The Real Heiress Sees Every Lie

I was born a human polygraph machine.
No one, not even the most seasoned manipulator, could stand before me and successfully lie.
I was eight years old when the head of the group homea man named Mr. Thompsonstood on stage, weeping into the microphone.
Funding is tight, children, he choked out, his voice thick with fake despair. We all need to tighten our belts. We can only afford meat once every three months from now on.
I immediately pointed a finger at his blotchy face.
Thats a load of crap! I yelled.
You just bought your mistress a brand-new, six-figure SUV last month using the foundations charity funds! Did you think we wouldnt notice?
The mans face went from ashen to a deep, toxic purple. He was arrested for embezzlement a week later.
When I was twelve, a seemingly perfect, well-dressed couple came to adopt. All the other girls were frantically pasting on their sweetest smiles, trying to look perfectly obedient.
I just stared at the man. Then, I grabbed the closest thinga broomand slammed it down on his polished wingtip shoes.
The woman next to you isnt your wife! Shes a paid actress!
Youre not married, but youre here to adopt a little girl? What kind of sick predator are you? Get out, you pervert!
The man scurried out of there, practically wetting himself. He was later apprehended and booked for a series of sickening crimes.
After that, no one dared to pull any fast ones in front of me.
Eventually, my birth parents, the Caldwells, came to take me back to their sprawling estate.
The girl who had stolen my identity for the last two decades, Lila Reed, rushed up to me, tears welling in her impossibly wide, beautiful eyes.
Rhia, youre finally home! This is wonderful! she cried, clutching my hand. Were a family now. We have to promise to get along. No drama, okay?
I only needed one look at her face before I spoke, my voice cold and flat.
Your pupils just blew wide, your heart rate spikedId guess a frantic 150and that tiny, involuntary tremor in your right pinky? Thats pure adrenaline signaling deceit.
Every single part of that was a lie.
Youre happy to see me?
Stop the theatrics, Lila. Youre trying to con a con artist.
1
Lilas porcelain face flushed white, then crimson, then a dangerous, angry red.
Rhia... how could you say that? she stammered, her expression dissolving into fragile misery.
I truly am happy to have you back.
My mother immediately stepped in, wrapping an arm protectively around Lilas shoulders, shooting me a look of deep disapproval.
Rhiannon, your language is awful! Lila is making an effort here, and youre just being difficult and overly sensitive!
My fathers face was set in a deep scowl.
It was a nurses mistake twenty years ago, Rhia. Lila had nothing to do with it.
She has been a kind, obedient, and devoted daughter to us all these years. She is a Caldwell in every way that matters.
You were born to us; she was raised by us. We wont choose sides. Now that youre home, we wont just send her away. We expect you to be the bigger person. Show some grace.
I scoffed, my eyes raking over the two strangers who were biologically my parents.
Of course Lila isnt happy Im back! Thats just human nature! No one likes to have their life interrupted, their title revoked.
Unsolicited kindness is usually a cover for malice. Dont try to play this fake, sweet-family drama in front of me. Its making me sick.
My parents faces tightened with visible displeasure, their eyes betraying a carefully concealed layer of disgust.
They clearly saw their biological daughter as coarse, wild, and utterly lacking in the polish of the upper classlike some street urchin theyd scraped off the curb.
The House Manager, a slick man named Franklin, approached me, his demeanor overly deferential.
Miss Rhiannon, your room is ready. Everything is brand new. I assure you, you will be very comfortable.
I didn't move. I simply watched him for two slow seconds before walking past him and into the opulent bedroom.
When I re-emerged, I was holding a discreetly placed listening device and a tiny pinhole camera.
Is this what you meant by comfortable, Franklin? Talk. Who told you to bug my room?
Franklin dropped instantly to his knees, his eyes wide with terror, then shot a desperate look toward Lila.
Miss Lila, you have to say something! You told me to
Youre lying! Lila shrieked, cutting him off instantly.
Mom! Dad! Hes trying to blame me!
How could I possibly do something like this the moment my sister gets home?
My mother was already moving to comfort Lila. My father frowned deeply, addressing me.
Rhiannon, maybe Franklin was concerned for your safety and wanted to keep an eye out for you?
Hes served this family for twenty years. Hes earned our loyalty. This is a small thing. Dont make a scene.
A small thing?
I laughed, the sound sharp and humorless.
Invading my privacy is a small thing? We can either fire him, or we can call the police. You choose.
My parents, unwilling to risk a media scandal, had Franklin pack his bags and disappear by the morning.
After that, everyone in the Caldwell house treated me with hushed caution. No one dared to be two-faced again.
But my parents expressions were even more distant, more annoyed.
Youre internally cursing me right now, arent you? You think Im an absolute nightmare, a disruptive force?
I simply smiled, completely uncaring.
Good. Thats who I am. Get used to it.
2
That evening, Preston Mills, the man I was promised to since birth, arrived at the house.
The Caldwell and Mills families were old money, long-time associates.
But while the Caldwells had flourished, the Mills fortune had shrunk.
Fortunately, my parents weren't completely mercenary; they hadnt broken the engagement, and Dad had even given Preston a seat as an independent director at the Caldwell Group.
Preston was handsome and polished, his face fixed in a flawlessly charming, gentle smile.
Rhia, welcome home. When should we set the date? he said, stepping forward.
I promise you, I will make you the happiest woman in the world.
I crossed my arms and slowly appraised him.
Your cadence is steady, like an AI narratorcompletely devoid of real emotion. You subtly adjusted your cufflink before shaking hands, a classic sign of over-compensating for internal anxiety.
Preston, the deception level of those few sentences is hovering at about 99%. I think the only thing that wasn't a lie was the period at the end.
I wasnt in the mood to spar.
Theres no need to force this. A strong marriage needs more than a family contract. You cant squeeze juice from a rock.
I glanced at Lila, who was conspicuously listening in, her ears practically perked up.
You and Lila are clearly more familiar with each other. I wont steal your thunder. Im giving the engagement to her.
A sudden, brilliant flicker of naked desire and hope flashed in Lilas eyes as she turned expectantly toward Preston.
Prestons face tightened for a fraction of a second, but then he quickly shifted his gaze back to me, his tone suddenly resolute, utterly sincere.
Rhia, you misunderstand! I meant every word I just said! They came straight from the heart.
Lila is like a sister to me, nothing more. I have never felt anything romantic for her. Its you Im falling for. We were betrothed at birththis is fate!
He grew more animated, even reaching out to grab my hand.
To be honest, before you even came home, I used to dream about a girl. Her face, her profile... it was exactly like yours! This is destiny, Rhia
I dodged his clammy reach and picked up the hot cup of Earl Grey tea on the side table. Without a second thought, I tossed the contents right in his face.
Shut up! Those cheesy lines are so old I nearly choked on my own spit!
Stop using your canned, manipulative lines on me. I dont buy the fantasy.
Preston, spluttering and soaked, immediately backed away, his suave performance shattered.
Lila glared at me, her eyes burning with a hateful, poisonous jealousy.
Yet, despite my blatant rejection and hostility, Preston still insisted on marrying me.
This man was persistent, and behind that persistence, there was clearly something rotten.
Luckily, I had a contingency plan.
Why didnt I call the police on Franklin the House Manager? Not out of mercy, but because I needed him.
Though he was gone, I knew he had allies in the staff. Id given him a hefty payment to have his contacts discreetly plant a micro-camera and a listening device in Lilas room.
This was an eye for an eye.
Sure enough, that night, a shifty-eyed Preston snuck into Lilas bedroom.
The couple immediately fell into a furious tangle, the massive bed shaking violently.
Afterward, the dogs started plotting.
Preston, baby, you dont love me anymore, do you? Why are you still trying to marry that freak?
Preston chuckled, a cold, snake-like sound.
Of course I love you.
But Rhiannon is the official heir to the Caldwell fortune. I have to marry her first, get the familys assets firmly in my grasp!
Once I have the papers signed, Ill dump her instantly! Then, the entire Caldwell empire, and you, will be mine!
Lila, you wont feel guilty, will you? Once its done, not only will Rhiannon be out, but Ill make sure your adoptive parents are dealt with too!
Total cleanup. No loose ends.
Lila nestled against his chest, her voice laced with greed and venom.
Of course not! I hate those old fools!
This was all supposed to be mine! Who is Rhiannon to come back and steal it? They never should have found her! I hate every single person in this family!
I listened to their vicious planning, a cold smile forming on my lips.
Trying to run a con on a human lie detector?
Game on.

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