’m leaving.” “Sister!” Rachelle called out, her eyes red. She bit her lip, the corners of her eyes flushed. “You… you’ve misunderstood. What I meant was… I was afraid you wouldn’t be used to the new environment, so I thought it would be better for you to stay in your apartment for a while.” I laughed. “Miss Clarke, only the rich have trouble adjusting to a poor person’s home. Have you ever heard of a poor person not being able to adapt to a grand manor?” Rachelle’s eyes grew redder, tears threatening to fall. “I… I’m sorry. I’ll have you come home then…” Leo stepped in front of her. “If you don’t know how to talk, then keep your mouth shut.” “And what business is it of yours?” I shot back. Leo was stunned. As his corporate workhorse, I’d always been smiles on the outside, curses on the inside. “Mr. Clarke, you’re my brother now. Is it appropriate for you to still be using that tone with me, as if I’m your subordinate?” Leo’s brow furrowed. I stepped right past him and looked at the still-crying Rachelle. “And you, Miss Clarke, don’t have to look so wronged. After all, I should have been living in this home from the day I was born.” 3 In the Rolls-Royce, the family sat in a heavy, brooding silence. My mother would occasionally dab at Rachelle’s tears. Only I, sitting in a Rolls-Royce for the first time, ignored everyone’s glares and curiously touched everything, from the plush leather to the intricate stitching. Just as I was admiring the starlight headliner, my mother spoke. “The young master of the Hayes family will be here to pick us up soon. You can get to know him.” I caught the hesitation in her voice. “What’s the relationship between the Hayes family and us?” Leo answered impatiently, “An arranged marriage.” I instinctively looked at Rachelle. “Then it should be with ‘sister,’ right?” Rachelle bit her lower lip, her fingers clenching the fabric of her skirt. Leo sneered. “Of course. They’ve known each other for twenty-six years. You can’t compare.” My mother tried to smooth things over. “Melissa, we respect your wishes. Although the agreement was for you and Adrian to be engaged, Rachelle has grown up with him all these years.” “If you don’t like him, we won’t force you.” I picked at the car’s decal. If I couldn’t understand my own mother’s subtle hints, then all my years in the corporate world would have been for nothing. I met Adrian Hayes soon after. Tall, with long legs, easily six-foot-one. He was my type. But Rachelle beat me to it, flinging open the car door. “Adrian!” She threw herself into his arms. She didn’t say anything. She just cried. Adrian was flustered for a moment, then he looked up and saw me. His brow furrowed. Rachelle, sobbing, pulled away from him as if she’d just remembered something. She pushed Adrian towards me. “I’m sorry, sister. I… I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m not trying to take Adrian from you…” Adrian gave Rachelle a surprised look. Rachelle bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. “Go on. You were the one betrothed to him at birth… I… I’m just a fake…” Watching his long-time love offer him up in pain, a flash of pity crossed Adrian’s eyes. He shot me a look. It was ice-cold. “I don’t like her.” “No, Adrian.” Rachelle shook her head. “You and she are the real arranged marriage.” I raised my hand. “Uh…” “I don’t like her, and that’s final. I only like you,” Adrian said, completely ignoring me. I cleared my throat. “Excuse me, I was trying to say…” “Forget it, Adrian. My sister is back now…” Rachelle wept. “Hello?” “So what if she’s back? A low-class girl from the gutter thinks she can take what’s yours?” “But…” “Are you two done?!” I was genuinely angry now. Rachelle quickly stepped in front of Adrian. “Sister! I won’t fight with you over him, don’t misunderstand! I know my place!” “You really want to give him to me?” I stared at her. Rachelle froze for a second, then sobbed. “Of course…” “Fine.” Rachelle’s eyes went wide. Adrian refused. “I’m not interested in you.” “Is that for you to decide?” I lifted my chin. “I heard our families signed some kind of agreement for our betrothal. You can marry my ‘sister,’ no problem. Just pay the breach of contract penalty.” The agreement was signed in jest years ago, but the penalty fee was astronomically high. Even though it was a joke, if I wanted to be serious about it, it was legally enforceable. Adrian gritted his teeth. “See? If you don’t want to pay up, then you’ll marry me.” Adrian’s fists were clenched tight. I raised an eyebrow at Rachelle. “Thank you for your generosity, sister.” “Sister!” Rachelle suddenly dropped to her knees with a thud. 4 If you had told me a day ago that the pampered princess from the desk next to mine would be kneeling and kowtowing to me, I would have thought I’d gone insane. But Rachelle really did it, bowing her head so hard her forehead turned red. “I’m begging you, please let us be together! Even though you and Adrian have an arranged marriage, you’re the true heiress of the Clarke family. You can have anything you want in the future.” “But I… I only have Adrian…” Adrian immediately pulled her into his arms, glaring at me. “Don’t go too far!” Leo also gave me a harsh shove. “You’re bullying her again!” My parents rushed over, embracing Rachelle and murmuring comforting words. My mother looked at me. “Melissa, don’t make things difficult for your sister.” “I’m not making things difficult for her.” I walked towards Rachelle, step by step. “Your sister was the one who said she would give him to me. And I confirmed it with you, didn’t I?” “Since you were so sure about giving him to me, why are you acting like I stole him from you now that I’ve actually taken him?” I squatted down in front of Rachelle. “If you don’t want to give something away, then don’t offer it. Because otherwise, I will really take it.” Rachelle shrank back into Leo’s arms, looking terrified. I stood up with a cold laugh, glancing at the furious Adrian. “Don’t be so nervous. I was just kidding about wanting you. You’re not my type.” Adrian’s breath hitched. He gritted his teeth in frustration. Strange. When I said I wanted him, he wasn’t interested. When I told him the truth, that I wasn’t interested, he was still unhappy. 5 The next morning, a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace was presented to me as soon as I woke up. Seeing my parents’ smiling faces, I knew something was up. Sure enough, my mother began. “Melissa, dear, we’ve thought about the shares. We will definitely give them to you.” “However, the transfer of shares we had previously decided on for Rachelle has already gone through. If you can just wait until the company grows a bit more, we will give you every single share that you’re entitled to.” My father chimed in. “That’s right. You are our biological daughter. Don’t worry.” So that’s what this was about. Yesterday, the shares hadn’t been transferred. I go to sleep for one night, and suddenly they’re in Rachelle’s hands. This didn’t look like a family planning to leave me my inheritance. But… I picked up the necklace, worth less than ten thousand dollars, and my eyes reddened. “Okay… you are my parents, after all…” Seeing this, a flicker of pity crossed my mother’s eyes. I continued to wipe away my fake tears. “I know I wasn’t raised by you. Even though I’m your biological daughter, I’ll never have the same treatment as my sister.” “I understand. I won’t ask for a single share. You don’t have to worry.” “How can you say that, child!” My mother pulled me into her arms. “You are our daughter. That will never change!” My father nodded. “We’re happy that you’re so understanding, but you mustn’t say such things.” I sniffled. “Do you really love me?” “Of course! What parents don’t love their children!” “Then… can you transfer me to the overseas division? I don’t want shares. Just let me manage the division.” They both froze. 6 I was nervous when I made that request. I was afraid they’d see my ambition. Initially, I did want the inheritance that was rightfully mine. But after coming home and seeing how this family operated, it was clear that the Clarke company wouldn’t last another few decades with their kind of thinking. Leo was in charge of the domestic market. I couldn’t get a foothold there, and my parents would never hand over that kind of power to me. The only potential breakthrough for me was the overseas market. I wasn’t interested in the Clarke family’s shares anymore. I wanted real, tangible power in my own hands. Maybe my acting was good enough, or maybe my parents still had some lingering affection for me, but they agreed. They even added a condition. “Good girl, work hard. If you can expand the overseas market, any extra profits will be all yours!” My eyes lit up. “Really?” “Really.” “Then you have to sign an agreement!” I had someone draw up a contract in record time. They were a little taken aback, but they signed it. They thought I was just a low-level employee. What they didn’t know was that the only reason I hadn’t climbed higher was because Leo’s cronies were jealously guarding every promotion path. All I needed was an opening. Even a tiny one. I would tear it open, whatever the cost, and fight my way out. But at the dinner table, when Rachelle found out I was leaving, her eyes immediately reddened. She stood up, ready to leave. The family quickly pulled her back. She looked at me with a wounded expression. “Sister, are you applying for an overseas transfer because you don’t want to live with me?” “If you don’t want to see me, I can move out. I can even live in your old apartment.” “No!” Leo frowned. “That dump is no place for you. If anyone’s living there, it should be her!” I clenched my chopsticks. This idiot boss was as infuriating as ever. “But if I don’t leave, my sister will… I’m just the fake heiress. You’ve all loved me by mistake for so many years. How can I take what’s rightfully hers?” My parents, full of pity, put down their chopsticks and pulled her into their arms. “Melissa, don’t make things difficult for your sister. Just forget it.” “That’s right. We’ll give you a comfortable, do-nothing position here in the country. We’ve canceled your flight.” A do-nothing position? Was that what I’d been fighting for with this group of lunatics? “Then I’m leaving.” I put down my chopsticks and actually walked out. My parents grabbed me. “Why are you being so difficult? Your sister is so upset, and you’re still throwing a tantrum!” “Do I even have the right to throw a tantrum?” They were stunned. “You won’t give me shares, you won’t even let me try my hand at the failing overseas market. What standing do I have in your hearts that would even support a tantrum?” “You’re not sincere, and I’m not going to be a freeloader.” I pulled my arm free and strode away. A maid quickly stopped me. I don’t know what my parents said to Rachelle that night. But she finally stopped her theatrics. Later that night, on my way to the bathroom, I overheard my parents talking. “Let her go if she wants to. The overseas market has been losing money for a year. What can a low-level employee like her do?” “She’ll have to come crawling back to us to bail her out.” “She’ll know she was wrong, and then she won’t be so hard on our Rachelle.” I sneered. I left without a sound. The next day, my parents and Leo, who were supposed to see me off, were nowhere to be found. They called me. “Rachelle’s puppy is sick, we have to take her to the vet. You’re more independent, so we won’t see you off. Be safe on your journey.” And they hung up. I was at the airport, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Good thing I had already arranged for a car and hadn’t actually waited for them. But with me gone, they would have no control over me anymore. Whether I was just a low-level employee or someone more qualified than Leo to run the company, they would soon find out.
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "393907", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel