The Double ( or More ?) Life of The Fake Heiress

Chapter 1“Mira, back from the race already?” Mrs. Thompson called out as she stood in the doorway of her quaint corner store.As the old lady’s voice caught her attention, Mirabella, decked out in sleek black cycling gear, smoothly applied the brakes to her bike. With a practiced toe-touch to the ground, she removed her helmet, and her long ponytail cascaded down, giving her an air of effortless grace and cool beauty.Mrs. Thompson couldn’t help but sigh internally as she watched Mirabella.

She really was something special. Even riding a bike, she exuded an aura that set her apart from the rest.“Oh, by the way, it looked like you had visitors at home – they arrived in a car so fancy, it’d make your head spin! My son said it’s worth a fortune, probably more than any car in our whole town…” Mrs. Thompson exaggerated with her hands as she spoke.Mirabella listened thoughtfully, her delicate features betraying no particular emotion.Noticing Mirabella’s silence, Mrs. Thompson cautiously looked around before leaning in closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially, “Mira, tell me the truth. How did your family come to know such wealthy folks? Or did you… perhaps offend someone?”Mrs. Thompson remembered that there was also a commotion involving a fancy car at Mirabella’s house last year.Mirabella’s eyelids twitched slightly, and she couldn’t help but give a wry smile at Mrs. Thompson’s wild speculation. To avoid any misunderstanding, she replied softly, “Maybe they’re like, distant cousins or something.”As soon as she said this, confusion spread across Mrs. Thompson’s face, but before she could probe further, Mirabella had already put her helmet back on and waved goodbye. “I better get going, Mrs. Thompson.”Mrs. Thompson watched Mirabella ride away, murmuring to herself, “Wasn’t her family known for being hard up?”Where did these wealthy distant cousins come from?***As Mirabella approached her house, she could already see the fancy black sedan parked in the alley outside the gate. It bore the majestic emblem of an eagle in flight, with a stately and dynamic body. It’s a Bentley, no less, worth a pretty penny.

to live in this damp, moldy old house. Others might think we’re poor, or worse, that your children are neglecting you…”Still in the yard, Mirabella paused thoughtfully as the words reached her. But then, she lifted her chin with resolve.Truth be told, since she’d body hopped into this body, she hadn’t really taken

back home, renaming her and inviting her to the family with haste as if to compensate for any past neglect.As for the faux heiress Mirabella, though born into wealth, she was never truly cherished by the Gilbert family. She spent her childhood in a small town, raised by Mandy’s mother, and was rarely visited, even once a year.With the real daughter reclaimed, the counterfeit had to step aside. So, before the Davis family came to reclaim Mirabella, Mandy told her she didn’t deserve the Gilbert name nor to stay there—a sentiment as clear then as Mandy’s cold demeanor now.Mirabella collected her thoughts and nonchalantly withdrew her gaze from Mandy.Mandy, noticing the shift, furrowed her brows, her anger flaring. “What kind of attitude is that?” she snapped.Hearing the rage in the question, Mirabella raised an eyebrow playfully and replied with a sly smile, “And what, may I ask, is your current title?”At that, Mandy’s well-maintained face darkened instantly. Clearly, no matter how long you raised someone else’s child, they remained wild and without a shred of manners or propriety.At that moment, Mandy’s thoughts turned to her biological daughter, Summer. Raised in a modest household, she exuded elegance and grace, excelled in her studies, and possessed diverse talents. Now scouted to be a star, Summer was seemingly born to bring pride to the Gilbert family. In contrast, Mirabella, the foster daughter, was no match for Summer in any way, save for her looks.Mandy took a deep breath, recalling the purpose of her visit. Her eyes hardened as she pondered for a few seconds, then

didn’t even qualify for the county high school with her grades. If it weren’t for the Gilbert family footing the bill, she’d probably be stuck in some party school.”Pausing, Mandy cast a scornful glance at Mirabella. “A fake stone will never be mistaken for a diamond, no matter what.”Catherine looked worriedly at Mirabella, fearing the words might have hurt her. “You haven’t been involved in her life for years. You have no idea what Mira is like now…”Mandy sneered dismissively, cutting her off again. “Mom, she’s not my biological daughter nor your real granddaughter. Her name is Davis, and whether she does well or not is none of my concern, and I don’t want to hear it.”Catherine’s face tensed, harsh and dry words stuck in her throat. After a moment, she managed to mutter, “Mira is my granddaughter!”Mandy massaged her temples, perplexed by Catherine’s delusion. “She’s been living off the Gilbert family for seventeen years while my daughter suffered. Mom, get a grip. Don’t just recognize anyone as family! You see her as kin, but she might just be using you, trying to swindle some money to send