Real Heiress Reloaded: I Slay Manipulators

The day I learn I'm about to return to my birth family, Mom and Dad pack a ton of things for me. I don't take any of it. The domineering CEO of an older brother, who has come to send the fake heiress home and bring me back, asks, "You're not bringing anything at all?" Confused, I say, "I'll be coming back anyway. It's too much of a hassle." He then looks at the pile of suitcases the fake heiress is unloading from the car. She says, "I'm not going back anyway, so I might as well take everything with me now." Chapter 1 It wasn't until the bodyguards knocked on my door and escorted the Hendricks couple inside that I learned I was the real heiress who had been switched at birth. My biological mother, Susan Bishop, clutched my hand tightly, dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief. Then, she said, "Emma, it's my fault that you had to spend more than ten years apart from us. Come home with me, okay? I've missed you so much. "We can talk about everything else once you're home." The parents who had raised me just stood to the side, hands trembling as they flipped through the paternity test. They, too, couldn't believe that something like a baby being switched at birth had actually happened. According to Susan, the nanny who had taken care of her back then had wanted to swap in her own biological child. But the midwife was discovered partway through. Out of jealousy and spite, she shifted targets to the fake heiress and me. It wasn't until the fake heiress was injured and hospitalized that the truth finally came to light. Susan said she hoped I could return to the Hendrickses as soon as possible so they could fulfill their responsibilities as my parents. But I remained expressionless, unmoved by Susan's tears. I didn't care whether I could become the real heiress or a daughter of the Hendricks family in Bellburg. My parents had raised me for 20 years and had always treated me as their own daughter. Their love far surpassed that of the Hendricks couple, whom I had just met. I couldn't bring myself to turn my back and leave the people who had given me a home and raised me. So, after the Hendrickses left, I looked at Mom, who was trying hard to hold back her tears, and shook my head. "I don't want to go back to the Hendrickses," I said. But Mom gently pulled me into her arms, just like she used to when I was little and couldn't stop crying. She stroked my head and said warmly, "Silly girl. How could anyone not want to be with their biological parents? "Em, even though we know you're not our biological daughter, our door will always be open to you if you ever want to come home. "As long as you remember that we will always love you, that's enough." I knew they couldn't bear to part with me. Still, Mom and Dad packed up a huge pile of things for me, worried that I might not be taken care of properly at the Hendrickses. But I knew the Hendricks family held considerable power in Bellburg and that their business operations had expanded overseas. Money, naturally, was not something they lacked. Even as I watched the two of them bustling about, I said nothing. … The next morning, a sleek black luxury car was waiting outside the house. A man walked up to me and tilted his head, looking me over for a few seconds before asking, "Are you Emma? I'm Jude Hendricks, your biological older brother. You also have a younger sister back home, but she's in poor health, so she didn't come along. "Since you're all packed, let's get going." After speaking, Jude waited a few seconds. Seeing that I had no intention of moving my suitcase at all, he looked a little confused. "Are you not bringing anything?" I was slightly puzzled too, saying, "I'll have to come back anyway. That's too much trouble." Sophie Hendricks, the fake heiress, got out of the car as well. Unlike me, she busied herself unloading a pile of suitcases. Not only had she packed her own things, but she'd even brought gifts for Mom and Dad. I was a little surprised. I hadn't expected her to be so carefree and willing to let go of everything she had at the Hendrickses. Sophie greeted me, then turned and walked into the house. As she passed me, I could hear her muttering softly, "I'm not going back anyway, so I might as well take everything with me now. "The Hendrickses are all a nest of vipers. No one else understands the relief of finally escaping a toxic family." Chapter 2 Jude told me that Sophie had never been close to the family and that she even spoke harshly to Madison Hendricks, her only younger sister. Thus, her departure hadn't affected the family much either. He added that since I had returned to the Hendricks family, he hoped we could all get along. When I thought back to what I heard Sophie just say, I suddenly had a strange feeling. Maybe the way Susan Bishop and Michael Hendricks had acted yesterday had all been an act. I lowered my head, lost in thought. Seeing that I didn't respond, Jude surprisingly softened his tone and said, "Emma, I know you might not be used to this life yet. However, please understand that everything you'll have with the Hendrickses from now on is simply the everyday life you missed out on before. "Now that you're coming home, I'll hold nothing back when it comes to resources for you." Jude took over the Hendrickses' enterprise several years ago, and under his leadership, it was thriving. If I had his support, settling into life in Bellburg would definitely be easier. With that thought, I smiled and gave him the most heartfelt response I'd offered all day. "Thank you, Jude." To make up for the 20 years I'd lost after being switched at birth, Jude personally picked out gifts for me, even buying me a ton of clothes and handbags. Although I had no interest in these things, I didn't refuse him. When we returned to the villa, Jude had people bring the things inside before heading to Michael's study. After sitting in the car for so long and then making a trip to the mall, it would be a lie to say I wasn't tired. So, I went straight upstairs and had the butler show me to the room that had just been prepared for me. Everything here belonged to the Hendrickses anyway. It wasn't a big deal to stay in one of their rooms. By the time I woke up, three hours had passed. After I had just pushed open the door, I could hear voices downstairs discussing something. Suddenly, I heard someone say, "Since Emma has returned, it's time I gave her back the things I've held onto for so long." The person wasn't speaking loudly, but there was a noticeable weakness in their voice. They coughed several times after as well. Sophie had already left the house and returned to her own family, which meant the person speaking now had to be my sickly younger sister, Madison. But beneath every word, there was a sense that she was exercising self-control while also showing me immense generosity. Her answer immediately drew Susan's displeasure. "What's there to give back? Even though she's a daughter of the Hendricks family, she spent 20 years living away from us. She's practically a stranger. "And if she ends up being just like Sophie—an ungrateful brat—then the one who'll suffer in the end is our Maddy." I didn't react. I simply walked down the stairs one step at a time. As if they'd heard me coming, the conversation downstairs fell silent for a moment before picking up again. By the time I appeared, the dining table was already filled with food. Susan greeted me with a bubbly tone and quickly took my hand. "Emma, you must be hungry, right? Come, I cooked all this myself. Help yourself!" Standing nearby was a girl around my age. She was dressed simply, with the only notable thing being the gold locket she wore. When she saw my gaze fall on her neck, her eyes flickered, and she immediately reached to take it off. "Emma, if you like it, you can have it. This is a necklace Mom got specifically at a church. I'm sure it'll bring you peace and safety." I thought for a moment before recalling the name of the person standing before me—Madison Hendricks. She seemed to have grown up surrounded by love in the Hendricks family, too. Though she wasn't the most subtle when it came to her methods. I watched her with amusement, making no move to refuse. In fact, I was almost looking forward to it. But before Madison's hand could even reach her neck, Susan grabbed her wrist. Her attitude toward me seemed to shift as well, as she said, "Emma, if you want one, I'll give you another. "Maddy has had this necklace for so long. She's grown attached to it." Chapter 3 Madison lowered her hand and looked at me apologetically, her tone soft as she said, "Sorry, Emma. This was a gift from Mom. Can I keep it? If you like anything else, I can give it to you." It didn't sound like she was giving it to me. It sounded more like she was granting me charity. I had no interest in playing along with these pointless theatrics, so I simply sat down and started picking out what I wanted to eat. Madison sat right beside me. When she saw that I was ignoring her, she merely pressed her lips into a smile and looked at me nervously. "Emma, you've lived with another family your whole life, so it's understandable that you don't have the kind of upbringing we have here at the Hendrickses. It's just… I didn't expect you to move straight into my room. If you liked it, you could've just told me…" Her face turned slightly pale, and her eyes suddenly reddened. She continued, "I've known all along that everything in this family belongs to you. That's why I cherished every moment I had… "Now that you're back, I'll return everything that should've been yours." Before I could even reply, Susan picked up where Madison left off. "Maddy, there's no need to be so particular about what's yours and what's Emma's. "Emma, you may have just returned, but you're a Hendricks now. You should know how to be generous and considerate in everything you do. Why make a big deal out of something with Maddy? There are plenty of guest rooms. Why did you have to choose hers?" Susan spoke with absolute conviction, as if her words were perfectly reasonable. "She's always been in poor health. What if this causes her to develop some lasting health problems?" The two of them played off each other so naturally that I almost burst out laughing. At last, I set down my utensils. I tilted my head at Susan and asked, somewhat puzzled, "You've said all that, but weren't you the one who begged me to come back in the first place? Now that I've done what you wanted, why are you upset and making digs at me? "If you don't want me here, I'll leave. The Hendricks family doesn't mean much to me." I watched with satisfaction as Susan's expression darkened, then turned to Madison. "Weren't you the one who kept hinting that I should take your room? I would never point at someone and accuse them of having no manners. So tell me, who exactly is the uncultured one here? "Or did you think I'd actually want your things?" With that, I stood up, my expression cold. "I'm done eating. Help yourselves." Earlier, the butler had looked troubled, but he still led me to Madison's room. The room was bright and in one of the best spots in the house. It didn't look like a guest room at all. So this was what Madison had been setting up all along. Since she really wanted me to move in and was so determined to give everything to me, I'd be happy to give her what she wanted. I had the maids tidy up Madison's room and moved right in. She was being so sincere about giving it to me. If I refused, wouldn't that just make her look bad? And then, there was Susan. Even if she wasn't happy about it, she couldn't very well be harsh toward the daughter she'd only just brought back. If word got out, it wouldn't exactly look good for her reputation. After all, the Hendrickses were known for their charitable work and their image as the perfect family. If outsiders learned the truth, their stock could take a hit, and that was the last thing they wanted. So when they saw what I'd done, all they could do was keep quiet. Madison chose another room. She didn't say anything, but her eyes remained red-rimmed the entire time. When Jude returned, all he saw was me occupying her room and Madison looking utterly wronged. "Jude, I was the one who wanted to give the room to Emma. It's fine." Madison coughed lightly, raised her hand to wipe her eyes, and forced a smile. "Sophie left yesterday without even saying goodbye to me. She may not be a Hendricks by blood, but she's been part of this family for 20 years. Is it just that nobody likes me?" Jude didn't pick up on the meaning behind her words and comforted her lightly, "Don't think that way. Maybe she just wanted to go back to her biological parents." Chapter 4 Madison was indeed in poor health, but that didn't give her an excuse to make snide remarks or act however she pleased. I went back to my room without bothering to argue with them any further. With a family like the Hendrickses, it was no wonder Sophie couldn't stand being here and was itching to leave immediately. I stared at the friend request that had just popped up on my phone, wondering why Sophie wanted to add me. But in the end, I decided to accept it. There was none of the drama between the real and fake heiresses, where we accused each other or tore off pretenses. Instead, all I got was a sincere message from her. "Things were a little hectic that day, so I forgot to give you your gift. Also, Mom and Dad wanted to know when you're coming home for dinner." My heart softened for a moment, then I replied, "I'd like some ribs." Mom could have contacted me anytime, but having Sophie reach out instead helped bridge the distance between us. She wanted to see both of us getting along well. As long as that made her happy, that was enough for me. A knock sounded at the door, and Madison called out, "Emma, I made seafood soup. You haven't tried any." I was getting a little annoyed, but Madison seemed determined to stay there until I opened the door. When I finally did, she stood there, holding a bowl of still-warm soup. Her eyes lit up when she saw me. "Emma, I made this myself today. I hope you can give me a chance to make it up to you…" She raised the bowl higher and held it out in front of me. I smirked slightly, looking at her amusedly. "Why do you keep coming to me? Do you enjoy deliberately approaching me so you can get humiliated?" Madison's expression twisted for a split second, but she maintained her smile. "I don't know what you're talking about, Emma. After 20 years apart, I just want us to be a little closer. "If you hadn't been found, I would've felt even worse for you." But her expression didn't change as she spoke. There wasn't a hint of genuine concern on her face. If I hadn't been found, Sophie probably would've continued being bullied by Madison. I didn't reach for the bowl. Just as the tension between us reached a standstill, footsteps suddenly sounded from downstairs. The moment Madison heard that, she seemed to "lose" her balance. Her foot gave way, and she stumbled toward me, sending the seafood soup spilling in my direction. Just before it could hit me, I grabbed Madison and pulled her in front of me, making her shield me from the liquid. She hit the floor hard, landing right in the puddle of soup. I stepped back and shut the door without another word, listening as the voices outside grew frantic. I heard Madison's attempts to suppress her pain, along with the urgent knocking at my door. Only then did I slowly open the door, feigning surprise. "Maddy, how did you end up on the floor? What happened?" On the other hand, Madison cried for a while but refused to explain what had happened. She only murmured, "Emma didn't push me! I just wanted to bring her something to eat. She barely ate anything at dinner, so…" She shot me a quick glance, then withdrew her gaze. "Sorry, Emma. I shouldn't have bothered you." With just a few sentences, she painted me as the vicious sister without giving me the chance to defend myself. But I wasn't about to let her pin this on me and not give me a chance to turn things around. I raised an eyebrow, ignoring her outstretched hand and Jude's scrutinizing gaze. Instead, I said in return, "I'm allergic to seafood. Was the soup you brought me today meant to kill me?" It wasn't as if I'd never mentioned it. On the contrary, on the very day Susan picked me up, she'd shown how much she cared about me and specifically asked about my allergies. Even on the day I returned, one of the household staff had asked me about my dietary restrictions to make sure the food suited me. Madison choked up. She shook her head repeatedly, but she struggled to get back on her feet. By the end, she looked utterly miserable. Chapter 5 "How could that be?" I turned to Jude, who still seemed confused, and shrugged. "Why haven't you helped Maddy up yet, Jude? What if she ends up with some lasting health problems?" Seeing Madison nearly choke on her own words, I smiled to myself. "If Maddy isn't feeling well, she should go back to her room and rest. You shouldn't keep hanging around outside my door." Jude helped her to her feet, keeping a firm hold as he glanced at her pale face and nodded in agreement. "Emma is right. These things can be left to the maids. There's no need to go out of your way." Madison lowered her head and answered in a small, aggrieved voice, "I just wanted to know whether Emma had anything to do with Sophie leaving without a word. Oh, no! That's not what I meant. I'll stop talking…" I cut her off coldly, my expression blank, "Then, keep your mouth shut." As if she were frightened by me, Madison trembled and shrank into Jude's arms. Jude was the typical domineering CEO, but he still comforted her in a low voice before refusing to entertain the subject any further. Instead, he frowned and spoke up for me, "Emma doesn't know anything. What does it have to do with her? You're the same. Don't be so sensitive. The important thing is to focus on getting better." I didn't miss the flash of coldness in Madison's eyes. I simply gave her a cold, insincere smile and said, "Maddy, don't make the family worry about you." With that, I shut the door firmly and went to bed. … The next day, I left the house early and had the driver take me back to the place where I had lived for 20 years. Sophie told me the image the Hendrickses projected was only a polished facade, with rot already spreading beneath the surface. As for Madison, though she might look gentle and fragile, her actions didn't match the personality she paraded around. When Madison was born, she nearly suffocated. Even after she finally made it out of the hospital, she was left with health problems. So, everyone around her went out of their way to take care of her, practically treating her like a princess. Similarly, Sophie had been expected early on to take care of Madison. Whenever she didn't yield to Madison, she would be asked whether she was jealous of her. Even the last time Madison was injured, it was because Sophie pushed her, causing her to hit her head. Now, Sophie was furious, biting her lip as she said, "It's because she was being so passive-aggressive, saying she wanted to give me the birthday gift the family gave her 'for my own sake.' I didn't want it, but she wouldn't let go of me, so I pushed her." She rubbed her head and winced in pain before continuing, "Besides, she fell on her own! I had nothing to do with it. I'm so pissed!" I found it a little funny and surprising that Sophie, who had lived in a family like the Hendrickses, had this kind of personality. After being pampered by her parents all day, Sophie looked healthier and more radiant than before. A happy smile lit up her face. "Mom's cooking is amazing. The house isn't big, but it's so cozy. You're so lucky. Compared to you, I can't believe the miserable life I used to live! "Don't worry. From now on, I'll make sure Mom and Dad live well. Come home whenever you have time. If you're busy, go out and do your thing. I've got your back!" She patted her chest as she made the promise, looking happier than ever. However, when I looked around, Dad was nowhere to be seen. Usually, the moment I came home, he would be right there by my side. My heart tightened, and I quickly asked Sophie, "Where did Dad go? I haven't seen him at all." Sophie's smile faded as she spoke, a hint of worry clouding her face, "I don't know what happened, but someone suddenly reported the company. It's still under investigation. Even Dad has been suspended."