The Real Heir

I am the real daughter. On the day I returned home, my so-called "brother" sneered at me with disdain. "I don't care about bloodlines. Do you really think someone as tacky as you deserves to be my sister?" He then protectively pulled another girl, dressed immaculately, behind him. "In my heart, Stella is my only sister. Don't even think about competing with her for anything!" I was instantly speechless. "Dude, seriously? Why are you so arrogant?" "Has it ever occurred to you that you might be the one switched at birth?" 1 My name is Elara. After living in an orphanage for 18 years, I suddenly discovered I was the heiress to the Sterling Group. When the Sterlings came to do charity work, they saw me by chance. I looked too much like Mrs. Sterling. Suspicious, they took me for a DNA test. It turned out I was indeed their biological daughter. In the hospital, my biological parents hugged me, weeping uncontrollably. Suddenly, a line of text floated in the air: [Is the 'Real vs. Fake Heiress' plot starting? Watch the heroine return to high society, defeat the imposter, and reclaim everything that belongs to her!] [It's not certain who the heroine is yet. If the real heiress turns out to be evil, then the fake one becomes the protagonist.] [Stop arguing. Whoever survives to the end is the heroine.] These words popped up like live comments on a video stream, scrolling by one after another. And I was the only one who could see them. It was as if there were an audience outside this world, watching our every move. A huge question mark slowly formed above my head. Based on the comments, I was the real heiress, and the Sterlings had a fake daughter who had taken my place. There could only be one heroine between us, so we were destined to fight for the title of the Sterling heiress? If my biological parents were unreasonable and favored the fake daughter, I certainly wouldn't stay there to suffer. But then again, their bias might be worthless, but the Sterling family seemed pretty wealthy. If necessary, it was worth fighting for. "My poor child, you've suffered so much. Mom and Dad will make it up to you," my mother cried. Honestly, I didn't feel much emotion towards these relatives I was meeting for the first time. "Since I was switched at birth, who did you take home back then?" Hearing this, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling's faces darkened slightly. Mr. Sterling said to me, "There's another girl at home now named Stella. It must have been a hospital error that led to the switch." "But Stella is innocent too. She's young, and we have no news of her biological parents. We can't just kick her out." Mrs. Sterling nodded in agreement. "We've raised her for over a decade, after all. But don't worry, Elara, you are our flesh and blood. We won't let you be mistreated." "And we won't force you to like her. Once she grows up, she can move out." I nodded. Their proposal seemed reasonable enough. On the way to the Sterling mansion in their car, more comments appeared above my head. [I feel like both girls are innocent. Can't they just be sisters? Why do they have to fight to the death?] [To the person above, Stella literally stole Elara's identity and caused her to suffer for years. How is she innocent?] The comments argued endlessly about my relationship with the fake heiress. Some people hoped I wouldn't engage in petty rivalry and would forgive Stella. Others felt I was the victim and deserved revenge. Stella had indeed occupied my identity for so many years, enjoying everything I should have had. I'm human too. I have jealousy, and I can hold a grudge. As long as she doesn't offend me, I won't provoke her. At worst, we just ignore each other. But there is absolutely no way I'm going to be "best sisters" with her. During the ride, Mrs. Sterling took my hand. "Elara, tomorrow we'll take you to get your documents sorted. Your old name is too casual. Do you want to change it?" She probably remembered that the name "Stella" was originally meant for her biological daughter. "How about 'Starla'? You are the star we lost and found again." Goosebumps erupted all over my arms. I waved my hands frantically. "No, no, no." Stella, Starla... they sounded nice, but they felt like names for someone who needed to be pampered and protected. I didn't like it. "How about 'Sol'?" I suggested. "I want to be the sun." Mrs. Sterling's face stiffened instantly. Mr. Sterling also laughed awkwardly. "What's wrong?" I asked, confused. "Your brother's name is Solar." Me: ... "Never mind. Just keep it Elara." A name is just a label, anyway. 2 The living room of the Sterling mansion. A boy and a girl came forward to greet us. They looked about my age. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling had already called ahead to explain the situation. "Elara, this is Stella." "Stella, Elara just came home. You're the sister now, take care of her." Stella was dressed exquisitely, looking every bit the pampered heiress. Her eyes were red; she had clearly been crying. Wait... why did she look so young? She forced a smile and tentatively took my hand. "Hello, Elara." I nodded awkwardly. The boy beside her looked displeased. "Stella greeted you. Why are you so cold?" Mr. Sterling glared at him and scolded, "Shut up, brat. That's your sister." Mrs. Sterling introduced him to me. "Elara, this is your brother." I nodded. So his name is Solar? Before I could speak, the boy maintained his arrogant attitude. "She deserves to be my sister? I don't have such a tacky sister." "Even if we're related by blood, I feel nothing for her." He pulled Stella behind him protectively. "Let me tell you, I only recognize Stella as my sister. You are not allowed to bully her, and don't even think about taking anything from her!" Mr. Sterling immediately slapped him. "Say one more word, I dare you!" "Whether you admit it or not, Elara is our biological daughter." Mrs. Sterling also stated her stance. "If you don't want this sister, fine. But my daughter has suffered, and I will make it up to her." I quickly pulled Mrs. Sterling back. "Mom, Dad, I'm fine." Hearing this, Mrs. Sterling emotionally pulled me into her arms. From the hospital until now, this was the first time I called them "Mom" and "Dad." "Enough!" Stella suddenly interrupted the chaotic argument. She first apologized to me. "I'm sorry. I only found out today that I'm not Mom and Dad's biological daughter. I'm sorry for taking your life." As she spoke, her eyes reddened again. She wiped away her tears and said, "Brother, what I have now doesn't belong to me. You can't treat Elara like this. She's already pitiful enough." As Stella spoke, she took off her expensive necklace and watch. Then she put them on me. I saw a flash of heartache in her eyes. A look of "I hate to part with it, but I don't deserve it." "I won't fight for things that don't belong to me." "Mom, Dad, Elara, I've decided. Once school starts, I'll live in the dorms. I'll leave here for good when I turn 18. Please just let me stay a little longer." My cheap brother said reluctantly, "Stella, you don't have to do this. We have so many years of memories. Let's see who dares to kick you out?" He glared at me pointedly. "Brother, it's not about being kicked out. I'm the one occupying the nest." From the beginning until now, Stella had acted mature and proper, without a single misstep. Even though it was hard to accept, she had accepted her identity. Looking at the daughter they had loved for over a decade, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling were heartbroken and reluctant, but this was the best solution. They would ensure Stella lived well outside, but they couldn't force her to stay and wrong their biological daughter. Seeing everyone getting emotional and helpless, I slowly raised my hand. "Um... wait a minute." Everyone looked at me. "Stella, right? How old are you this year?" Stella sniffled. "16." "Only 16?" I was shocked. I pointed at Solar next to her. "And him?" Mrs. Sterling said, "Your brother is almost 18." Whoa. Maybe because I was malnourished, I looked younger. Or maybe because I was a girl, my parents subconsciously assumed the switched baby was also a girl. I frowned deeply. "Um... well... sigh... I'm also 18." Mr. Sterling: ? Mrs. Sterling: ? Stella: ! I said weakly, "So... did we get something wrong?" I had done a DNA test. But Stella and Solar hadn't. "What nonsense are you talking about? Did you get your age wrong?" Solar started to panic. The living room fell into a dead silence. After a long while, Mr. Sterling spoke first. "Stella, Solar, you two..." "Dad!" Solar interrupted. "That's impossible. Elara came out of nowhere. Who knows if she used some trick?" "Let's not be fooled by her." I was instantly speechless. "Dude, seriously? Why are you so arrogant?" "Just now you said you wouldn't recognize me. Has it ever occurred to you that you might be the one switched at birth?" "You have the nerve to disdain me? Turns out you were insulting yourself all along?" Solar's face turned red from my scolding. Stella's mood was like a roller coaster, up and down. She had just accepted that she wasn't the biological child, and now it seemed her brother wasn't either. "Oh, alright, let's just do a DNA test for everyone then." Stella calmly plucked a few hairs. There was nothing she couldn't accept now. As for Solar... he had to do it whether he wanted to or not. 3 Mystery solved. Stella is the Sterlings' biological daughter. Solar and I were switched at birth. Solar's lips were pale, he couldn't say a word, and he collapsed upstairs back to his room. I rolled my eyes. Tch, so rude. His mental fortitude is weaker than Stella's. Mrs. Sterling sighed. "Solar can't accept it right now. Give him some time." Years ago, when Mrs. Sterling was pregnant with her first child, she was staying at her parents' house. Unexpectedly, an earthquake struck, and she went into premature labor. She and several other pregnant women were placed in the same shelter by rescue workers. In the chaos, accidents happen, so Solar and I were swapped. But as for the truth, Mr. Sterling had already sent people to investigate. Currently, it's suspected that Solar's biological parents might have passed away; otherwise, I wouldn't have been sent to an orphanage. ... Stella chuckled "hehe" at the air. She slowly sat down next to me. She reached out and took the necklace off my neck. Then she took the watch back too. "Still mine, hehe." She grinned foolishly, showing her teeth. Suddenly, she looked up and met my gaze. She looked a bit embarrassed. "Sister... uh... Sister, I've used these. If you like them, ask Mom and Dad to buy you new ones." As she spoke, she bumped me with her hip. "Our family isn't short of money. Buy more. Ah~" I raised an eyebrow, finding it ridiculous. So this was her true face all along. The maturity and stability earlier were all an act. Mrs. Sterling rolled her eyes beside us, looking like she wanted to die. "Shouldn't have given birth." 4 At this moment, the long-lost comments reappeared. [Holy crap! What is this plot twist? Real Daughter vs. Fake Son?] [This is great! No need to worry about the sisters fighting to the death. Plus a handsome brother to spoil them. So happy!] [Not necessarily a brother, right? Since they aren't related by blood, the pseudo-incest trope is also delicious!] Another huge question mark slowly formed above my head. When Stella was the fake heiress, the comments argued fiercely about our relationship. Either we were enemies, or we got along only if I let go of my resentment. After all, as the beneficiary, it was hard for Stella to earn everyone's forgiveness. But now that the beneficiary turned out to be Solar, the comments accepted it easily. Why? "Dad, Mom, what do you plan to do now?" I asked. Mr. Sterling glanced upstairs and sighed helplessly. That was the son he had painstakingly cultivated and placed high hopes on. Mrs. Sterling, on the other hand, was very happy. "I thought Stella wasn't my daughter, but now it's great. I have two precious daughters. I don't have to give up either of them." "Stella, your sister suffered a lot outside. We need to treat her better, understand?" Stella nodded, smiling sweetly. "I didn't expect to have a sister either. Tomorrow I'll take Sister shopping and buy her lots of dresses and pretty jewelry." I smiled, not knowing what to say. Stella looked delicate, but her nature was simple. It was obvious she grew up pampered by the Sterlings. The Sterlings' attitude towards Solar seemed much stricter. Mr. Sterling even slapped him. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling loved their daughter very much. However, when they learned they might have to send their daughter away, they showed heartache and reluctance. But they didn't force her to stay. Now, the same thing happened to Solar, yet no one mentioned his departure. It was as if... they easily glossed over him. But I didn't want to let it go just like that. "Dad, Mom, I'm asking about Solar. What about him?" Mrs. Sterling glanced upstairs helplessly. "Although Solar isn't our biological son, we've raised him for so many years. With a brother to take care of you two sisters, we'd feel more at ease." "After all, you and Stella will marry someday. When Mom and Dad are gone, if you get bullied, you'll have family to back you up." I frowned. "But Solar seems to dislike me very much. He even scolded me. I don't like him either." Mr. Sterling explained, "That's because he couldn't bear to part with Stella as a sister, so he was hostile towards you. Now that Solar knows his background, he will only feel guilty towards you." "Don't be afraid, Elara. If that brat dares to bully you, Mom will definitely beat him." Mrs. Sterling raised her hand as she spoke, as if she would slap Solar's face the next second. I believed she really would. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling's attitude towards Solar had always been "strict," completely unlike the "doting" they showed Stella. Is this the different way the Sterling family "loves daughters" and "loves sons"? Pampering for the daughter, responsibility and expectations for the son. The air fell silent, only the comments above my head flew wildly. [What is Elara doing? It's precisely because she suffered that Solar will feel guilty and compensate her doubly in the future.] [Solar is definitely going to be a CEO in the future. A CEO brother spoiling you, I'm so envious.] [Get out of the comments, simps! Real vs. Fake Heiress—defeat the imposter! Real Heiress vs. Fake Son—Brother spoil me~] I didn't forcefully demand Solar to leave. After all, the Sterlings were still in charge. Solar was the family member who had lived with them for nearly two decades. Their bond was deep. If I forced him out, I might upset Mr. and Mrs. Sterling. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling went to talk to Solar and brought him out. His attitude towards me had changed drastically. "Elara, I was wrong today. I shouldn't have scolded you like that." I blinked, squeezing out a few tears. "But you were so fierce today, I was really hurt." "Your clothes are so beautiful, they look expensive. In the orphanage, I could only wear other people's old clothes. If only Mom and Dad were by my side." My remarks provoked a wave of heartache from Mrs. Sterling. "Elara, tomorrow Mom will take you to buy clothes. The best and most beautiful ones." "Thank you, Mom." Solar gritted his teeth and grabbed my hand, speaking earnestly. "I'm sorry. If I had a choice at birth, I would never have taken your identity." "But it happened. I will definitely be a good brother in the future and make up for the hardships you suffered." He seemed truly guilty, showing no trace of the yelling from earlier in the day. But I still saw the hostility in his eyes. "Why can't I be the older sister?" I asked suddenly. "..." A flash of gloom passed over Solar's face, but he didn't say anything. Mrs. Sterling smoothed things over. "It's all the same. Solar being the brother means he can take care of his sister." I didn't dwell on this question too much and smiled. "Okay, Brother." Although Solar stayed in the Sterling family, Mr. Sterling still publicly announced our backgrounds and adopted Solar as his foster son.

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