I supported my fiancé’s college tuition for four long years, only for him to dump me the second he graduated. He told me that the powerful King family of Manhattan was a beast he couldn’t fight. He had no choice but to marry into their family and become their kept husband. Then, he sighed, looking down at me, and called me an ignorant, clueless country girl. He threw a check for twenty thousand dollars at my face and said we were even. Too bad for him, he had no idea. I am the only real heiress of the King family—the one destined to inherit the entire empire. I packed my things, getting ready to head back to New York City. I called Oliver. Within an hour, he pulled up outside my rural cabin in a blinding silver supercar. He had to stop there because the road ahead was too narrow for his low-clearance ride. "I thought you’d fallen in love with the quiet country life and forgotten all about Manhattan," Oliver teased, leaning against the door. "None of this scenery is half as distracting as you," I smiled, sliding into the passenger seat. The moment I arrived in New York, I went straight to Columbia University to see Ethan. I spotted him from a distance and waved. When he saw me, he panicked and ran over, looking around nervously. "Mia, I know I broke your heart," Ethan hissed, his voice hushed. "But even if you stalked me all the way here, I’m not changing my mind. We are over." I walked right past him, completely ignoring his existence. Just then, Dean Fletcher of Columbia University walked up. He smiled warmly and patted my shoulder. "Chloe! Welcome back. I’ve kept your enrollment active this entire time. Whenever you're ready, you can resume your classes." I took the documents Dean Fletcher handed me. I didn't give Ethan a single glance. Ethan stood there, his jaw practically hitting the floor. He looked like his entire reality had just shattered. He definitely recognized the Dean. Leaving him to drown in his confusion, I drove straight to the King family's estate. The security code at the front gate was still the same. The moment I walked in, my mother rushed over and hugged me so tight I could barely breathe. She was crying so hard she forgot all about her usual high-society elegance. Suddenly, Serena bounced out from the living room. Her face went pale, and she shrieked as if she had seen a ghost. "Aunt Helen, don't let her fool you! My cousin Chloe died four years ago!" She lunged forward, trying to grab me. *Slap!* I smacked her hard across the face. "I’ve come back from the grave to collect my debt, Serena," I whispered, my voice ice-cold. "You better lock your bedroom door very tight tonight." Serena burst into tears, completely losing her composure. I didn't care. "Mom, I'm home," I said, wiping my mother’s tears. "And I'm never leaving again." My mother believed I had just been studying abroad for the past four years. She had missed me too much to question anything else. Just then, the front door swung open, and my father walked in. "Chloe? My baby girl is back?!" His booming voice echoed through the grand hallway. I rubbed my ears with a smile and threw myself into his arms. My tough-guy dad was trying hard to play it cool, but I could see his eyes brimming with tears. Hearing the commotion, Grandma Evelyn came out of her study. She was visibly shaking. "Your rebellious granddaughter is finally home, Grandma," I said. I knelt beside her rocking chair, burying my face in her hands. Grandma was a woman of traditional values. To her, family respect was everything. That night, the lights in the King estate burned until dawn. Serena stood in the corner, muttering bitterly. "Grandma, we should double-check her identity. What if she’s just some imposter who wants our family fortune?" I knew she would try this. Before coming down, I had already explained everything to Grandma, and my parents knew the truth too. For the public, we agreed on a cover story: I had been studying secretly in Europe for four years and had just returned. "That's enough, Serena!" Grandma snapped, slamming her cane on the floor. "Your cousin's return is a blessing. If I hear you spreading rumors again, I will personally kick you out of this house!" Serena had every reason to doubt my return. After all, four years ago, she was the one who hired the thugs to kill me. She was also the one who plunged a knife into my back before pushing me into the freezing river.
I didn't return alone. Clara came back with me. Four years ago, Clara’s sister, Lily, was my personal assistant. When the killers attacked us, Lily threw herself in front of a speeding car to push me out of the way. She died on impact. During my first week back, we hosted a family dinner. Serena was noticeably absent, claiming she was unwell. "Is Serena feeling sick? I should go check on her," I said smoothly. I visited her villa bringing a massive gift basket filled with the most expensive luxury wellness products—imported white truffle serums, Swiss caviar extracts, and royal jelly elixirs. Serena, greedy as always, couldn't resist taking them. Once she accepted the basket, I slipped a black card onto her vanity. It was an ultra-exclusive VIP card for *The Eden Sanctuary*. "You look pale, Serena. Take this card. Go pamper yourself. We can’t have the public saying the King family treats its daughters poorly." In Manhattan’s elite circles, *The Eden Sanctuary* was legendary. It was the ultimate playground for billionaire women—private hot springs, custom anti-aging therapies, and personal stylists. But it was nearly impossible to get in. Money wasn't enough; you needed real political and social influence. A spoiled, second-tier cousin like Serena, living off family handouts, would never qualify for a membership on her own. The temptation was too much for her to resist. "Chloe... is this really for me?" she stammered, her eyes wide. "Of course. But you can give it back if you don't want it. Someone gifted it to me, and I honestly don't have the time. Maybe I'll just give it to Mom..." I reached to take it back, but Serena snatched it out of my hand instantly. What she didn't know was that I secretly owned *The Eden Sanctuary*. I had already instructed my staff to give her "special treatment." Serena couldn't wait. The very next day, she booked an appointment. The face masks they prepared for her were custom-made. After a few sessions, Serena’s skin indeed looked radiant. She looked flawless. "Miss King, your skin is absolutely glowing," the esthetician flattered her. "You are going to be the most beautiful bride in New York." "Make sure you keep up the good work," Serena sneered arrogantly. "Do a good job, and I might tip you next time." She had been there eight times and hadn't left a single dollar in tips. Her cheapness was embarrassing. But the staff at *The Eden Sanctuary* were professionals; they just smiled and nodded. Serena’s engagement to Ethan was set for three months from now. Too bad their dream wedding was never going to happen.
Serena claimed to be my cousin, but she was actually just the daughter of my uncle, Charles. And Charles wasn't even Grandma’s biological son. He was my grandfather’s illegitimate child from some nameless affair abroad. When Grandfather was young, he had a brief fling during a business trip. Nobody knew the full story, but a year later, he brought a baby boy back to New York. That baby was Charles. Grandma, being the graceful woman she was, took the child in and raised him alongside her own sons. But Charles grew up to be deeply resentful. He wanted the entire King empire for himself. He even tried to ruin my father. Charles was completely useless at running a business. To bring my father down, he leaked company secrets to our rivals, costing us tens of millions. He also secretly swapped out high-grade construction materials for cheap, sub-standard ones to line his own pockets. Eventually, one of our major construction projects collapsed because of the faulty steel and concrete. Thankfully, no one was killed. Yet, Charles showed no remorse. He went as far as hiring hitmen to kidnap my father. Luckily, Dad was smart and escaped. When Grandma found out, she was furious. She banished Charles to Europe and warned him never to set foot in the US again, or he would be completely cut off from the family fortune. Serena had grown up in the King estate, and she turned out exactly like her father—a greedy, ungrateful snake. Four years ago, while my parents were away, she tried to murder me. First, she hired someone to run me over. Lily saved me but lost her own life. When I tried to flee, Serena’s men caught me. Serena herself held the knife and plunged it into my back. I only survived by leaping into the rushing Hudson River. I was going to make her pay for Lily's life, and my own, in blood. But I knew Grandma. She was incredibly fair. Without solid, undeniable proof, she would never allow me to ruin Serena. I needed to trap her so tightly she couldn't squirm out of it. That was why I set Ethan up to meet her. He was my perfect pawn. Ethan was handsome, tall, and smart. He had always been at the top of his class. But his family was dirt poor. Even though he got into Columbia University, his family couldn't afford the tuition. More importantly, Ethan had an insatiable greed. He wanted the best of everything. If he saw a chance to climb into high society, he would grab it with both hands. So, when Serena—posing as the ultimate wealthy heiress—crossed his path, he pursued her like a rabid dog. And Serena, who loved being worshiped, easily fell for a handsome, ambitious Ivy League boy. Every expensive suit, watch, and pair of shoes I had bought Ethan during our four years together looked low-key but was actually ultra-luxury, custom-made wear. A girl raised in the luxury of the King family would recognize those brands instantly. Before the semester started, I had intentionally whispered in Ethan’s ear: "Make sure you don't get distracted by the wealthy girls at school and forget about me. I heard the heiresses of the King family love handsome, brilliant future elites like you." So, when Ethan demanded a breakup to be with Serena, I wasn't surprised at all. I was thrilled.
Grandma threw a massive gala to celebrate my official return. Naturally, Ethan was on the guest list. Dressed in a stunning, custom-made gown and dripping in diamonds, I stood beside Grandma, laughing and talking. The moment we walked down the grand staircase, we became the absolute center of attention. "Ethan, what are you staring at?" Serena hissed, pulling his arm. "I'm warning you, don't get any ideas. That’s my cousin!" Ethan was staring at me in absolute shock. It was the exact same face, but the aura was entirely different. I excused myself and walked out to the quiet balcony. As expected, Ethan followed me. "Miss King," he began, his voice trembling. "You look exactly like an old friend of mine." "Ethan," I turned around, a mocking smile on my lips. "Did you really think you wouldn't recognize me?" "It *was* you at Columbia that day!" his eyes widened. "Are you Mia, or are you the King family’s heiress?" "I'm Mia, Ethan. Everything I did was for you," I whispered. By now, Ethan had surely realized who the *real* heiress of the King empire was. He reached out to touch my shoulder, but I stepped back, dodging him. "But... you are Serena’s fiancé now." "Mia, we were together for four years! You are the only one I love," Ethan pleaded, putting on his best act of devotion. "I promise you, I’ll make things right. We can be together forever." Suddenly, Serena burst onto the balcony. She slapped Ethan across the face. "You worthless trash! You're cheating on me with this bitch?!" Before she could scream again, I slapped Serena right back. "Who are you calling a bitch?" I sneered. "I told you, Serena. I’m here to take your soul." Serena shrieked in terror and ran back into the ballroom. As expected, she had no brain. She chose to make a scene in front of everyone. "She’s an imposter!" Serena pointed at me, screaming to the crowd. "She’s not Chloe! She’s just a poor country girl named Mia!"
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "NovelMaster" app ? search for "448279", and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster