The Fake Brother And The Real Heiress

I was always a pushover growing up. I had a tendency to agree with everyone, reflexively.
Someone could tell me the Earth was flat, and I'd nod and say, You know, theres a real possibility for that.
After a checkup years later, I learned I had what the doctor vaguely called a Compulsive Agreement Disordera psychological defense mechanism born out of constant bullying and never being heard. I learned to survive by simply affirming whatever the perceived aggressor said.
When the prominent Whitlock family finally tracked me down and brought me home, the "fake daughter," Savannah, immediately started the performance. She wiped away a perfectly placed tear and offered up my room.
"I took your place, big sister. This room rightfully belongs to you. Ill just move my things to the guest suite."
I nodded, agreeing instantly.
"Thats certainly fair. Indeed, the guest room is for guests, and since youre technically a visitor here now, that seems logical."
SavannahSavvyturned instantly pale, her composure visibly shaken.
My newfound brother, Marcus, jabbed a furious finger at my chest.
"I only recognize Savvy as my sister. You can forget about being family."
I didnt miss a beat.
"Absolutely. I completely agree. Honestly, Ive always preferred the simple lifeI tell everyone Im an only child anyway. Less drama."
Marcus turned beet red, his jaw slackening. He let out a strangled gasp and promptly collapsed.
I just stood there, blinking slowly. I was just agreeing with what he said. How was that my fault?
1
Marcus was clutching his chest, completely knocked out.
Savvy immediately started wailing, calling out his name. The loud, dramatic scene brought my biological parents, Caroline and Richard Whitlock, running.
"What in the world is going on here? Why did Marcus faint?" they demanded.
Savvy rubbed her eyes, shrinking her shoulders and choking out a sob.
"Its because sister she"
She trailed off, making it sound like Id just physically assaulted my new brother.
My parents disapproving gazes landed squarely on me. I nodded my head, following the pattern.
"Indeed. Marcus said he only recognized Savvy as his sister. So, I responded that I tell everyone Im an only child. Then he fainted."
It was true. At my foster home, I was an only child.
Savvy continued to cry silently, shrinking into herself and clutching Marcus. After Mom gave her a small, reassuring pat, she looked up, shooting me a pathetic, fearful glance before tearfully addressing them.
"She said she was angry I took her family. She threatened me, and Marcus stepped in to defend me, and that's how he fell."
Wait, she just straight-up fabricated a story?
Mom looked at the two of themthe collapsed son and the terrified daughterand turned her accusatory face back to me.
"Youve been back for one day, and youre already bullying your brother and sister? What kind of daughter are you?"
I nodded my head again, the reflex taking over.
"Thats certainly possible. Since I just got here, I could very well have bullied Savvy and Marcus. But you have cameras, right? We can just check the footage."
I decided to go for the nuclear option.
"And besides, I might not even be your daughter. DNA tests can have errors. To be safe, Savvy, Marcus, and I can all take another one. What if none of us are your biological children?"
The last sentence was designed to short-circuit my mother and silence my father. It worked immediately. Mom gasped, looking frantic. The usually rigid and stern Dad snapped, "What are you talking about, running your mouth like that!"
2
Savvy, ever the schemer, latched onto the easier target.
"The cameras in here didnt they break last month?"
I was genuinely confused.
"They did break. But I fixed them yesterday."
Growing up, my only defense against being beaten up was evidence. Because I compulsively agreed with everything, people often tried to take advantage or physically intimidate me. The one thing that stopped them was the proof on camera. So, when I got back to the Whitlocks' mansion, the first thing I did was hire a crew to ensure every corner of the house was covered.
When Mom and Dad realized my strange fixation was due to a childhood trauma from being constantly abused, they allowed me to install the system out of pity. Savvy, who was probably out shopping at the time, had no idea.
I pulled up the feed on my phone and projected it onto the closest wall, turning the volume up. The scene played out: Savvys sickeningly sweet offer to give up the room, followed by Marcuss aggressive taunts about me being some kind of "hillbilly" from the sticks.
I zoomed in and emphasized Savvys smug, subtle expressions and Marcuss look of utter contempt.
Mom and Dad squirmed, their faces heating up. Mom cleared her throat.
"Marcus and Savvy were wrong in how they spoke to you, Maddie. Ill talk to them." She paused. "But you, too, honey. If you knew they were lying, why didnt you just explain things to us?"
I looked at them, completely flat. I swiped the video progress bar back, and my earlier explanationmy calm, reflexive affirmation that led to the truthrang out clearly.
Moms cheeks flushed crimson. They both stood there, wordless. I knew exactly what this meant: they were going to sweep it under the rug.
I dangled my phone with the lab appointment confirmation pulled up.
"Ive already scheduled the follow-up DNA tests. Should we still go?"
Mom forced a weak smile.
"That wont be necessary."
I tilted my head, looking genuinely puzzled.
"Oh, but we should. What if Marcus was the one who was switched? Were supposed to be fraternal twins, right? Two babies switched at once isnt impossible."
I gestured between us.
"Look, Mom, Savvy and I look incredibly similar, but Marcus and I dont look alike at all. Isnt that weird?"
It was weird. A supposed twin brother and I shared zero resemblance, while the supposed "fake" sister could have been my doppelg?nger. It raised too many questions.
Mom seemed to instinctively agree with me, but Dad immediately cut me off, his voice laced with agitation.
"Enough! Are you done with this drama? I told you, Im making Marcus and Savvy apologize, all right?" He snapped. "They made a mistake, but you dont need to be so aggressive! Look at you! What kind of attitude is that?"
He turned to Savvy. "Savvy, apologize to your sister!"
3
Savvy had been yelled at by her fatherthe man who raised herfor the first time. Her eyes instantly welled up.
She shot me a hateful, red-rimmed glare.
"Im sorry! There!"
With that, she burst into tears and ran off. In her haste, she didnt watch her step and accidentally stomped right on Marcus's chest.
I saw it clearly: Marcuss face twisted in pain, a brief moment of pure agony, before it smoothed out again. He was faking the unconsciousness.
Mom quickly ran after Savvy, calling out to her. Dad called the staff to carry Marcus back to his room and then walked off without so much as a glance in my direction.
The DNA test was forgotten.
I hummed a quiet tune to myself and walked toward Savvy's room. The door was ajar, and I could hear Moms comforting voice.
"Sweetheart, don't cry. Youll always be my daughter, no matter what."
Savvys voice was hoarse.
"What about my sister, though?"
Mom paused, then answered honestly.
"Maddie is my daughter, too. You both have to learn to get along. Look, you wrongly accused her today, and she let it go. Your brother exaggerated things. I don't think she has the bad temper he claims."
Clearly, that wasn't what Savvy wanted to hear. She burst into louder sobs.
4
I tapped gently on the door.
"Can I come in?"
Savvys crying cut off abruptly, like a toy robot running out of batteries. She didn't answer.
I opened the door and walked in anyway.
Savvy, whose eyes were now red and puffy, glared at me.
"What do you want?"
"To rest. You gave me your room, remember? This is my room now."
Savvy was furious. She hadnt expected me to call her bluff and take her performative offer seriously.
Mom quickly tried to smooth things over.
"Oh, Maddie, darling, Savvy was just speaking emotionally. Shes been in this room for so long, it wouldnt be right to make her move now." She looked at me hesitantly. "How about you check out one of the other rooms?"
I surveyed Savvys space. The large vanity wasnt for makeup; it was crowded with limited-edition collectible art toys and little cotton dolls littered across the bedthe kind of niche fan merchandise often called "merch" by collectors. It was clearly a personalized sanctuary.
I gave Mom a slow nod and patted her on the shoulder.
"That's absolutely true. Its not right to make my sister move after shes made this room her own." I paused. "In that case, Ill take Marcus's room."
Mom froze. She stammered.
"Marcuss room wouldnt work either hes a boy why dont you just take the guest room?"
I nodded again.
"Indeed, Marcus's room is unsuitableall his messy boy things. But the bed in the guest room is too hard; I won't sleep well." I offered a suggestion. "How about this: Ill just crash in here with Savvy for one night? We can get a new mattress for the guest room tomorrow, and then Ill move out."
The idea of sharing a room with me horrified Savvy.
"No!" she shrieked.
But Mom thought it was a brilliant ideaa forced sisterly bonding session. She immediately approved. Savvys protests were useless. Furious, she grabbed a pillow and stomped off to the guest room.
As they left, I discreetly took the strand of hair I'd pulled from Mom's back during the hug and tucked it away. I surveyed Savvys room and, for good measure, installed a tiny, almost invisible security camera in a lamp.
I rifled through her vanity and found her hairbrush, plucking a few strands of her hair.
If what I suspected was true, the family drama was about to get a whole lot more entertaining.
5
The next morning, before the sun was even fully up, a furious banging rattled my door.
Fighting a massive wave of sleep-deprived irritation, I yanked the door open, my face dark.
"What is with all the goddamn knocking? Are you trying to wake the dead?"
Marcus, who had arrived with Savvy, ready for a fight, recoiled in surprise. A moment later, his face contorted in rage. He raised his hand to deliver a furious slap.
"How dare you, you little tramp! You took Savvy's room!"
I grabbed his wrist mid-swing. Years of self-defense classesKrav Maga and kickboxingmeant I wasn't going to be taken down by a pampered rich kid. It would have been pathetic.
I was already awake and annoyed. I used his forward momentum, twisted his arm, and slapped him across the face with my free hand.
"Keep your hands off me, you noisy jerk. If you didnt want me to take the room, you shouldnt have said I wasn't family. You let me in, so now shut up." I hissed, my voice low and dangerous. "Im in a foul mood. Annoy me again and Ill beat you until your own mother doesnt recognize you. Get lost!"
Savvy gasped in alarm.
"Madison! Are you insane? How dare you hit Marcus? He has a heart condition!"
Marcus was the familys golden boy. His delicate health meant Savvy, as the younger sister, had always been instructed to be gentle with him.
I raised an eyebrow, looking at the clear handprint swelling on Marcus's cheek.
"Oh? Are you my actual brother?"
His expression faltered instantly, a flash of panic crossing his eyes before he rallied into an aggressive sneer.
"Of course Im your brother! You cant change that fact, no matter what you say!"
I scoffed, my voice laced with mockery.
"Really? You only recognize Savvy as your sister, remember? What kind of brother does that make you to me?"
Marcus visibly relaxed.
I was done arguing. I slammed the door in their faces, leaving only a final threat hanging in the air.
"Make another noise, and Ill cut out your tongues!"
6
When I finally woke up, the house was eerily silent.
I was fully expecting the parents to come down on me for hitting Marcus, but no one did. The maid informed me that the familyall four of themhad gone out to shop for Marcus and Savvy's joint birthday party in two days.
They went off as a happy family of four, forgetting about me entirely.
The maid looked at me with deep sympathy. Clearly, in her eyes, I was the pathetic, neglected one, abandoned while they rallied around the fake sister.
But I didn't care. It was perfect. I had things to do, and their absence was a gift.
I took the strands of hair I had collected and drove to the private DNA testing center. I submitted the samples and waited in the lobby.
My phone chimed with text notifications. It was Savvy.
Savvy: Hmph. Mom and Dad love me the most. Look at the gift they got me.
Savvy: Even without blood, I'm still the favorite kid.
I genuinely worried about Savvys intelligence. Sending a threat from her personal number was wildly clumsy.
She followed up with a picture of a designer baga high-end, limited-edition piece.
Savvy: If you promise to stop trying to steal my parents, Ill buy you this bag as a gift.
I glanced at the bag. It was easily a seventy-five thousand dollar piece. Savvy's monthly allowance, while generous, wouldn't cover that without a few months of saving.
I didn't reply. I took a screenshot of the entire exchange and sent it directly to Mom and Dad.
Dad didnt say a word. He just deposited 0-000,000 into my account.
Mom responded quickly.
Mom (Caroline): Maddie, please dont be upset. Savvy is just like thatshe has a sharp tongue but a good heart.
Mom (Caroline): Marcus told us you were asleep and needed rest after this morning, so we didn't wake you up. I apologize. I bought you a gift, and I promise next time I will ask for your input.
Mom also transferred 0-000,000. Two hundred thousand dollars for one screenshot. Worth it.
I looked down at the freshly printed lab report in my hands. I realized I needed to give the family a much bigger surprise.
7
The moment I stepped back into the house, I was assaulted by Savvys ear-splitting wail.
A handbag flew past my head. I ducked just in time.
Savvy screamed at me, her voice hoarse.
"Madison Whitlock! If you don't like me, just say so!"
"Why did you ruin my collectibles? That was a limited-edition error piece! And I was actually going to buy you that bag!"
She was sobbing hystericallya more genuine show of emotion than when Marcus had fainted.
Marcus, meanwhile, was adding fuel to the fire.
"Mom, Dad, I told you she was rotten. Shes learned bad habits. Shes just jealous that we didn't take her shopping, so she took it out on Savvy's favorite toys. She never should have come back!"
Mom looked at me with disappointment etched on her face.
"Maddie, I told you, if you wanted something, you could just ask me. Why would you ruin the one thing your sister loves the most?"
Dad didn't bother to scold me. He simply handed me a credit card.
"Madison, you've caused nothing but chaos since you arrived. For the sake of family harmony, I need you to move out. Live in an apartment downtown."
They were already trying to kick me out?
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Marcus trying desperately to suppress a triumphant smirk.
Smile, smile, smile, I thought. Lets see if you can still manage that in a minute.
8
I took a deep breath, gathered all my air, and shouted.
"Quiet! Hear me out!"
Savvys wail cut off instantly, punctuated by a hiccup. The entire room went silent.
I took a slow breath and continued.
"That's true, there's a possibility I could have damaged Savvys things. However, I didnt."
Marcus couldn't contain himself. He sneered.
"Oh yeah? And were supposed to believe you? Who else in this house has a motive to ruin Savvys things?"
I smiled sweetly at him.
"Well, my brother, for one." I paused for dramatic effect. "Oh, wait. My mistake. Youre not my brother, are you?"
Marcus's complexion turned white as paper.
"What are you talking about?"
I pulled out the documentsa stack of photocopied DNA reportsand passed them out to everyone.
"Here you go, family. Hot off the press today. Take a look."
When Marcus saw the title of the document, his face drained of all color. He closed his eyes and started to crumple to the floor in another dramatic faint.
I darted forward, catching him not to save him, but to grip the sensitive skin on his side and pinch hard. He gasped, his eyes flying open in genuine pain, and he was forced to stand up straight.

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