Chapter 3

All of a sudden, everyone in the classroom poured out to see what had happened.

I, too, was caught off guard by the sudden drama.

Sophia clutched her cheek, red and swollen from the slap, tears welling up as if she couldn’t speak.

Martha’s eyes were furious as she grabbed Sophia by the hair.

“Did you transfer money out of my account, you worthless brat?! That money was for your brother’s future! Do you want us to end up on the streets? I can’t believe you’d betray me like this!”

Through her tears, Martha’s voice wavered, giving everyone a clear idea of where Sophia’s luxury items had come from.

I quickly stepped in and tried to separate them. “Martha, maybe let’s talk this over. We’re at school…”

Martha looked around at the staring crowd and, realizing she had an audience, sank dramatically to the ground.

“Lord, how could this happen to me? I saved for years to secure my son’s future, and now it’s all gone because of this ungrateful child. What am I supposed to do now?”

“Is that really Sophia’s mom? She doesn’t seem like she has money.”

“Didn’t you hear? Sophia probably stole her savings and went on a shopping spree.”

Whispers and jeers began circulating.

“Was she always this…flashy?”

“Last I heard, she’s only able to go to Westview because someone sponsors her.”

“Enough!”

Sophia’s glare landed on me, her eyes blazing. “Natalie, this is all because of you, isn’t it? I’ve suffered for so many years in your place, and now you’re trying to humiliate me? Just wait—I swear you’ll regret it!”

Without a glance back, she turned and ran, ignoring Martha’s shouts.

“Hey! How dare you talk to Miss Natalie like that! Are you okay, Miss Natalie?” Martha rushed over to me, casting another furious look in Sophia’s direction as she fled.

The whispers around me continued, buzzing louder.

“This woman’s not actually Natalie’s mother, is she? But look how she’s way kinder to Natalie than her own daughter.”

“Yeah, I heard she’s just the James family’s housekeeper.”

“Then maybe it’s true? They might’ve been switched, and Martha just raised the wrong daughter.”

I was about to shake off Martha’s concerned grip when a calm, familiar voice broke through the crowd.

“Martha, maybe you should go check on your own daughter.”

I turned and saw Lucas Sullivan standing in the hallway, his gaze steady as he walked toward me.

“Natalie, class is about to start.”

A couple of girls whispered excitedly nearby.

“Oh my god, he’s here! I’m totally swooning.”

“Even if Natalie turned out not to be the real heiress, she’d still be set marrying into the Sullivan family!”

“Lucas is so perfect. And honestly, he and Natalie look so good together.”

Lucas was my boyfriend, and everyone knew it. In fact, both our families fully approved of us being together. As far as family status, academics, and looks go, we’re a perfect match, and the potential partnership between our families’ businesses only sweetens the deal.

Reluctantly, Martha released her grip and scurried after Sophia. I didn’t pay much attention to the gossip around us, but the recent drama had stirred up my curiosity about what Lucas thought.

Once we were back in class, I asked him, “Lucas, if it turns out I’m not really the James heiress, would you still want to be with me?”

He chuckled softly, as if I’d just told him a joke.

“What’s so funny?”

I was genuinely curious, especially since, with everything happening, it didn’t feel like such a wild possibility that I might not be the real heiress.

Lucas reached over and lightly patted my head, his eyes clear and reassuring. “Whether you’re the real James heiress or not doesn’t matter to me. What matters is you—Natalie James. That’s all I care about.”

That afternoon, Sophia showed up to school again, but this time, her outfit was even more extravagant than before. Our classmates exchanged confused glances, clearly struggling to make sense of her behavior.

Sophia didn’t hesitate. She walked right up to me but stopped short in front of Lucas, looking uncharacteristically shy.

“Lucas, I think you should know the truth. I’m the real heiress of the James family.”

A collective gasp rippled through the class. She’d actually said it.

“Oh?”