Brother, You’re the Fake Heiress

My little brother, Leo, has been obsessed with those switched-at-birth stories lately.
After the daughter of our family driver, a girl who looks eerily like him, started spending time at our house, his already present dislike for me morphed into outright disgust.
He was convinced I was the fake heiress, swapped at birth, and that she was the real one.
I couldn't be bothered to argue with his delusions.
Until my eighteenth birthday gala, when he crashed it, dragging the drivers daughter along to reclaim her birthright.
He looked at my parents, hungry for praise. Mom, Dad, Zoe is your real daughter, my real sister! Claire is just an imposter!
Then he slapped a DNA report across my face. Youve stolen my real sisters place for eighteen years. Now you can get the hell out of the Page family!
Behind him, the drivers daughter, Zoe, wept pitifully. I just want to be with my real family
The entire ballroom erupted in whispers. My parents were stunned.
But as I looked down at the report, the one confirming a sibling relationship, a slow smile spread across my face.
Have you ever considered, Leo, I said, my voice cutting through the noise, that youre the one who doesn't belong here?
1
My name is Claire Page, and I am the heiress to the Page fortune.
Today is my eighteenth birthday, and my parents have booked the citys most exclusive hotel ballroom, inviting the crme de la crme of society to celebrate with me. I stand in the center of it all, a glittering princess in a custom couture gown.
I just never expected my own brother, Leo, to be the one to burn it all down.
Claire Page is a fraud! She has no right to be standing here!
Leo strode into the center of the ballroom, pulling the drivers daughter, Zoe Reed, behind him. He glared at me as if I were something vile hed found on the bottom of his shoe.
Zoe hid timidly behind him, her large, doe-like eyes glistening with unshed tears.
My parents, completely bewildered, tried to intervene.
My fathers brow furrowed. Leo, not only are you late to your sisters gala, but you come in here causing a scene? What is the meaning of this?
Leo, honey, my mother pleaded, you and Claire have your squabbles, but this is her big day. Have some decency!
Leo ignored them. He pointed a finger straight at me, his voice ringing with conviction.
Claire isn't a real Page! She was switched at birth! The real Page heiress is right hereZoe Reed!
As he spoke, he pushed Zoe in front of our parents, beaming as if presenting them with a prize.
Mom, Dad, shes your real daughter! My sister! Just look at us! Our faces are proof enough!
His words were a bombshell. The guests eyes darted between the three of us, analyzing, comparing.
You know, now that you mention it, the Page siblings look nothing alike!
But Leo and that Zoe girl its like they share the same face.
Could she really have been switched at birth?
Well, this is turning into quite the party.
Even my parents were shaken, whispering to each other, He and Zoe really do look alike
Leo savored the murmurs and the accusing stares now aimed at me. He shot me a look of pure, triumphant malice.
I, however, remained calm. Leo, have all those trashy novels finally rotted your brain? You say Im a fake, and that makes it true?
I knew Leo had always resented me. Maybe because I was the older sister, stealing half of our parents affection. Or maybe because I excelled at everything, constantly overshadowing him. Whatever the reason, he saw me as an obstacle, one he desperately wished would disappear. His recent obsession with switched-at-birth stories had only fueled his fantasy that he could replace me. So, in a way, this dramatic scene wasn't a surprise at all.
Seeing my lack of fear, my refusal to crumble, only enraged him further.
Youre shameless, Claire! he sneered. Dont think you can keep freeloading off my family. If you have any sense, youll pack your bags and get lost!
Before I could respond, my parents found their voices.
Leo! That is enough! My fathers tone was sterner than I had ever heard it. Where are your manners? Claire is your sister. How dare you say something so monstrous!
Hes right, Leo, my mother added. You cant just accuse your sister of something so terrible just because some stranger resembles you!
Their immediate defense of me pushed Leo over the edge.
Shes not my sister, Mom! Zoe is! he roared. You should be comforting Zoe for the eighteen years of hardship shes endured, not wasting your sympathy on an imposter!
As if on cue, Zoe began to sob, her shoulders trembling as she twisted the hem of her cheap dress. Her voice was a choked whisper. I just I just wanted to come home If you dont want me, Ill leave
She risked a tearful glance at my parents before dropping her head again, fat tears splashing onto the polished floor. It was a masterful performance.
My mother, ever the soft heart, tried to comfort her. My dear, we havent even figured out whats happening yet
Her words only made Zoes sobs grow louder, more desperate.
Leo looked at her with heartbreaking tenderness, pulling her behind him protectively. Dont worry, Zoe, he said, his voice thick with emotion. Youre the only sister Ill ever recognize. You are a Page!
The audience was hooked. Sympathy for Zoe swelled through the room, and the looks I received turned from curious to contemptuous.
That poor girl. Her real parents are right in front of her, and shes being treated like an outcast.
And the Pages how can they be so biased toward the fake one?
Claire is despicable. Shes lived a life of luxury that wasnt hers for eighteen years, and she still wont step aside!
The comments stung my parents, their faces paling. As for me, I found the whole spectacle laughable.
I let my cold gaze sweep across the room. Dont be in such a hurry to pick a side, I said, my voice laced with ice. The show hasnt even started yet.
Minutes ago, they were all fawning over me, the Page heiress. Now, they were falling over themselves to curry favor with the supposed real one. They were all sharks, smelling blood in the water. My words silenced them; they recognized the threat in my tone and remembered, for now, whose party it was.
I turned my attention back to Leo. Youre making a scene based on nothing but a facial resemblance, Leo. Youre embarrassing our family, and youre humiliating Mom and Dad. Either show some actual proof, or take your little friend and get out.
My sharp reprimand, delivered in front of this entire crowd, made his face flush a deep, angry red. He glared at me, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a file, slapping it hard across my face.
Open your damn eyes and look, Claire! The only one getting out is you, you cuckoo who stole my sisters nest!
The file was a DNA test report. As I stumbled back, the contents of the report flashed onto the massive screen behind the stage.
Based on DNA analysis, Sample 1 (Leo Page) and Sample 2 (Zoe Reed) are confirmed to have a full sibling relationship.
Everyone see that? Leo shouted, his voice amplified by the ballrooms acoustics. The report proves it! Zoe is my sister! She is the true, one-hundred-percent Page heiress! As for Claire? She has nothing to do with our family!
My parents stood frozen, their faces a mixture of shock and disbelief.
A DNA report Leo and Zoe are really siblings? my father murmured.
How can this be my mother whispered, her hand flying to her mouth.
The crowd exploded.
Its confirmed! Claire is a fake!
The Pages must be devastated. Their real daughter was suffering while they raised a stranger like a princess.
Serves Claire right for being so arrogant! Talk about a public humiliation!
In an instant, I had gone from the pampered heiress to a pathetic fraud, someone anyone could look down on.
Leos chin was high, his eyes gleaming with victory. Nothing to say now, Claire? Scram!
Zoe tugged at his sleeve, playing the part of the magnanimous victor. Leo, maybe maybe we shouldnt be so harsh. After all, Mom and Dad raised her for eighteen years.
Her feigned kindness only made me look worse.
I watched their little play unfold, making no move to leave. Leo, you dont run this family yet.
That was the last straw for him. He gestured to the security guards. Are you deaf, Claire? I want her thrown out! And rip that dress off her first! A stray doesnt deserve to wear couture!
Several guards moved toward me, but before they could lay a hand on me, my fathers voice boomed through the hall.
Stop! I dare any of you to touch my daughter!
His voice held an absolute authority that froze the guards in their tracks. My mother rushed to my side, shielding me with her body.
Leos eyes turned red with fury. Even with a DNA test, his parents were still protecting her.
Dad! Mom! Have you lost your minds? he shrieked. Zoe and I are your family! How can you care more about this imposter than your own flesh and blood?
My parents expressions were complicated, pained. After a long moment, my mother simply said, Claire is a Page.
Her voice was quiet, but it was unwavering.
A warmth spread through my chest. No matter what, my parents were my fortress.
But her words were a lit match to Leos gunpowder. He looked ready to explode with resentment.
Zoe, of course, chose that moment for another dramatic burst of tears, this time so heart-wrenching it sounded like she was being torn apart. Its all my fault If I hadnt shown up, I wouldnt have made things so difficult for Mom and Dad, or so painful for Leo I never should have come back
She made a show of running for the exit, the perfect self-sacrificing martyr.
Leo grabbed her arm. Dont go, Zoe! This is your home! The one who needs to leave is Claire!
Zoe looked at him through her tears, then cast a timid, pleading glance at my parents. I really dont want to cause any trouble. I just wanted my real mom and dad back. Why is that so hard?
Just then, our driver, Mr. Reed, pushed his way through the crowd. The moment he reached my parents, he dropped to his knees with a loud thud.
Mr. and Mrs. Page, its all our fault! Weve wronged you so terribly! It was my wife back at the hospital, she had a moment of weakness she swapped the babies!
Mr. Reed was sobbing, his confession raw and convincing.
My only wish now is for Zoe to be able to come home. Claire has already had the life that belonged to Zoe for eighteen years. We cant live with this lie any longer. Zoe is a good girl, I beg you, please give her a chance to come home! As for Claire she is my daughter. She should come back to the Reed family with me.
My parents stared at each other, their faces growing grimmer by the second.
Robert, my father said slowly, are you telling us the truth?
Mr. Reed nodded vigorously. Every word, sir! My wife has been living with the guilt for years. If it wasnt for Zoe and the young master looking more and more alike, we never would have found the courage to confess! Its all our fault. Blame me, but please, dont take it out on Zoe!
His confession was the final nail in my coffin. Leo grew even bolder. He stepped right up to me, spitting as he yelled in my face.
You hear that, Claire? Even Mr. Reed admitted it! You were maliciously swapped at birth!
We have a witness and we have the evidence! Now get out of my house, you fraud!
Mr. Reed got up and tried to pull me away, but I sidestepped him.

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