After the True Heiress Return, the Scheming Fake Daughter Cried

My best friend and I were the infamous "double trouble" of the orphanage—two little she-demons everyone knew to stay away from.

I had a sharp tongue that could make people cry, while she had fists that could make them regret ever crossing us. Between my venomous mouth and her terrifying right hook, not a single kid—or even the guard dog—dared to mess with us. When we walked by, even that big mutt would tuck its tail and slink along the wall.

When we were eight years old, crouched in a corner poking at an anthill, the headmistress walked over with a well-dressed couple.

They said my best friend was the real daughter of the powerful Lambert family—the richest family in the city—and they'd come to take her home.

But my best friend refused to go without me.

She sat on the ground, kicking her legs and wailing, "If it weren't for Yanna all these years, I'd have been bullied to death! If you don't adopt her too, I'm not going anywhere!"

I tossed aside my little stick, put on my sweetest smile, and ran up to the couple.

"Hello, Uncle and Auntie! I'm the most well-behaved and obedient child in the whole orphanage. Adopting me is definitely a good deal~"

The headmistress's face twitched violently—like she'd just swallowed a mouthful of flies.

Well-behaved? Obedient?

Did we even hear ourselves?

Maybe afraid that we'd both stay and continue wreaking havoc, the headmistress shut her eyes and made a decision that probably went against every ancestral rule of her forebears.

——

"Mr. and Mrs. Lambert," she said quickly, "Carmela and Yanna are the best girls we have here. They're inseparable—why not adopt both?"

The couple hesitated.

"It's not that we mind raising one more child," Aunt Laura said gently, "but... we already have an adopted daughter at home."

My best friend and I exchanged sharp looks.

An adopted daughter?

So a fake heiress?

Absolutely not! I wouldn't let my best friend walk into that snake pit alone.

I clasped my hands and looked up at them earnestly. "Uncle, Auntie, if you take Carmela away by herself, she might get depressed—or worse, do something silly. But if you bring me along, I'll make sure she's happy and well!"

The couple visibly shuddered at my words, and my best friend quickly followed up by bursting into tears.

"Yes! If you don't agree, I'll hang myself at your front gate tonight—wahhh!"

Her words terrified them, and immediately surrendered on the spot.

Aunt Laura sighed, smiling helplessly at me. "All right, we'll bring you too. But remember—there's already another girl at home..."

"Don't worry, Mom!" I said sweetly. "I'll get along great with my little sister!"

The headmistress was so moved she nearly cried tears of joy and relief. She looked like she wanted to wave a flag to send us off.

"Wonderful! Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Lambert on gaining two precious daughters!"

As the couple went to handle the adoption paperwork, I grabbed my best friend's hand, eyes sparkling.

"Carmela, you're the best! You didn't forget our promise to share riches and mischief together!"

She rolled her eyes. "Oh please. I just didn't want you to get beaten to death the second I left."

I cackled. "Love you, bestie! That fake heiress didn't come today—bet she doesn't want you home. If she's really a scheming little girl, I'll handle her for you!"

For years, our unbeatable combo had ruled the orphanage—I'd spit venom while she threw punches. Together, we were unstoppable.

But when it came to manipulative girls, my poor best friend had zero experience.

She squeezed my hand back, eyes glimmering. "Bestie, my future rich life depends on you!"

"Relax," I grinned. "I've got this."

When Uncle John and Aunt Laura returned, they found us holding hands, smiling like angels.

"You two really do seem close," she said warmly. "That puts our minds at ease."

On the ride to their mansion, Aunt Laura explained their family situation.

Aside from the "adopted" daughter—Trisha, the fake heiress—my best friend also had a brother, two years older than her.

She'd gone missing when she was three. And apparently, her brother had been the reason she got lost in the first place.

He hadn't even come to pick her up today, which said plenty about how 'thrilled' he was to have her back.

Sure enough, when we arrived at the Lambert residence, the first thing we saw was a tall, cold-faced boy standing at the gate, arms crossed, eyes shadowed like storm clouds.

And that was our welcome home.