The Impostor Heiress vs. the Real Daughter from the Dirt

When I found out I was the kidnapped daughter of Sterling Family, I was working at a night market, selling goods to make ends meet.

I thought everything would finally fall into place once I returned to Sterling Family. But I had underestimated Lyra Vale, the nanny’s daughter. She kept trying to make trouble for me, clearly warning me not to even dream of taking her place.

But what she didn’t know was that someone who had clawed her way up from the mud… wasn’t so easy to push down.

——

My biological parents didn’t come to pick me up themselves. Instead, they sent two subordinates.

When I arrived at the Sterling Family mansion, I saw a noble-looking woman who bore a striking resemblance to me. As soon as she laid eyes on me, she froze, her voice trembling, “It’s my daughter… my real daughter.”

Just as she was about to stand and embrace me, a soft, tearful voice interrupted.

“I’m sorry… If it weren’t for me, my sister wouldn’t have had to suffer all those years... I’m really sorry…” A girl with perfectly styled curls, dressed in an elegant outfit, sat sobbing on the sofa.

Her cries drew everyone’s attention. My mother and younger brother quickly rushed over to comfort her.

“Lyra, don’t cry. Mom is still here. You’ll always be Mom’s daughter. I’ll never abandon you,” my mother said gently, patting her shoulder.

“That’s right, sis,” said another young man. “You’re the only sister I have. That won’t change.”

“Cough, cough.” A middle-aged man sitting across the room cleared his throat.

He looked at me and began to speak. “I am your father. She is your mother. You have an older brother, Mark Sterling, who is currently overseas. This is your younger brother, Julian Sterling. And this…” He hesitated before continuing, “This is Lyra. She’s a few days younger than you. You can treat her as your younger sister.”

I said nothing. I just looked at him, expressionless, then turned my gaze toward Lyra’s tear-stained face.

“Your name is… Michaela Vale?” My father asked, a bit uncertain. “You may now change your surname back to Sterling.”

Judging from his hesitation, I guessed he must have done some investigation before acknowledging me. My previous name, Ravenna Vale, was given to me by the nanny who swapped me at birth.

Changing it had taken a lot of effort and money. I had to convince the nanny to agree and it was only after a fortune-teller claimed that the name “Ravenna Vale” would bring bad luck to her precious son that she finally relented.

“Is she… my foster mother’s biological daughter?” I glanced at Lyra Vale.

Lyra immediately burst into louder sobs. “I know you hate me. I… I’ll leave right now… I don’t want to upset you anymore…”

“I’m warning you, as long as I’m around, you’ll never bully my sister!” Julian snapped, glaring at me like a mother hen guarding her chicks.

“Lyra is the child I’ve raised for more than a decade,” my mother added. “I’ve always treated her as my own… but of course, you’re my daughter too. To me, you’re both my daughters. I hope both of you can live well in this family.”