They Loved the Fake Heiress Until the Cameras Turned On Novel – The day my billionaire CEO parents came to pick me up, I let out a long sigh and said, “Forget it, you obviously like the fake heiress better. If I go back, you’ll just resent me, so why don’t you just leave me out here to fend for myself.” My parents gave me an awkward smile.
“Of course not,” they said. “You’re our real daughter.” Once we got in the car, I spent the entire ride scribbling in a small notebook, and my mom leaned over curiously. “What are you writing, sweetheart?” “I’m mapping out how the fake heiress is going to try to ruin me.” 1.A self-harm pity ploy to make you think I bullied her. 2.Frame me for stealing. 3.…… My parents kept insisting nothing like that would ever happen. That was right up until the fake heiress “fell” down the stairs and swore I’d pushed her. My parents immediately turned on me, ready to hit me, and I calmly checked off the first item on my list.
Remembering what I’d said in the car, they pulled their hands back. “Let’s check the security footage,” my dad said. “If she really pushed you, we’ll make sure she pays for it.” *** Mia’s sobbing cut off in an instant, and she squeaked, sharp as glass, “Security cameras?” I nodded and pointed at the camera aimed straight at the staircase. Because I’d already planned for the worst, I’d begged my parents before I moved in to install security cameras, just to protect myself.
Back then they thought I was being dramatic, but it had taken less than two days for those cameras to earn their keep. Mia Sutton, the fake heiress, had no idea they were there. If she’d known, she never would have chosen to throw herself down the stairs. “Mom, Dad, I can’t believe you trust me so little. It hurts so bad, it hurts so bad, I feel like I’m dying…” Mia clutched her bruised ankle and sobbed like her whole world had just ended. My mom’s tears fell instantly, and my dad scooped Mia into his arms. “Hospital, now,” he snapped.
I stood off to the side and asked quietly, “Mom, Dad, are we still checking the footage?” My mom didn’t answer, but my dad barked, “Nora, do you have any compassion at all?” “Your sister just fell like that, and you’re still obsessing over the cameras?” Hearing that, my mom shot me a tearful glare. “Exactly, Nora. Whether Mia slipped on her own or you pushed her, she’s hurt right now. You should be worried about her. She’s still your sister.” I honestly didn’t understand why I was supposed to care about someone who clearly hated me.
Besides, falling down three shallow steps was never going to kill her. I sighed and watched my parents rush out the door, practically slamming it off the hinges. Then I sat down on the stairs, replayed the security footage over and over, dragged the timeline to the exact moment Mia hurled herself down the steps, and recorded the screen to save the clip. My older brother Ryan Sutton came in carrying a plastic bag of barbecue takeout and shouted the second he stepped through the door, “Mia, look what I brought you!” Ryan looked around and didn’t see Mia anywhere, so he turned to the housekeeper.
“Linda, where’s my sister?” Linda pointed right at me. “Young Mr. Sutton, your real sister is sitting right there.” Ryan gave me a flat, disinterested glance and said to her, “I only have one sister, and that’s Mia. Don’t mix that up again.” “Where’s Mia? Did something happen to her?” After Ryan pressed her over and over, Linda finally told him what had happened. “What? Mia fell down the stairs?” he exploded.
He jabbed a finger at me. “Did you do this to her?” I brought up the security footage and held my phone out to him. “Mia threw herself down the stairs and tried to pin it on me.” Ryan smacked my phone out of my hand. “Enough. If you hadn’t shown up, she never would’ve been this insecure and terrified.” “Do you have any idea how much that fall must’ve hurt?” Ryan’s eyes were wet as he glared at me, then ordered the driver to take him straight to the hospital.
It honestly hadn’t occurred to me that even with airtight proof of my innocence, not a single person in this house would take my side. It just drove home the point that blood can’t compete with the years you spend growing up together. Linda came over to comfort me, saying that Ryan and Mia had grown up together and their bond was strong, so I shouldn’t take it to heart.
I shook my head. There was nothing to be sad about. I’d already seen all of this play out in my head. Once you’ve mentally run through the worst-case scenario, it doesn’t hurt as much when it actually happens. That evening, I stood by the window and watched Mia draped over my dad’s back, while my brother and my mom hovered around them, guarding her all the way into the house. Mia lifted her head and met my eyes. She flashed me a smug little smile and said loudly, “Mom, Dad, Ryan, you promised I’m the one you love the most.”