The Double ( or More ?) Life of The Fake Heiress

A stepping out of Catherine’s apartment, Mirabella halled a cab straightaway and made her way back to the Davis

udence. Upon her arrival, she noticed several pairs of shiny men’s dress shoes lined up at the front door. A flicker of curiosity crossed her eyes–were they having aquests?

After pondering for a few seconds, she said her freshly drawn keys back into her purse, turned on her heels, and strode kward th Nevator, Lucky for her, the elevator remained on her floor, doors ready to welcome her in.

Descending back to the ground floor, Mirabella settled herself on a public bench. Her striking beauty drew glances

passersby, including children who couldn’t help but steal a few extra looks.

Dressed in a hoodie today and tired of the attention, she pulled up the hood over her head and dug out her phone to immerse herself in the digital world. Before long, she no longer felt the weight of onlookers‘ stares.

She Estlessly played a few rounds of a competitive game she had downloaded recently–a game that soon proved to back challenge. Closing the app, she seemed to be struck by a thought and swiftly opened her Messenger.

Her list of friends on Messenger wasn’t extensive. Her fingertips scrolled through, dragging the contact nicknamed “Y out of the blacklist, And with that, she sent a message.

The Pit (Be careful these next few days. Don’t go out causing a stir it It’s not necessary.)

“Y” must have been glued to their phone because they replied almost instantaneously with a barrage of messages.

Y: [Oh, my dear lord, you finally remember me.]

Y: [You have no idea what kind of devastating torture I’ve been through recently.] Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Y: [Hungry and cold, kneeling at the chapel every day, feeling completely drained.]

I

Y: [Ancestor, can you find a way to spring me out? I miss the fresh air on the outside.]

The Pilt: [–If you’ve got the energy to complain this much, you’re clearly not that drained.]

Y: [Please, show me some mercy.l

The Pilt [Logging off.]

Y: [Wait, what do you mean by “be careful? Can you be more specific?]

However, Y’s last message was met with a glaring red exclamation mark, and the notification (Message failed to send because the recipient has blocked you.)

Y: [????]

[Message failed to send because the recipient has blocked you.]

Y: [Wait!]

[Message failed to send because the recipient has blocked you.]

Mirabella exited Messenger and looked up just in time to see a group of burly men in matching black suits exiting the lobby. The leader held a silver briefcase that gleamed under the light. They looked like they meant business as if they had just finished a debt collection–intimidating enough to make any nearby resident take a wide berth.

Narrowing her eyes, Mirabella’s gaze casually swept over the men’s shiny shoes, and her expression turned thoughtful for a split second.

The men didn’t notice Mirabella as they left the building, heading towards the parking garage with a familiarity that suggested they were regulars. Frowning slightly as their figures disappeared, she rose and stepped back into the lobby. She pressed the elevator button and ascended once more.

When she exited the elevator, the array of black, shiny shoes that had been at her doorstep were now gone.

With a contained gaze, Mirabella produced her keys and unlocked the door.