Fake Heir, Real Boss

The Lombardos' long-lost son turned out to be some "scam-busting" influencer.

He stormed into the company with my fiancée, cut me off mid–quarterly report, pointed straight at me, and went live.

"Drop a comment if you're watching. Blow this up. I'm exposing a fake heir who stole someone else's life!"

His crew dragged me offstage, ripped my suit, and shoved me into a neon vest stamped with "FAKE."

"A fake's always fake. Never real. I'm ripping off your mask. If you're smart, get on your knees, hand over the CEO seat, and get lost!"

I glanced at his parents—faces drained—and gave him one warning. "You don't get to call me a fraud. For their sake, apologize now, and I'll let it go."

The room buzzed. Everyone thought I'd snapped, waiting for the "fake heir" to crash and burn.

They had no clue.

I wasn't the fake.

I was the one the whole family answered to.

"Everyone watching—this is the fraud who stole over twenty years of my life!"

Philip Lombardo shoved his phone at me, camera locked on me. His voice dripped hate. "Luca, you took my spot as Lombardo Corp's CEO, slept with my fiancée, lived in my mansion. After all these years... do you feel no shame?"

The insults hit out of nowhere. I held it in. "I'm not a fake heir. You've got it wrong."

Didn't matter. The live chat tore me apart.

[This streamer is wild. We really got front-row seats to rich family drama. First time seeing a fake heir get exposed live.]

[They all say "you got it wrong" at first. Give it a sec, he's gonna start begging.]

[Yeah I've seen enough. He looks fine but he's def a fraud.]

[Look at him. Dude's pathetic. Kinda deserved. Wait—the streamer's the real Lombardo heir? Aight my bad, respect.]

More comments kept flooding in, all hyping Philip.

Even the Lombardo Corp employees started whispering, throwing me looks full of disgust.

"Has Luca lost it? The Lombardo family already confirmed Philip as the long-lost heir, and he still won't admit it."

"Wait, isn't that Clara Holt next to Philip? She's the CEO's fiancée. Why is she all over him?"

"CEO? He's just a fraud who stole someone else's life. Give it time—he'll end up picking trash."

My eyes slid to Clara.

She clung to Philip's arm, smiling.

Then she caught me looking.

No guilt. She tipped her chin up and sneered. "What are you staring at? Still think you're the CEO? Keep looking and see what happens."

My chest tightened, but I kept it in.

Clara was my fiancée. Two years together. We'd been solid.

I gave her one last chance.

"Clara, come here." My voice stayed low. "You're my fiancée. You shouldn't be standing next to another guy."

She pressed closer to Philip. "My fiancé is the Lombardo family's real heir. Who do you think you are? A fake like you thinks you're good enough?"

Her hand slid over her stomach. She looked at me and smirked. "I'm not letting my kid grow up in the slums, fighting stray dogs for scraps."

It hit like a shock.

Clara was pregnant. I'd barely even held her hand.

She cheated.

I looked straight at her. "You're going to regret this."

Philip scoffed and yanked Clara in by the waist. "That's called having standards. Who do you think you are, making threats? Once Mom and Dad kick you out, you're nothing."

He flashed a grin at the camera. "Alright, guys. Since this fake won't cooperate, let's move on."

He pulled out a board covered in my so-called crimes and turned to the employees. "Come sign it. Back it up. Let's peel off his fake skin together."

People were already stepping forward, eager.

I swept a cold look across the room.

"If you've got the guts, do it."