Bad news: I’m the switched-at-birth fake heiress. Even worse news: I’ve spent my entire life being a spoiled, arrogant brat with zero skills, and now I have nothing to show for it. And I’m pretty sure this is all my ridiculously overprotective, sister-doting brother’s fault. So I stormed over to his penthouse in the middle of the night and clung to his leg for dear life. “Waaah! It’s all your fault you spoiled me rotten! If you don’t take care of me, I’ll… I’ll hang myself from your front door!” A vein throbbed on my brother’s temple. “…Just get up, Debra.” 1 I was a mess, sprawled on the polished marble floor, my fingers desperately clutching the leg of Liam Howard’s tailored trousers. I proceeded to wipe my snot and tears all over the expensive fabric. Liam’s patience finally snapped. “Debra Howard!” I looked up at him, my eyes shimmering with tears. Just like that, the anger drained from his face. He took a deep breath, his voice softening. “Of course, I’ll take care of you. But you have to tell me what happened first, okay?” It all started the day before. With graduation just around the corner, I had zero interest in getting an internship. My brilliant plan was to go home and surprise my parents by announcing my intention to mooch off them for the foreseeable future. Instead, the surprise was on me. I overheard the secret that would turn my world upside down. Turns out, years ago, my dad had to go overseas for a business trip that was supposed to last several months. He couldn't bear to leave my mom, who was suffering from terrible morning sickness, so he took her with him. A month before her due date, she took a nasty fall and was rushed to a nearby hospital. The baby—me—was born safely, but then a massive earthquake struck. In the ensuing chaos, two newborns in incubators were accidentally switched. Now, my parents were in the study, discussing how to contact their biological daughter and make things right. When they mentioned my name, their voices heavy with exhaustion, I couldn't bring myself to listen anymore. My head felt like it was filled with buzzing bees for the rest of the day. For a spoiled, clueless girl who had never worked a day in her life, my world had just ended. My sky had fallen. Growing up, my parents tried everything to find a hobby for me. They hired tutors for piano, ballet, painting, even martial arts. I managed to drive every single one of them away. It wasn't complicated: I was a bratty chatterbox. I refused to learn and insisted on pulling my tutors into endless, pointless conversations. Whenever my mom scolded me, I’d immediately hide behind Liam, my lower lip trembling. “Liam, I don’t like any of this!” He was a total sucker for it. He’d shield me instantly. “If she doesn’t want to learn, don’t force her.” My mom would sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Keep spoiling her, Liam. She’ll grow up knowing nothing. Are you going to provide for her then?” His expression, even as a boy, was firm. “Yeah. I will.” And he spent the first part of his life living up to that promise. After I was born, the family business boomed. My parents were constantly flying around the world. At just six years old, Liam took it upon himself to raise me. You could say I was his project. But his excessive doting turned me into a little terror. Didn't want to go to class? That’s fine, as long as I was having fun. Bullied other kids with my family’s influence? No problem, he’d clean up the mess. Refused to learn any skills? Who cares? Our family had more than enough money. That was the value system I’d lived by for twenty-one years. I was all set to be a happy, pampered freeloader for the rest of my life. And now they were telling me I was the fake heiress. I couldn’t accept it. I just couldn’t. 2 The thought of my miserable future life brought on a fresh wave of genuine, heartfelt sobs. “Liam, this is mostly your fault.” He looked at me, utterly bewildered. I spoke with the conviction of a prosecutor. “You know what they say, ‘spare the rod, spoil the child.’ I read this story once, about a mother who let her son get away with everything, from stealing candy as a kid to robbing banks as an adult. He ended up on death row, and for his last wish, he asked to see his mom. Do you know what he did? He bit her ear clean off!” Liam squeezed his eyes shut and took another long, slow breath, his voice tight. “What, exactly, are you planning to steal?” I panicked. “Ugh, why are you so dense? It’s a metaphor! I’m making a point!” He actually looked surprised. “A metaphor? Look at you, learning new words.” That only made me cry harder. “This isn’t a joke! I’m really not your sister!” Liam froze. Then, he reached down and effortlessly lifted me from the floor. “I know. But I raised you. Blood or not, I’ll always take care of you.” “Really?” “Yes.” “I don’t believe you.” “…” What if the real heiress decided I’d stolen her life of luxury for twenty-one years and convinced my parents to kick me out? Besides, everyone knew me as a spoiled brat. If we ever got into a fight, they’d all take her side and condemn me. My brother adored me, sure, but I wasn't his real sister. Over time… Oh god, the more I thought about it, the more terrifying it became. It’s not like I asked to be switched at birth! Seeing my lip tremble again, Liam sighed and knelt in front of me, his voice soft and coaxing, just like all the times before. “Then what do you want me to do? I’ll agree to anything, okay?” My head snapped up. “How about you send me to study abroad!” Liam’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t say anything. “No, wait, that’s a terrible idea. I made too many enemies in high school, and they’re all overseas now. If they find out I’ve gone from princess to pauper, they’ll make my life a living hell. I’ll probably end up dead in a ditch somewhere…” I chewed on my finger, immediately dismissing my own suggestion. “Okay, what if you record a video promising to give me a monthly allowance… no, that’s no good either. If we have a falling out, you’ll just cut me off and sue me for blackmail. I’ll end up in jail, and when I get out, I’ll be a mess, and then one of my old enemies will find me and push me off a building—” The vein on Liam’s forehead was practically pulsing. He clamped a hand over my mouth. “Enough. I should have burned all of your trashy novels years ago.” “Mmph! It’s your fault for spoiling me! I’m terrified and you’re still yelling at me!” The thread of composure I’d been holding onto finally snapped. I grabbed the edge of the sofa, sobbing and stomping my feet. “Liam, what am I going to do?” He must have never seen me cry this hard before because he just stared, momentarily stunned. After a long moment, he pulled me into his arms. “What are you so afraid of? I’m never going to leave you.” I don’t know how long I cried, soaking a large patch of his custom-made black silk shirt before I finally drifted off to sleep. In a hazy daze, I felt someone carry me to a soft bed, gently wipe my face with a warm cloth, and then quietly close the door, leaving me in the darkness. 3 I slept like the dead. When I woke up, the sun was already setting, casting long, orange shadows across the room. I rubbed my swollen eyes and opened the door to find Liam standing silently on the balcony. He was perfectly still, staring at the distant skyline, a nearly burnt-out cigarette pinched between his fingers. My heart dropped. The last time he smoked was when he had just taken over the Howard Group. The foundation was shaky, and the old board members fought him on every decision. The stress got to him, and he started smoking. When I found out, I threw a fit—fake coughing, shortness of breath, chest pains—a full-blown drama queen performance until he agreed to quit. He never could say no to me. So why was he smoking now? Was it… because of me? “Liam,” I called out softly from behind him. His fingers twitched, and he reflexively stubbed out the cigarette. His hair was a little messy, falling over his forehead and hiding the gaze he deliberately kept averted. That’s when I noticed it. A faint, angry red bloom across his right cheek, like he’d been slapped. Hard. The words died in my throat. He forced a weak smile, his voice raspy. “You’re awake? I’ll go make you some pasta to fill you up.” He walked past me towards the kitchen, his steps hurried as if he were fleeing a natural disaster. My phone buzzed gently. I glanced down and saw a message from my dad, sent and then quickly retracted. The picture was becoming painfully clear. Welp, it looked like Debra Howard was about to be permanently evicted from her home. I clamped my hand over my mouth and ran back into the room, trying to stifle the sobs that threatened to escape. Before the axe fell for good, I quickly checked the balance on my accounts. Luckily, I still had a little over a million dollars. First things first, I transferred a hundred thousand dollars to each of the two girls I’d been sponsoring for years, to cover their tuition and living expenses. Almost immediately, two question marks popped up in our little group chat. I gave them the short version of the story, gently explaining that my own future was uncertain and I couldn't continue supporting them regularly anymore. Right now, I was paranoid and fragile, seeing shadows in every corner. I felt like anyone could be waiting to kick me while I was down. I didn’t want to expose my weakness, so I was about to dissolve the group chat when a video call request came through from them. Mia: “Is that all? Big deal. I’ll support you from now on.” Lily: “Debra, I’ll support you too!” My composure shattered in an instant, and fresh tears streamed down my face. I was touched, but I had to refuse. “Sniffle… Never mind, guys. The money you two make wouldn’t even be enough to buy me a handbag.” Mia and Lily: “…” Mia was in my year; Lily was a year younger. Back in prep school, they were scholarship students at our elite academy. That kind of poor-but-resilient-heroine trope was prime bait for the idle, rich scumbags. And I, the resident tyrannical heiress, loved nothing more than putting those scumbags in their place. So, we had a deal: I protected and funded them, and they tutored me. It was a fair trade that had lasted until now. I wasn’t sure if you could call us friends, but they loved sharing their lives with me, and I found it surprisingly fun. After they saw I’d declined their very generous offer of patronage, they spent the whole night planning out my future. In the end, we all agreed on the perfect solution. Get certified as a pastry chef and open a dessert shop! Ever since I was a teenager, whenever I got into trouble, I’d bake a box of cookies for Liam as an apology. Even the coldest heart would melt at the sight of such a peace offering. After thinking it over, I realized that baking was probably the only talent and interest I actually had. Time to get to work. I started researching online, so absorbed that I didn’t even notice the missed calls from Ethan. 4 A few days later, Liam seemed to have finally processed the fact that I wasn’t his biological sister. Seeing that my mood had stabilized, he cautiously brought up the topic. It seemed a major life crisis really could make a person grow up overnight. I even found myself reflecting on my own behavior. Liam had always been so good to me, and I’d used his love to emotionally blackmail him. It was completely out of line. The old me, the one who held everyone else to impossible standards while letting myself off the hook, would never have thought that way. But I wasn’t a pampered heiress anymore. A girl’s got to know when to adapt. I sighed inwardly and forced a smile. “It’s a good thing Mom and Dad found their real daughter. What’s her name? Where does she go to school?” Liam looked at me, his gaze deep and unreadable. “Her name is Isla. She’s currently studying abroad… at the same university as Ethan Vance. It seems they’re… quite close.” He paused on the last sentence, his eyes dropping to avoid mine. I froze. Isla. I’d heard that name before. The first time was during a phone call with Ethan. I heard a girl’s voice in the background and immediately, jealously demanded to know who she was. He was silent for a moment before answering coolly, “Isla. She’s a classmate in my project group.” The second time, Mia got accepted into an exchange program at the same university as Ethan. Knowing about my massive crush, she volunteered to do some recon for me. She found out that he and this Isla girl had indeed partnered on several major projects. And the third time… was Liam telling me she was the real Howard heiress. Trashy romance novels were too tame. My life was way more dramatic. If I flipped off the sky right now, would it strike me with lightning? What cosmic force had I pissed off to deserve this? Seeing me looking completely lost, Liam sighed softly. “Ethan has always been cold and aloof. I never wanted you to pursue him because I was afraid you’d get hurt. If you—” I shook my head vigorously, my gaze determined. “Don’t worry, Liam. I’m done chasing him.” The Vances and the Howards were old family friends. Ethan and I had grown up together. He was brilliant, devastatingly handsome, and had this untouchable, icy aura that perfectly fit my image of the unattainable male lead. So I used our childhood connection to stake my claim, making sure not a single other girl got near him for years. He once said he liked girls who were his equal, so I gritted my teeth and studied for hundreds of sleepless nights to get into a top university in the same city as him. Although Ethan was cold to everyone, he always tacitly allowed my not-so-subtle advances. I took that as a sign that he wasn't rejecting me, which only encouraged me to try harder. Our families had even floated the idea of us getting engaged after graduation. But now, by some twist of fate, he’d met the real heiress, Isla. This must be what he meant by his “equal.” What could I do? Fate itself had tied them together. I couldn’t even imagine how ugly my downfall would be if I refused to see the writing on the wall and kept clinging to him. Hearing my answer, Liam’s eyes flickered, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “Really?” I nodded glumly. “For real. Being in different countries for so long… the feelings have faded. I don’t think I even liked him that much anymore.” Ugh, such a clumsy lie. He’d see right through it. He could always tell when I was just pretending to be tough. I braced myself for his comforting words, but when I looked up, I was stunned. “Hey, what are you smiling about?” Liam’s smile hadn’t quite vanished. He quickly raised a fist to his mouth and cleared his throat. “Good. It’s good to see you’ve come to your senses.” My senses? Where were my senses supposed to be? I had a feeling he was mocking me. I eyed him suspiciously for a long moment. He suddenly stood up, back to his usual prim and proper self. “I’m heading to work.” 5 Mia quickly sent me a detailed guide on how to open a shop, a step-by-step tutorial that was incredibly thorough and organized. Lily, who happened to be attending university in the city, volunteered to be my runner, helping me scout the perfect location for my new store. My only job was to focus on getting certified. I scheduled a visit to a well-known baking academy to learn more. As luck would have it, the city’s Department of Labor was hosting a culinary competition soon. If I entered, I could directly test for the advanced pastry chef certification. I immediately signed up for the most expensive one-on-one course. When I got home and was looking over my new class schedule, the doorbell rang. I opened it to find a stunning blonde woman. Her bright smile faltered for a second when she saw me, and she greeted me with a hint of awkwardness. “Hi, is this Liam Howard’s apartment? Are you his sister?” She spoke with a crisp British accent. I remembered my mom showing Liam a stack of photos of eligible young women, trying to force him into blind dates. This woman was among them—the only foreigner, which made her memorable. Her name was Anne, the daughter of a major international client. Apparently, she had fallen for Liam at first sight during a business meeting. Foreigners tended to be bold and direct, and it seemed my brother was having trouble with her advances. Obviously, I was on my brother’s side. I had to help him out. I smiled sweetly and replied in equally fluent English, “No. I’m his girlfriend.” Anne’s expression soured. “As far as I know, he doesn’t have a girlfriend.” I casually twirled a lock of my wavy hair, putting on a haughty air. “My apologies. He chased me for a very long time before I finally said yes. You can ask him yourself if you don’t believe me.” “It’s true. She’s my girlfriend,” a deep, steady voice said from behind me. Liam had appeared, walking past a shocked Anne to stand beside me, his expression perfectly calm as he backed up my story. See? We were so in sync. Best fake-siblings ever. Anne’s suspicious gaze still darted between us. So, I took it a step further, looping my arm through Liam’s and cooing in a syrupy voice, “Honey, you must be so tired. How about I make us a steak dinner tonight?” Liam’s body instantly tensed, turning into a stone statue. I gave his arm a discreet, sharp pinch. Thankfully, he recovered quickly, turning to Anne with a natural expression to ask what she needed. Anne just shot us a cold look, muttered, “My mistake,” and clicked away on her high heels. I let out a breath and looked up at Liam, expecting praise. “Wasn’t I great?” He didn’t answer. He just tilted his head slightly, and his voice came out a little rough. “Go put on some more clothes. The AC is blasting in here; you’ll catch a cold.” I glanced down. I was wearing a silk slip dress, the neckline dipping low enough to show a hint of cleavage. Right. We were adults now. Living with my brother was getting a bit… complicated. I needed to find my own place. 6 A few days later, I found an apartment I loved. That evening, the housekeeper came over to cook, but Liam was still working late. On a whim, I decided to cook him a meal myself. So when he finally got home, he was greeted by a table full of blackened, unidentifiable objects and me, beaming with enthusiasm. Liam: “…” I picked up a piece of what was once braised short rib and placed it on his plate. “Brother, you must be starving. I made all your favorites.” “And here are the sweet and sour… things.” “And pan-seared scallops! For your daily dose of protein.” I chattered nonstop throughout the meal, my mouth never stopping for a second. Of course, I knew the food looked and tasted like garbage. But you can’t waste food. The more I talked, the less I had to eat. Liam struggled to swallow a bite of my cooking. The next second, his plate was full again. He looked up, about to say something, but when he saw my almost pleading smile, he froze. A complex mix of emotions flashed through his eyes—shock, guilt, and a deep, aching pity. I don’t know what he was imagining, but he gently pushed my chopsticks away. “Debra,” he said, his voice thick with emotion, “you never have to worry about the future. I promised I’d take care of you for the rest of your life, and I will never go back on my word.” He took my hand. “The hands that wear diamonds and pearls aren’t meant for this kind of work, do you understand?” I was genuinely touched. So, naturally, I put another piece of charred mystery meat on his plate. “Liam, I just wanted to repay you for all these years.” “…Repay me?” The words sounded strained, as if he were grinding his teeth. I didn’t get it. “Besides, I won’t have the chance to do this anymore. I’m moving out.” After I briefly explained why, he became incredibly quiet. He even started actively eating, moving with the programmed precision of a robot. Before long, every plate was empty. I stared at him, my hand hovering over my phone, debating whether to call a shaman or a doctor first. Liam suddenly looked up, his tone flat and businesslike, as if he were in a negotiation. “I’ve given it some thought, and I believe it’s better for you to continue living here. My reasons are as follows: first, your baking academy is closer to my place. Second, Anne may not believe you’re my girlfriend, and we might need you to play the part again if she shows up.” I muttered under my breath, “First he says he’ll take care of me forever, now he’s giving me conditions. Men. All talk.” Liam pressed his fingers to his temples. “…Third, the private pastry chef from that bakery you love? I can hire her to give you private lessons.” My face instantly changed. “Really, Liam? I knew you were the best! I’ll love you forever!” The tips of his ears turned pink under the warm light. He avoided my adoring gaze, his voice a low murmur. “So, are you still moving out?” I shook my head so hard it felt like it would fly off, laying on the praise thick. “Nope! Never! You know I was only thinking of moving because I was afraid I was bothering you. Did you really think I’d want to leave the most amazing, handsome, kindest brother in the entire universe? I would rather live here as a cockroach than leave you—” A faint smile touched Liam’s lips. He stood up, gathered the plates, and walked to the kitchen in one fluid motion. “Alright, that’s enough. Go to your room. I’m doing the dishes.” “Okay, Liam!” 7 I don’t think I’d ever been this busy in my entire life. Baking classes during the day, checking on the dessert shop’s renovation in the afternoon, and more lessons with the private chef at night. Oh, and I still had my thesis to finish. I’d gotten used to collapsing on the sofa from exhaustion, only to be carried to my bed by Liam later. So when Ethan’s call woke me up, I groggily checked the time. Eight in the morning. Seeing his name on the screen felt like a relic from another lifetime. It had been over a month since we’d last spoken. I hesitated for a second before answering. “Debra?” It was the middle of the night in the UK, and his voice was hoarse. I mumbled a soft, “Yeah? What’s up?” Ethan was quiet for a moment. “…Are you upset?” “No. Why are you calling all of a sudden?” It was always me who called him, and he was always too busy to talk for long. He was acting weird today. Oh god. Did he find out I’m the fake heiress? Is he calling to officially cut ties? My hand tightened around my phone. Better to strike first than be humiliated. Ethan: “You said you wanted to come to the UK for your graduation trip. I’m not too busy right now, so when are you coming?” I think I did say that. But now I was busy trying to build a life for myself. I couldn’t explain all that to a guy like him. I gave a vague excuse. “I’m getting ready to open a dessert shop, so things are pretty crazy right now. Sorry.” He must have found the idea of a freeloader like me opening a business completely unbelievable because he took a few seconds to process it. “Why a dessert shop, all of a sudden?” That question veered dangerously close to my whole life story, and while he’d find out eventually, I wasn’t ready to tell him now. I was shocked to realize that, in my subconscious, I trusted Mia and Lily more than I trusted Ethan. So what had I been doing chasing him all these years? Was I just bored? “Debra, time to get up for your class.” Liam’s knock on the door came at the perfect moment. I breathed a sigh of relief. “Ethan, I have to go. Talk to you later.” I hung up without waiting for a reply. Knowing his personality, he probably wouldn't call me again. I should have been sad. But I was so busy I barely had time to breathe, let alone mourn the end of a one-sided crush. In fact, it felt like a massive weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I felt… lighter. But contrary to my expectations, the less I reached out, the more frequently he started calling. At dinner, I’d answer his call, and before I could get two words out, Liam would remind me my food was getting cold. In my room, as soon as I picked up, Liam would walk in with a platter of cut fruit. On the sofa, just as his ringtone started, a muffled grunt would come from the bathroom. I’d rush over to find he’d nicked himself with his razor. “…Liam, can’t you be more careful?” His freshly dried hair fell softly over his forehead, making him look surprisingly innocent. “Sorry. I’ll be more careful next time.” I pushed him onto the sofa and went to get the first-aid kit. The phone kept ringing incessantly. Liam caught my wrist. “Aren’t you going to get that?” I frowned, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “He’s not as important as you are.” For a second, we both just stared at each other. The air grew thick, syrupy. My breathing hitched. We held each other’s gaze, a flicker of an unidentifiable panic passing between us. The skin where his palm wrapped around my wrist began to burn. I felt trapped. I yanked my hand away, the sudden movement startling even me. Run. The word screamed in my head. Meeting his deep, searching eyes, my throat went dry. “I’ll… I’ll go get the antiseptic.” I had to hurry. At this rate, the tiny cut would heal on its own. After patching him up, I went back to my room and saw a message from Ethan. [Is it because of you and Isla? Is that why you’re pushing me away?] He knew. Which meant my parents had contacted Isla. The axe had finally fallen. But I no longer felt the panic from before. Only a strange calm. Taking a deep breath, I typed out a reply: [No. It’s because I don’t like you anymore.]
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "384493", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel