Heiress

I woke up on the cold marble floor of Hollywood’s "Zen Prince," Liam Pierce. He handed me my torn silk slip, his voice a low purr. “Put this back on. It looks good.” As I reached for it, a pop-up, like a chat box, flashed in front of my eyes. 【Heiress, drop it! That predator thinks torn silk is trashy. He saves the good stuff for his ‘White Moonlight.’ He’s just tricking you into wearing it.】 【Tomorrow, at your mother’s funeral, he’s going to publicly announce his relationship with her.】 【Seraphina, this dog is only after your company. Ditch him!】 ... Liam knelt at my feet, all perfect angles and feigned concern. “What’s wrong? Did I rip it badly?” I smiled. I wrapped the silk slip tightly around his neck. “Are you trying to die?” 1 Liam Pierce’s perfect, camera-ready face instantly turned crimson. I waited until he was about to pass out before I let go. He looked at me, stunned and terrified. I patted his cheek. “You only love me?” Gasping for air, he looked up at me with an expression more devoted than a puppy’s. “Of course.” I was momentarily lost. When I was ten, my mother took me to some ridiculous spiritual retreat in Ojai. I saw him there—Liam, LA's "Zen Prince." Years later, when he announced he was entering show business, I was so excited I couldn’t sleep. I chased him 999 times, using every resource at my disposal, before he finally agreed to date me. And now this… I was about to ask who his "White Moonlight" was when my butler, Alfred, called. “Miss Seraphina. It's… it’s your mother. She’s not going to make it.” I dropped Liam, threw on my clothes, and redlined my McLaren all the way home. I made it. I saw her for one last time. My "biological father," however, was nowhere to be found. I sat vigil by her bed all night. Around 3 AM, I asked Alfred, “Has Arthur Chen died somewhere?” Alfred, ever respectful, replied, “He is at his usual place, Miss. With Ms. Summers.” I gritted my teeth. “He can join her. Permanently.” Alfred cleared his throat. “Miss Seraphina, please remember your mother's final instructions.” I took a deep breath. “...Fine.” 2 After the funeral, I was kneeling in front of the casket in my black veil, saying my final goodbye. Arthur Chen—my father—stormed in, dragging a girl with him. He looked down on me. “Seraphina, this is your sister, Isabelle. She’s a year older than you. From now on, she is the eldest Miss Jiang. Understood?” I remained expressionless. “Arthur, a trophy husband should…” “Shut up!” He practically shrieked, terrified of being exposed as the family's powerless add-on in front of Isabelle. I smirked. “Then take your bastard daughter and get out. Don’t disturb my mother’s peace.” “You insolent girl!” He postured, but he quickly ushered Isabelle out of the chapel. I returned to kneeling. Half an hour later, Alfred appeared at my elbow. “Miss Seraphina, he is currently hosting a ‘welcome’ party for Miss Isabelle. He wasn't able to get any A-listers, but he has invited several reporters from the tabloids.” “Let him,” I said, my voice flat. Arthur thinks my mother was the tree that sheltered me, and that with her gone, he can finally control me and seize the Jiang family empire. He’s wrong. My mother was the only thing suppressing my worst impulses. 3 Arthur’s announcement that Isabelle was his daughter just became gossip fodder. No one in our circle acknowledged her. Because Alfred ran the house, Isabelle was forced to stay in the servants’ quarters. As a result, she came to bother me at the family mausoleum every single day. On the 49th day, I decided I was bored enough to play along. I let her in. She put on a show of polite concern. “Sister, I know you’re grieving, but Mom has been gone for 49 days. It’s time to move on. I’d like to talk.” I could see her stupidity from a mile away. This was the girl Arthur adored? I walked past her, out of the mausoleum. She followed closely. When we reached the reflecting pool, I stepped up onto the ledge, looking down at her. “Talk.” Isabelle nervously clutched her dress, then stepped up on the ledge opposite me, trying to be my equal. “Sister, Dad only ever loved my mom. He brought me back to the Jiang estate to replace you. You’ve been the heiress for twenty-three years. That’s enough. You need to tell the staff to respect me. Don’t make this difficult, okay?” I laughed. Did she really not know her father was just a kept man? And with that, she thought she could replace me? Her "true strength" was so pathetic it was boring. I was done. I shoved her into the pool. “Splash!” She flailed, shrieking. “Seraphina! How dare you! Dad will kill you for this! Pull me up… ugh! Pull me up right now and I’ll... I’ll forgive you!” I walked away without looking back. While waiting at a red light, I made one international call, then continued on my way to find Liam. He hadn’t contacted me in 49 days. It was time for him to pay. 4 At 7 PM, I arrived at the wrap party for his new movie. The first person I saw was Isabelle, dressed to the nines. She was wearing a Chanel 2025 couture gown, Christian Louboutin heels, and the new Tiffany High Jewelry collection. Not a trace of the drowned rat from this afternoon. And Liam. He was kneeling at her feet, taking off her shoe, gently massaging her ankle. Isabelle looked down, blushing demurely. So. She was his White Moonlight. Two crew members nearby were gossiping. “I always thought Liam Pierce was this cold, untouchable 'Zen Prince.' I never knew he could be so sweet to his girlfriend.” “Are you kidding? That’s Isabelle Jiang. The real Jiang heiress. That dress probably costs more than your car, and she’ll wear it once and throw it away.” ... I started to walk over. One of the crew members stopped me. “Hey, this is a private wrap party. If you’re not cast or crew, you can't be here.” I pointed at Liam. “I’m here for him.” The other crew member sneered. “Are you one of his psycho stans? Get lost. We don't want you here.” “Liam Pierce.” My voice cut through the noise. The entire party went silent. Liam looked up, panicked, and dropped Isabelle’s foot. He stared at me in disbelief. Isabelle quickly put her shoe on and linked her arm through his, forcing him to walk over and face me. Liam looked guilty. He was probably used to obeying me. Isabelle, however, held up her hand, flashing a diamond ring that matched his. “Sister, I forgot to tell you. Liam and I have been together for years. He’s already asked me to marry him. I’m taking him to see Dad next week.” I had to laugh. While I was funding his entire career, I’d asked him to marry me. He said, “Wait. Just wait until I’m a global star. I’ll propose to you on a live global broadcast.” And I actually believed him. Isabelle leaned in, her voice a low, triumphant hiss. “Does that hurt? Seraphina, this is just the beginning. I will make everyone remember that I am the real heiress. You’re not even worthy of carrying my shoes.” “RIIIIIP!” I grabbed the front of her gown and tore it open. She screamed, clutching the fabric to her chest. “My dress! Why did you rip my dress? This is the new season! It’s priceless!” I smiled. “It was a press sample that was delivered to my house this morning. I can rip my own clothes if I want to, can't I?” She panicked, terrified I’d expose her for stealing my clothes and jewelry. She immediately burst into tears. “Sister, first you pushed me in the pool, and now you embarrass me at my own party… We’re family, not enemies…” She looked so pitiful. I was unmoved. Liam, however, looked heartbroken. He immediately took off his suit jacket and wrapped it around her, scowling at me. “Seraphina, are you trying to kill her?” I raised an eyebrow. “It’s her fault, you mean? Did she get that name from my mom’s memorial, or did you find her just to please me?” Liam said, seriously, “Isabelle is not a 'her.' She's not a toy. She's my girlfriend of three years, the woman I've loved for ten.” I smiled. “Then what am I?” Isabelle clutched his hand. He squeezed back, his voice firm. “You were a mistake, Seraphina. We’re over.” My smile faded. “I was a mistake?” He looked scared. But the thought of finally being free of me, of marrying Isabelle, must have given him courage. “Seraphina, I’m grateful for your… love. But as LA's 'Zen Prince,' I need to be pure. Even though you’ve insulted me, I thank you for the money you spent paving my way in Hollywood. Don’t worry, I’ll pay you back. Every cent.” “But I can't give you myself.” “I love Isabelle. I’m going to marry her. Don't harass me, and stop attacking her. Just let us go.” He seemed to forget: without me, he was nothing.

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