When my biological parents, accompanied by the girl who had taken my place, finally tracked me down, I was standing in a dirty alleyway, holding a baseball bat and smoking a cigarette with a group of delinquents. They froze. Every single one of them instinctively reached out to shield the fragile, sweet-looking girl standing behind them. 1 Who would have thought that a street rat like me was actually the long-lost heiress to the Sterling Group? In that dim alleyway, wearing a wrinkled high school uniform but holding a bat and a cigarette, I watched the Sterling family instinctively reach out to protect the curious, wide-eyed girl standing behind them. At the very front, an impeccably dressed middle-aged couple stared at me in absolute disbelief. The woman’s voice trembled. "Are you... Harper Smith?" I had a cigarette dangling from my lips. Hearing my name, I crushed it out under my shoe and nodded, confused. The guys next to me exchanged bewildered looks, having no idea what was going on. "Harper, who are these people?" Before I could answer, the elegant woman suddenly rushed forward, threw her arms around me, and burst into tears. "My daughter! My beautiful daughter! I’m your real mother... We finally found you!" I had no idea why this woman was losing her mind. Even the stoic middle-aged man next to her had red, tear-filled eyes. I was just about to push her off when a young man stepped forward. He pressed his lips together, looking at me with a deeply complex expression. "Harper, hello. I’m your biological older brother, Arthur Sterling." "Seventeen years ago, your current adoptive mother was a maid in our house. She was pregnant and gave birth at the exact same time as our mother." "But she was wicked. Blinded by greed and wanting a life of luxury for her own flesh and blood, she secretly switched you and her baby." Before I could even process the shock of my true identity, I noticed something else. When Arthur mentioned how "wicked" and "greedy" my adoptive mother was, all the color drained from the face of the girl standing behind them. Her face turned chalk-white, she bit her lip, and tears welled up in her large, doe-like eyes. Arthur seemed to realize his slip-up. He immediately turned around and started speaking to her in a soft, coaxing voice. Even my supposed biological parents, who had just been clinging to me like a lifeline, instinctively let go. They turned back to the girl, their voices dripping with tender reassurance. "Chloe, sweetheart, don't be scared. This has nothing to do with you. You and your sister are both our precious babies. We will never abandon you." Ha. Precious babies? They really had the nerve to say that right in front of their actual biological daughter. 2 That very afternoon, under the shell-shocked gazes of my alleyway crew, I got into a multi-million-dollar luxury SUV and drove away. Of course, right before I left, Leo—that absolute idiot—yelled at the top of his lungs: "Harper! When you're rich and famous, don't forget us! We'll be waiting for you!" I rolled my eyes, gave him an "OK" sign, and got in the car. When I turned around, the Sterling family was looking at me with incredibly complicated expressions. I stared back, completely unbothered. To be honest, I didn't feel much of anything. After spending seventeen years under the "care" of my wonderful adoptive mother, my only goal in life was survival. Everything else was just noise. As for being switched at birth? It just meant I was finally getting an upgrade in living conditions. The girl who had been sobbing earlier, Chloe, finally stopped crying. Her face was a portrait of sorrow, her voice laced with heavy guilt. "Harper... I’m Chloe. I’m your... older sister. I am so, so sorry. It's all my fault that I stole seventeen years of your life..." As she spoke, fresh tears started pooling in her eyes again. My newly acquired father pressed his lips together and sighed deeply. My mother and brother immediately jumped in, cooing and comforting her again. I let out an irritated click of my tongue. The one thing I absolutely cannot stand is people who cry over every little thing. If crying actually solved anything, I would have drowned the world in tears during the countless times I prayed for someone to save me over the last seventeen years. "Excuse me, uh, Chloe, was it? Could you please stop crying?" "Do you realize that from the second we met until now, you've already had two major breakdowns? The way you're acting, anyone would think you were the one who grew up in the slums suffering. Could you stop stealing my spotlight? I haven't even started my tragic crying scene yet." Her sobbing stopped instantly. Her face froze. The entire Sterling family froze. The car descended into dead silence. I didn't care. I looked away, resting my chin on my hand and watching the scenery roll by outside the window. Through the tinted glass, I could clearly see the towering skyscrapers and the glowing city skyline in the distance. It was the very first time I had ever been this close to that world. After a long pause, my "mother" was the first to speak. "Harper, I'm sorry, but your sister didn't mean it like that. She’s just very innocent and highly sensitive. She truly just feels guilty toward you." My father nodded in agreement. But my brother, Arthur, rubbed his temples. The look he gave me was a mix of exhaustion and a faint trace of disgust. "Harper, Chloe is just terrified that now that you're back, we won't want her anymore. Please don't blame her, okay?" "Also, once we get home, you really need to change your behavior. Look at how you're dressed—you look like a street thug, and you were even smoking! How can a girl behave like that?" "A girl should be gentle, quiet, and elegant. Exactly like Chloe." He phrased it as advice, but his tone carried the unmistakable weight of a command. It seemed he had voiced exactly what the rest of the Sterling family was thinking. My parents nodded emphatically. Even Chloe, the fake heiress of this whole 'Prince and the Pauper' situation, chimed in with her "thoughtful" advice: "Yes, Harper. Those people you hang out with are bad influences. You can't keep mixing with that crowd. I heard your grades aren't very good, and it's definitely because those delinquents dragged you down." "When we get home, I can tutor you! And I have so many clothes in my closet, you can pick whatever you want! Mom, Dad, and Arthur bought them all for me, we can share!" Listening to this textbook, passive-aggressive, backhanded "kindness," I was completely speechless. But the Sterling family looked at her with even more pride, clearly thinking she was a shining example of generosity and grace. I found the whole thing hilarious. I actually let out a short laugh. Ignoring the disapproving glares from the Sterling family, I casually dropped a single sentence: "But those 'bad influences' and 'delinquents' you're talking about are the only reason I was able to pay my tuition and eat every year." "And I have your wonderful biological mother to thank for that, Sister." "Oh, and my brilliant older brother—you're so smart, you should be able to guess exactly why my last name is Smith, right?" Everyone's mouths snapped shut. Their faces went chalk white. Even Arthur, who had just been lecturing me so confidently, didn't dare look me in the eye. As for Chloe, her face flushed crimson. She dropped her head, clutching the hem of her designer skirt so tightly her knuckles turned white. I smirked inwardly. A fragile flower raised in a greenhouse—even if she was a toxic, manipulative white lotus—actually thought she could beat a carnivorous plant that clawed its way out of the abyss? 3 The very first thing the Sterling family did when they brought me home was change my name. I chose my new name myself: Harper Sterling. The Sterling family hosted a massive, extravagant gala to celebrate my return. That night, every relative, friend, and major business partner of the Sterling Group attended. The mansion was ablaze with crystal chandeliers and diamonds. My parents, with me dressed in a meticulously tailored gown, stood on the grand stage and formally introduced me to the elite society. My story was already the hottest gossip among the wealthy elite, so no one acted particularly shocked. However, as I looked out at the crowd, I saw Chloe mingling and laughing effortlessly with the guests. I scoffed internally. She was definitely plotting something. Sure enough, the second I stepped off the stage, she smoothly grabbed my arm. "Harper, come with me! Let me introduce you to the kids our age." She smiled warmly, looking like the picture-perfect, caring older sister. Even my mother, who had been holding my arm, nodded in approval. "Go ahead, Harper. Follow your sister and get to know everyone." I smiled, shrugged, and followed her over. A group of wealthy teenagers were lounging on a velvet sofa. They were clearly the kids Chloe had grown up with. They looked me up and down with blatant disdain. One guy holding a champagne flute actually scoffed out loud. "Where did this trash come from? Does she really think she can just waltz into our circle?" Chloe immediately jumped in to "defend" me: "Oh, come on, Liam. Don't be mean to my sister. It's her first time at a party like this, she doesn't understand how things work." Her best friend sitting next to her yanked Chloe back. "Chloe, you're too nice. People are just going to walk all over you." She shot me a look of pure disgust. "Let me make something clear to you. In our circle, we don't care about bloodlines. We only respect capability." "I heard you were some street rat who spent all her time with thugs. Ha. You better check yourself before you think you can threaten Chloe's position." "You could never compare to her. She’s already helping her brother with corporate affairs, her grades are flawless, and she’s practically guaranteed early admission into an Ivy League. You better bury whatever petty little schemes you have in your head." I listened with great interest as they took turns taking shots at me, while Chloe played the role of the reluctant peacemaker, dropping "nice" comments at the perfect moments. When the flock of noisy ducks finally shut their mouths, I took a slow sip of my drink and spoke. "Are you done? If you're done, go get me some appetizers and a glass of juice, and I might forgive you." I lazily dropped myself onto a plush armchair. The entire group stared at me in shock before erupting into hysterical laughter. The guy, Liam, laughed the hardest, spilling champagne on his shoes. "Oh my god, this is hilarious! Chloe, what is wrong with your sister? She wants us to fetch her food and drinks? Has she completely lost her mind?" Chloe looked at me with a face full of reprimand, but I knew she was screaming with joy on the inside. "Harper... how could you order everyone around like that?" "Why shouldn't I?" I widened my eyes in feigned innocence, pulled out my phone, AirDropped a file to the mansion's main projector system, and hit play. Instantly, the massive speakers across the ballroom blasted the arrogant voices of the trust fund kids. "Where did this trash come from?" "I heard you were some street rat?" "You better check yourself!" ... Nobody was laughing anymore. The entire gala went dead silent. The elders and the titans of industry looked absolutely livid. The teenagers sitting across from me turned pale as ghosts. They stared at me, completely speechless. But of course, the palest face of all belonged to my lovely white lotus sister. My parents marched over, their faces dark like thunderclouds, staring silently at the parents of the kids involved. Even my insufferable older brother, Arthur, walked over with a tight, forced smile, stepping protectively in front of me. Chloe's lips trembled as she tried to explain that she had tried to stop them from mocking her sister, but failed. My parents, always soft-hearted toward her, took her hand and told her not to be afraid. I gave a small, mocking smile. The very same kids who had been acting like royalty two minutes ago were now being physically dragged over by their parents, forced to apologize with painfully strained smiles. "Oh, Harper, dear... my stupid son was just running his mouth. Please don't be angry, I'll deal with him when we get home!" "Yes, exactly! My daughter too, I'll ground her for a month! She has the nerve to judge others when she's failing half her classes!" My parents' expressions softened slightly. They looked at me hesitantly. "Harper, maybe... we just let this go? It's just kids messing around." Since I was such an obedient, good daughter, of course I had to agree. So, I looked innocently at the group of red-faced, humiliated teenagers standing in front of me. "Like I said earlier, just go get me some appetizers and a glass of juice, and I'll forgive you." No one was laughing this time. Under the watchful, piercing gazes of hundreds of elite guests, the group swallowed their pride, turned around, and went to fetch my food and drinks. I took a slow sip of the orange juice they brought me, and finally dropped my verdict: "I forgive you! See? I'm a very generous person!" Chloe didn't smile for the rest of the night. She was much quieter after that. Unfortunately, I thought she had learned her lesson, but she was actually just saving her energy for a much bigger play. 4 During breakfast a few days later, I casually brought up my adoptive mother, Maria Smith. "So, what are you guys planning to do about Maria?" The Sterling family exchanged awkward, uncomfortable glances. Chloe immediately dropped her head, looking like she was on the verge of tears again. My father was the first to speak. He looked at me with an appeasing smile. "Well, Harper, people like that... karma will catch up to them eventually!" My mother quickly agreed. "Exactly. Going after her would just dirty our own hands." Arthur continued eating his breakfast calmly, completely opting out of the conversation. I gave a half-smile. "So what you're saying is, you have no intention of holding her accountable?" My parents looked embarrassed, opening and closing their mouths without making a sound. Arthur finally sighed, put his fork down, and spoke in a helpless tone. "Harper, everyone in our circle knows Maria is Chloe's biological mother. You know how society works. If her biological parents have criminal records, it will inevitably taint Chloe's reputation." "Of course we want that woman to be punished, but not at the cost of ruining Chloe's future. She's innocent in all this." "Besides, Maria did raise you for seventeen years. It makes it difficult for us to go after her legally. You understand where we're coming from, right?" Chloe looked at the family with tears of gratitude. My parents gently patted her hand, and my brother gave her a warm, reassuring smile. It was a beautiful, touching family portrait. I let out an incredibly inappropriate scoff, shattering the heartwarming moment. "Raise me?" Under their irritated glares, I slowly rolled up the sleeves of my shirt, exposing arms covered in overlapping scars and cigarette burns. My mother gasped, slapping a hand over her mouth. Tears instantly pooled in her eyes. Even my father's lips trembled. Arthur turned his head away, unable to look. Only Chloe bit her lip and clenched her fists under the table. I continued, rolling up my pant legs to reveal calves crisscrossed with dense, faded whip marks. Seeing them completely paralyzed with horror, I finally smiled in satisfaction. I slowly rolled my sleeves and pants back down, and dropped a single sentence. "I'm going to school. I won't be riding with my sister today." I threw my beat-up backpack over my shoulder and didn't refuse when the chauffeur opened the door for me. Only an idiot turns down a free ride, especially when it's on the Sterling family's dime. But looking back, I realized it was probably the shocking, visceral reality of my scars—and the family's intense reaction to them—that finally pushed Chloe over the edge. She knew that if she didn't do something drastic, her biological mother's sins would ensure she never regained her true standing in this house. At school, Leo saw me in the hallway and immediately started screaming. "Harper! You're back! The Queen of Lincoln High has returned!" I had told him a million times to stop watching cheesy gangster movies, but he never listened. I ignored him. The entire school had heard about my identity. Everyone was absolutely floored that I was the true heiress to the Sterling Group. It was pretty shocking, I sneered internally. The real heiress of the Sterling empire was a violent, foul-mouthed street rat. Put anyone in their shoes, and they'd obviously prefer the gentle, brilliant, fake heiress. Leo was so used to calling me "Boss" that I couldn't be bothered to correct him. Without breaking stride, I reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. "I told you not to smoke on campus. Did you think I wouldn't find out just because I was gone for a few weeks?" Leo grinned and leaned in closer. "Boss, how is the new house? They aren't bullying you, are they?" I smirked and shot him a side-eye. "Who could possibly bully me?" He scratched the back of his head nervously. "So, Boss... are you still going to hang out with us? Are the rich kids... going to look down on you for being friends with us?" His voice got quieter and quieter until he couldn't even look me in the eye. I scoffed and smacked him on the back of the head. "You little idiot. Didn't you just tell me not to forget you when I got rich? Why are you backing down now? What's wrong with you guys? Why would anyone have the right to look down on you?" Leo's head snapped up, his usual exaggerated bravado returning. "Hell no we ain't backing down! We're sticking with you to the top, Boss!" But his eyes were completely red. I smiled, remembering the last time I saw Leo cry. He had secretly stolen two thousand dollars from his parents and pooled it with the other guys to pay my tuition. When his parents found out, he refused to tell them what the money was for. They assumed he blew it on cigarettes and girls, and beat him half to death. When he came to see me, his eyes were just as red, but he had the biggest, stupidest grin on his face as he shoved the cash into my hands. I bit my tongue to force down the lump in my throat. I looked out the window at the distant, sprawling clouds, my voice very quiet. "I probably won't be staying in that house for very long."
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