Chapter 2

Ethan’s been complaining to me nonstop.

Though he’s used to Sophia’s little attempts to get close to him, he said this time was a whole new level of strange.

“Nat, she’s been taking my clothes to wash, lurking outside my study after her midnight showers, and hanging around my class door every chance she gets. But now she’s acting like some grandmother, filling my plate like it’s her job and staring at me with this ‘loving’ gaze. I seriously can’t stand it anymore. What’s her game this time?”

I sighed, as frustrated as he was.

To calm him down, I promised to have a talk with Sophia once we were back at school.

My dad, ever generous, had arranged for Sophia to attend Westview Prep alongside me as a perk for Martha. We were even placed in the same class, supposedly so we could “look out for each other.”

But lately, Sophia seemed to be avoiding me on purpose. Wherever I went, she wasn’t there. Even at school, running into her felt like sheer luck.

Today, my luck must’ve been exceptional because as soon as I walked into the classroom, there she was, dressed to the nines and surrounded by classmates.

“Sophia, that outfit! And the bag—must’ve cost a fortune, right?”

“Oh, not really,” she giggled, “I just saw it while shopping and thought, ‘why not?’”

“Wow, I never realized Sophia wasn’t from an ordinary family like us. Looks like we have a real heiress among us.”

Sophia grinned. “Heiress? Just what my parents gave me, that’s all. What’s mine is mine, you know? Unlike some people, who can only pretend they belong—wasting all that effort for nothing.”

She looked directly at me as she said it.

One of my friends leaned over and whispered, “Isn’t she just Martha’s daughter? Natalie, does your family pay your housekeeper that much, or did her mom win the lottery? She’s flaunting all this luxury like she just came into money.”

“What does she mean by that? Think she got swapped at birth with a rich kid?”

“Natalie, isn’t she implying you and she…?”

I was speechless. I had no clue where Sophia was getting the cash for all this.

Only a few of my closer friends knew she was Martha’s daughter. Out of respect, they’d always kept her background a quiet secret.

“She’s starting to sound delusional,” I muttered, arriving at a conclusion after some thought.

I walked over to her. “Sophia, come with me. I need a word.”

Sophia froze. She’d been avoiding me for days and probably never expected me to confront her head-on. After all, in those “switched heiress” stories, the imposter was always too timid to face the real heiress.

Around us, people began whispering.

“I’ve never seen Natalie talk to Sophia before.”

“Did you hear what Sophia just said? Could they have actually been swapped?”

“What? You’re kidding. No one would risk crossing the James family.”

“Isn’t she, like, really close with Natalie’s brother? Actual siblings wouldn’t go that far, right?”

Ignoring the gossip, I walked straight outside, and after fixing her clothes, Sophia followed me.

I cut to the chase.

“You know why I want to talk, don’t you?”

Sophia’s face broke into a smug smile. “Well, since you already know you’re in my place, why not tell Mom and Dad yourself? Maybe I’ll even put in a good word for you to get some extra support.”

For a moment, I felt like my brain had short-circuited.

“Sophia, what nonsense are you talking about?”

She scoffed, “Oh, come on, Natalie! You know I’m the real James heiress. You’ve lived the easy life I was supposed to have while I’ve suffered. You owe me, Natalie, and you’ll never pay it back.”

“What proof do you even have?”

“Oh, I’ve got proof,” she sneered. “Once Mom and Dad are back from their trip, the truth will finally come out. You’ll be the one begging for mercy when I kick you and your broke mom out of this house.”

I was about to ask where on earth she got such confidence when a sharp voice cut through our conversation.

“Sophia!”

Martha was striding toward us, and before I knew it, she slapped Sophia hard.