The Heiress They Threw Away

The day my birth parents brought me home, they gave me a grand tour of their luxury mansion. They told me this would be my home from now on. I looked at the house I’d only recently asked someone to rent out and thought: Well... technically, they weren’t wrong. Having a middle-aged man call you “sweetheart” outside your college gates is not a pleasant experience. I stiffly turned my head. A couple stood beside a luxury car, their eyes brimming with tears. I recognized the girl beside them. Chloe Parker, a freshman who’d recently joined the student council. “Sweetheart, Daddy and Mommy finally found you.” The man approached me in a ridiculous baby voice. “Who are you?” I backed away, goose bumps rising all over my arms. Had Ethan hired a couple to prank me? Chloe walked over in a pure white dress. She handed me a sheet of paper. “Emma, we’re your family.” I looked down at the DNA test report. Probability of parentage: 99.99%. So Dad had been telling the truth! He really had found me in a dumpster! “If your sister hadn’t spotted you, you’d still be out there all alone.” “Come home with us, sweetheart.” The beautiful woman stepped forward and caught my sleeve. The crowd around us was growing. “I’ll go with you. Just don’t call me sweetheart.” It was mortifying! “Of course, honey. Let’s go home.” Me: “...” The scenery outside the window grew increasingly familiar. By the time the car turned into Four Seasons Estates, I had a terrible feeling. Dad’s company had built this development. The farther in you went, the more expensive the houses became. The car stopped outside a mansion a little past the middle. I stared at the number on the gate—519—and fell silent again. Wasn’t this the house I’d asked Martin to rent out? Since when was it theirs? “Emma, you’ve never been somewhere like this before, have you? Don’t be nervous.” Chloe came up beside me, her voice soft and sweet. She pointed at a large hole in the garden. “I had a landscape designer make that especially for me. Isn’t it unique?” Sure. The hole Buddy had dug while running wild was definitely unique. “And Mommy picked out that ornamental rock herself. I think it cost a few million.” Wasn’t that a random rock Ethan had hauled down from a mountain? The beautiful woman approached from behind, purse in hand. “Honey, don’t be shy. Make yourself at home.” Well... it was my home. Once the family went inside, I called Martin. “Martin, did you sell my house at Four Seasons Estates?” “No, miss. Someone just signed a one-year lease.” Great. An entire family of delusional people. “Don’t worry, Emma. You won’t have to suffer anymore.” Chloe gazed at me with tears shimmering in her eyes. I followed her gaze down to my custom-made shoes. Buddy had chewed them beyond recognition a few days earlier. But I liked the chaotic artistic effect, so I’d specifically chosen to wear them today. “Honey, Mommy and Daddy brought you home because we have wonderful news.”The beautiful woman grabbed my hands excitedly. “The chairman of Crestwell Group has a son. He’s such a good person. Not a scheming bone in his body. We’re going to marry you into their family so you can live in luxury.” Crestwell Group? Didn’t his son have a severe intellectual disability? Of course a man with the cognitive abilities of a three-year-old wasn’t scheming! I pressed my lips together, speechless. Before I could answer, the woman continued. “They originally wanted Chloe. But Chloe said she should let you have this wonderful opportunity. See how sweet your sister is?” Me: “?” If it was such a blessing, why didn’t she take it? I casually crossed my legs and looked at Chloe. “Surely my little sister should enjoy such a wonderful opportunity. After all, you’ve known me for less than a day.” Chloe squirmed coyly, her voice turning bashful. “But I already have a boyfriend. Ethan Bennett, from Bennett Group.” Me: “???” I immediately pulled out my phone and messaged Ethan. “You have a girlfriend?” Ethan: “?” Ethan: “Why wasn’t I informed?” I raised my head in a daze, convinced I’d walked into an asylum. My newly acquired mother was still listing the benefits of marrying into wealth. I finally interrupted. “Actually... I have a boyfriend too.” She froze, then frowned. “You’re so young. What are you doing dating? Who is he? He’d better not be a bad influence.” “Julian Sterling.” The three of them exchanged looks. A few seconds passed. “Ha! Hahahaha!” My birth mother planted her hands on her hips and burst into laughter. “Emma, are you out of your mind?” Chloe laughed too, barely bothering to hide her contempt. “Julian Sterling is the Sterling family’s eldest son and the CEO of Horizon.” “He practically runs Seabrook. How could someone like you possibly know him?” The middle-aged man lifted his teacup and took a loud slurp. “Don’t tell lies like that again. Such a young girl, and already so vain.” Me: “...” Fine. Leaving number 519, I turned left and headed to the very back of the development, where Dad had given me a second house. I’d barely collapsed onto the couch before Buddy came panting over and clambered onto my legs. I gave his fluffy coat a few absentminded strokes, took out my phone, and asked Martin to investigate the Parkers. Then I took Buddy down to the underground garage. The garage was full of cars. I let Buddy choose one. When he raced over to the Cayenne and started circling it, I picked its key out of the tray. As I drove past 519, I instinctively glanced inside—and met Chloe’s sparkling, flirtatious gaze.The Cayenne swerved left before I quickly straightened it out. I shuddered in disgust. “Dad!” I stood with my hands on my hips and shouted upstairs. Ethan lay sprawled on the couch, covering his ears without expression. I walked over and flopped down in the same position, trying to process my surreal day. I’d known for years that I wasn’t the Bennetts’ biological daughter. But I’d never been curious about my birth parents. Who would want to know the parents who’d abandoned them? I’d once wondered if they’d been so poor that giving me up had been their only choice. Apparently not. I looked at Dad as he came downstairs. “Did you really find me in a dumpster?” He gave me a sideways glance. “I didn’t.” Ethan lazily tossed a pistachio into his mouth. “I dug you out.” Me: “?” Ethan immediately collapsed against the couch, laughing. I turned and glared at him. “Is it that funny?” Still laughing, he pointed at his mouth. “I can’t help it.” “This pistachio is cracking me up.” Martin’s investigation showed that the Parkers had been an ordinary family. Then, during Chloe’s senior year of high school, she’d met the chairman of Crestwell Group while working part-time at a luxury boutique. Their standard of living had mysteriously jumped overnight. I wasn’t interested in digging deeper. I hopped on my bike and left the family house. I’d just parked on campus when I spotted Chloe behind me, holding her books. She rushed forward and hugged me, her eyes watery and her voice thick with emotion. “Emma, I had no idea you had it so hard.” Me: “...I’m doing fine.” The girl beside her lifted her chin haughtily. “You don’t have to pretend. Chloe told me you can’t even bear to replace your worn-out shoes.” “Nina, stop. Emma has her pride.” Nina nodded and playfully mimed zipping her lips. The two of them laughed and nudged each other. I rolled my eyes hard enough to hurt and turned toward my classroom. “Emma, wait!” I stopped abruptly. Chloe couldn’t dodge in time and walked straight into my back. “Ow!” She clutched her forehead, pouting as her eyes filled with tears. “What’s wrong with you? Look how red Chloe’s forehead is! Apologize!” Nina carefully supported Chloe’s arm as if she were a priceless, fragile work of art. “Oh, no. This is all my fault. I had no idea you were so delicate.” “Let me see. Did I ruin that pretty face?” I stepped forward with exaggerated concern and pulled her hand away. “Oh, look. Not a mark.” There wasn’t so much as a red spot on her forehead. Chloe let out an awkward little laugh. I smiled too, then gently patted her cheek. “Save the act for someone else, okay?”