The Heiress and the Blade

Five million dollars. Keep tabs on Mia, and tell me the second she breaks down.

Gideon pushed the check across the desk toward me, his eyes filled with calculation.

I picked up the check, verified the amount three times, and slipped it into my bag.

Don't worry, Gideon. Last night Mia cried her eyes out in the bathroom over you. She even said she'd transfer that oceanfront villa under her name to you as a birthday gift.

Gideon smiled with satisfaction.

Walking out of the office, I pulled out my phone and hit save on the recording.

Mia would indeed stop breathing. But not until three years from now, when Gideon would have her committed to a psychiatric hospital and killed by electroshock therapy.

I looked at the balance in my account and dialed Mia's number.

"Hello, Mia? Your husband just paid me five million to be his spy. How should we split this money?"

Evelyn's POV

My name is Evelyn. I'm a scholarship student sponsored by the billionaire Lancaster family, and Mia's personal assistant.

To the outside world, I'm Mia's lapdog. I bite whoever she points at, with no dignity, driven purely by profit.

But they don't know that just moments ago, when Gideon threw that check at me, a set of memories that don't belong to me flooded into my mind.

In those memories, Mia would be stripped of her entire fortune by Gideon, a man with ulterior motives.

Gideon would team up with Lydia, Mia's father's illegitimate daughter from an affair.

Together, they would gradually drive Mia insane and have her committed to a psychiatric hospital.

Eventually, to claim the inheritance, they would stage a not particularly clever medical accident.

And I, as Mia's only loyal ally, would end up crushed to pulp by an out of control truck while trying to expose the truth.

Standing outside Gideon's company building, I stared at the five million dollar check in my hand.

It was the largest denomination of paper currency I'd ever seen in my life.

I used to think money was everything. Now I think staying alive is.

Gideon's disgusting face still lingered before my eyes. He didn't just want me to spy on Mia.

He also wanted me to slip something into Mia's food and drinks when he told me to.

Gideon called it a sedative, but I knew it was a hallucinogen. One that could destroy her mind.

I didn't refuse outright. I even haggled with Gideon and squeezed out an extra fifty thousand in hush money.

Because I knew that in these billionaire family power struggles, so-called loyalty without the weight of financial incentive wouldn't be believed by anyone.

If I hadn't taken the money, Gideon would have found someone else, or found a way to make me disappear.

I hailed a taxi and headed straight to Mia's luxury apartment in the city center.

When I opened the door, the room reeked of alcohol.

Mia wore a silk robe, slumped on the carpet, still clutching half a bottle of red wine, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

In this state, she really did look like a woman on the verge of a breakdown.

If I didn't know that Mia had just been on a hunger strike yesterday because Gideon hadn't replied to her messages, I might have actually thought she was mentally unstable.

"Evelyn, you're here."

Mia's voice was hoarse when she saw me. "Did Gideon reply? Is he still busy? Am I being too unreasonable?"

I didn't answer. I walked over and snatched the wine bottle from her hand, slamming it down on the coffee table with a bang.

"Gideon didn't reply. He's busy plotting how to get you committed to a psychiatric hospital and swallow your entire fortune."

Mia froze, then flew into a rage. "What are you talking about! Gideon isn't like that! He just has strong pride and doesn't like my family looking down on him!"

"Is that so?"

I pulled out my phone, opened the recording, and turned the volume to maximum.

Gideon's refined yet sinister voice echoed through the empty living room.

"Evelyn, I know you need money. Five million, as long as you obey. That crazy woman Mia has been very emotionally unstable lately. Keep an eye on her for me. Also, if Mia does anything extreme, make sure to record it and send it to me. This isn't just for me, it's for Mia's own good. After all, mental illness can hurt people if it's not treated early."

Evelyn's POV

Mia's face instantly turned deathly pale. She stared at my phone as if it were a monster.

"This... this must be fake, right? Evelyn, do you need money? Just tell me if you need money. Why would you make something like this to deceive me?"

Mia was still being stubborn, but I could see her hands were trembling.

I played another segment, the part where I haggled with Gideon.

"Gideon, isn't five million a bit low? After all, Mia's been good to me. If I betray her, I won't be able to survive in this circle anymore."

"Five hundred fifty thousand. Not a penny more. Evelyn, know when to be satisfied. Once I gain control of the Lancaster family, you'll have your share of benefits."

When the recording finished, I slapped the check on the table.

"This is the down payment from Gideon. The rest he said he'd give after the job is done. Mia, do you still think Gideon's just protecting his pride?"

Mia picked up the check with trembling hands. After seeing the signature and seal clearly, she suddenly let out a scream, grabbed the wine bottle, and rushed toward the door.

"I'm going to kill Gideon! That bastard! I'm going to kill him!"

I grabbed Mia around the waist and dragged her back, throwing her onto the sofa.

"What can you do besides get yourself killed if you go now? If you charge into Gideon's office with a wine bottle, you'll just prove you're mentally unstable! Gideon already has a draft of the psychiatric evaluation ready. He's just waiting for you to make a scene!"

Mia collapsed on the sofa, sobbing. She cursed while crying, cursing Gideon, cursing herself.

I poured Mia a glass of warm water and watched her vent with cold eyes.

"Are you done crying? If you're done, listen to me."

I sat across from Mia. "Gideon dares to do this because he has someone backing him. That Lydia? You think she's just Gideon's assistant at the company? She's your own father's illegitimate daughter, born just a few months after you."

Mia's head snapped up, disbelief written all over her face.

"My father... that's impossible! My father loves me so much!"

"Your father loves you? If he loved you, would he make you marry a fraud like Gideon? If he loved you, would he keep you away from the core business all these years? Wake up. In your father's eyes, you're just a tool for marriage alliances. Now that the tool isn't useful anymore, he wants to replace it with a new one."

I had to be harsh, or Mia would never wake up.

Mia sat there in a daze, her eyes vacant, as if her entire worldview had collapsed.

"Then... what should I do? Evelyn, help me. I can't let them succeed!"

Mia finally grabbed my hand, her nails digging into my flesh. It hurt, but I didn't shake her off.

"Listen. Starting today, you need to cooperate with me in putting on an act."

I leaned close to Mia and lowered my voice. "Gideon wants you to play crazy? Then you'll go crazy for him. But you'll do it under my control."

"This five million. I'll take half, and the other half is your investment capital."

Mia looked at me, the fear in her eyes gradually transforming into ruthlessness.

She wiped away her tears and picked up the check, kissing it fiercely.

"Fine, Evelyn. I'll listen to you. Keep all five million. As long as you can destroy them, you can have everything I own!"

I smiled and put the check away.

"I don't need everything. Fair compensation for work done. Now go wash your face and change your clothes. Gideon will be back tonight. Your show is about to begin."

Evelyn's POV

Gideon did come back.

He brought Mia's favorite mousse cake, wearing that nauseating mask of devotion on his face.

"Mia, I'm sorry. I've been too busy with the company these past few days and neglected you."

Mia sat on the sofa, holding a pair of scissors, cutting up the designer bags Gideon had given her.

The floor was littered with scraps of leather.

Gideon's eyelid twitched. He put down the cake and tried to rush over to grab the scissors.

"Mia, what are you doing? Don't hurt yourself!"

Mia looked up, her eyes somewhat unfocused yet carrying a strange excitement.

"Gideon, you're back? Look, there seem to be bugs in these bags. They keep making noise. It's giving me a headache. I cut them open and the bugs ran away."

This was the script I'd taught Mia. A touch of neurosis, but not too exaggerated.

Gideon froze for a moment, then turned to look at me standing in the corner.

I gave Gideon a slight nod and mouthed the words "having an episode."

A flash of barely concealed pleasure crossed Gideon's eyes, but he hid it well, immediately putting on an expression of distress.

"Mia, have you been under too much stress lately? It's okay, I'm here. Evelyn, go call Dr. Hayes. Have him come check on Mia."

Dr. Hayes was Gideon's college friend, now a psychiatrist at a private clinic.

In the original timeline, it was Dr. Hayes who repeatedly issued false diagnoses for Mia, calling normal anxiety bipolar disorder and insomnia a precursor to schizophrenia.

I'd been waiting for Dr. Hayes to make this move.

"Of course, Gideon. I'll contact him right away."

I turned toward the kitchen, pretending to make a call, but actually pulled out a packet of powerful laxatives from my bag.

Dr. Hayes arrived quickly, carrying his signature silver medical case, wearing gold rimmed glasses, the very picture of a refined scumbag.

"Gideon, how is Mia's condition?"

"Not good. She was just cutting bags, saying there were bugs inside. Dr. Hayes, please take a look. Has that illness gotten worse?"

Gideon spoke while giving Dr. Hayes meaningful looks.

Dr. Hayes understood perfectly. He sat across from Mia and began the diagnostic routine he'd rehearsed countless times.

I walked over carrying water I'd just poured.

"Dr. Hayes, thank you for coming. Have some water."

I deliberately handed the doctored glass to Dr. Hayes, my movements respectfully flawless.

Dr. Hayes took the water without suspicion and drank a large gulp.

"Miss Lancaster, have you been hearing strange voices lately? Or seeing things other people can't see?"

Mia hugged her knees, trembling. "Yes, many people are cursing me, saying I don't deserve to live..."

Her acting skills. Such a waste she wasn't winning Best Actress awards.

Gideon put his arm around Mia's shoulders with false concern. "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Those are hallucinations."

Less than ten minutes later, Dr. Hayes's expression began to change.

Sweat broke out on his forehead. He clutched his stomach, his face contorting.

"Um... Gideon, may I use the restroom?"

"Over there."

Dr. Hayes practically waddled into the bathroom with his legs squeezed together.

While Gideon went to the balcony to take a call, probably reporting the situation to Lydia, I quickly walked to Dr. Hayes's medical case on the coffee table and opened his laptop.

I knew Dr. Hayes's password. In the previous timeline, when he was on trial in court, this password was made public as evidence. It was his first love's birthday.

The computer booted up quickly. I rapidly located a folder named "Patient Files."

Inside was a medical record for Mia that had been prepared in advance, brazenly stating "severe bipolar disorder with violent tendencies, recommend involuntary hospitalization."

Besides Mia's, there were several other false medical records of billionaire wives. Dr. Hayes was apparently a repeat offender.

I pulled out a flash drive and copied the entire folder as fast as I could.

The progress bar crawled agonizingly slowly. I kept my eyes on the screen while listening for sounds from the bathroom and balcony.

The toilet flushed, followed by the sound of the door handle turning.

Evelyn's POV

I yanked out the flash drive, closed the laptop, and retreated to my corner, the entire process smooth as silk, though my heart was pounding like it would burst through my chest.

Dr. Hayes emerged weakly, his face sallow.

"Sorry, I must have eaten something bad."

He sat back down, not daring to drink any more water, and after asking a few cursory questions, pulled out a document.

"Gideon, based on Mia's current symptoms, she does show tendencies of severe bipolar disorder. I recommend starting with medication to control it. If the situation deteriorates, it would be best to send her to a professional treatment facility."

Gideon took the diagnosis, his hands trembling slightly from excitement.

"Good. Whatever Dr. Hayes says. As long as Mia can be cured, money is no object."

Mia sat with her head down, shoulders shaking as if crying, but I knew she was trying not to laugh.

Gideon locked the diagnosis in his safe, where he considered most secure.

But I touched the burning flash drive in my pocket and smirked inwardly.

That was nothing but waste paper. The real bomb was in my hands.

After seeing Dr. Hayes off, Gideon was in high spirits, even giving me an approving look.

"Evelyn, you did well today. From now on, make sure Mia takes the medication Dr. Hayes prescribes on time. Understood?"

"Don't worry, Gideon. I'll make sure to watch her 'carefully.'"

I emphasized the word "carefully."

Those pills would go straight down the drain, every last one.

Gideon moved faster than I'd expected.

The day after obtaining the fake diagnosis, he brought Lydia home.

"Mia, this is Lydia. She just returned from abroad and has nowhere to stay temporarily. You haven't been feeling well lately, so Lydia can keep you company and cheer you up."

Lydia wore a white dress, her long hair flowing over her shoulders, that harmless smile on her face, carrying a basket of fruit.

"Miss Lancaster, hello. Gideon's mentioned you often, saying you're beautiful and capable. Meeting you today, I see he wasn't exaggerating."

The greeting sounded sweet, but I clearly saw the ambition and provocation hidden in Lydia's eyes.

Mia sat in a wheelchair. This was also my suggestion. If you're going to play sick, go all in. Looking frail couldn't hurt.

Mia looked at Lydia, the pillow in her hands twisted out of shape.

Last night I'd shown Mia Lydia's file. This woman's private life abroad had been an utter mess. She'd returned home to take over the Lancaster family business and snag Gideon, the scheming man.

"If she's Gideon's friend, then let her stay. Evelyn, show Lydia to the guest room."

Mia's voice was soft, sounding weak and breathless.

Gideon nodded with satisfaction, seemingly surprised and pleased by Mia's compliance.

"Lydia, make yourself at home. If you need anything, just tell Evelyn."

I led Lydia upstairs. The moment she entered the guest room, the smile dropped from her face. She ran her finger disgustedly along the desk.

"What kind of dump is this? So much dust. Is this how you people serve guests?"

I stood in the doorway, expressionless.

"Miss, this room was cleaned just yesterday. If you find it unsatisfactory, you're welcome to clean it yourself."

Lydia turned around and looked me up and down, her eyes full of disdain.

"You're Evelyn? I heard you're a dog Gideon bought with money? Since you're a dog, you should act like one. Don't bark at your master."

She pulled out a stack of bills from her bag and threw them in my face.

"Take the money. From now on, you do whatever I tell you to do. Got it?"

Bills scattered across the floor. I bent down and picked them up one by one.

Why not take free money? This was emotional distress compensation.

"You're absolutely right. I'll be obedient."

Lydia snorted and turned to unpack her luggage, muttering under her breath, "What a cheap bitch."

I pocketed the money, closed the door, and headed to the surveillance room.

Evelyn's POV

Yesterday, I'd already installed pinhole cameras in various corners of the Lancaster house, especially at the stairwell, living room, and Mia's bedroom.

I knew someone as scheming as Lydia would never behave herself. The first thing she'd do here was assert dominance over Mia and stage another sob story for Gideon.

Sure enough, before dinner, the show began.

Gideon hadn't returned yet. Mia was reading in the second-floor sitting room.

Lydia walked over carrying a cup of hot coffee, her steps deliberately swaying.

"Mia, reading? Have some coffee to perk up."

Lydia approached Mia, deliberately stumbled, and the entire cup of scalding coffee flew toward Mia's face.

Mia was prepared. She dodged to the side, and the coffee splashed onto the sofa.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry, Mia! I didn't mean to!"

While apologizing, Lydia took the opportunity to viciously pinch Mia's arm.

Mia cried out in pain and instinctively pushed Lydia.

The push wasn't forceful, but Lydia acted as if she'd been struck by a sledgehammer, her whole body flying backward and rolling straight down the stairs.

"Help! Mia's trying to kill me!"

At that moment, the front door opened. Gideon happened to walk in.

He looked up to see Lydia rolling down like a broken doll, landing at his feet with a gash on her forehead, blood flowing out.

"Lydia!"

Gideon dropped his briefcase and rushed over to cradle Lydia.

Lydia leaned weakly against Gideon, pointing at Mia upstairs, tears streaming down her face.

"Gideon... Mia... she said I was trying to seduce you... she pushed me... my head is so dizzy..."

Gideon's head snapped up, his eyes glaring viciously at Mia.

"Mia! Have you lost your mind? Lydia is my friend. How could you be so vicious!"

Mia stood at the top of the stairs, face pale, trembling all over.

This wasn't an act. Mia was genuinely furious at this scene and hurt by Gideon's look.

"I didn't... Lydia did it herself..."

"Shut up! I saw it with my own eyes! What excuse do you have?"

Gideon stood up holding Lydia and strode outside. "I'm taking Lydia to the hospital for an examination! Mia, if anything happens to Lydia, I won't let you off!"

Mia tried to chase after them to explain, but I stopped her.

"Don't go."

I pulled Mia back to her room. "Let Gideon go."

"But Evelyn, Gideon misunderstood me! That woman did it on purpose!" Mia stamped her foot anxiously.

"I know Lydia did it on purpose. Gideon probably knows too, but he just wants an excuse to blow up."

I opened my phone and pulled up the surveillance video from earlier.

The footage clearly recorded how Lydia deliberately spilled the coffee, and how she deliberately used the force of Mia's light push to jump backward and roll down the stairs.

Especially that little adjustment Lydia made before rolling to protect herself. A perfect fake fall.

"Look, this floor really is too hard. Lydia should wear knee pads next time she performs, or those knees are going to bruise."

I pointed at Lydia's somewhat awkward posture on the screen and sneered.

Mia watched the video and gradually calmed down, the tears in her eyes receding.

"Should we... send this video to Gideon now?"

"No. If we send it now, Gideon will just become angry from embarrassment and might even destroy the evidence."

I put away my phone. "We need to wait for the right moment. Like when we can slap Gideon in the face in front of everyone."

Evelyn's POV

That night, Gideon stormed back.

As soon as he entered, he slammed a diagnosis of "mild concussion" on the table.

"Mia, you're absolutely unreasonable! Lydia is such a pure and kind girl, and you could actually hurt her? Starting today, you stay in your room and reflect. Without my permission, you're not to step one foot out!"

Mia sat on the sofa holding a cup of coffee, surprisingly calm.

"Gideon, are you sure I pushed Lydia?"

"Of course! If not you, then who? Did Lydia roll down by herself?"

"Perhaps."

I walked forward at the right moment, holding a tablet.

"Gideon, to ensure the house's security, I installed surveillance at the stairwell a couple days ago. It was meant to prevent thieves, but it captured something interesting."

Gideon's expression changed instantly.

I tapped the video and played it.

In the footage, Lydia's clumsy acting was laid bare, even capturing the look she snuck at the door to see if Gideon had come in.

After watching the video, Gideon's face turned from blue to white. What a sight.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no sound came out.

"Gideon, does this count as... faking a fall for fraud?" I asked with a smile.

Gideon took a deep breath, crumpled the diagnosis into a ball, and stuffed it in his pocket.

"This matter... perhaps Lydia accidentally slipped. She was just frightened and spoke nonsense. Mia, since it's a misunderstanding, let's move on. Don't be too petty. After all, Lydia is a guest."

That's it? Moving on?

Not even an apology?

Mia was about to explode when I gently pressed her hand.

"Gideon's right. We all live under one roof. Why hold grudges? But Lydia's balance really is concerning. She should hold the railing when using stairs from now on. Otherwise if she falls again next time, the surveillance might not always be running."

Gideon glared at me and went upstairs to Lydia's room.

I knew he was going to comfort that schemer, but it didn't matter.

What mattered was that the seed of doubt had been planted in Gideon's mind. Though he was protecting Lydia, someone as selfish as Gideon would never tolerate being played for a fool.

Lydia's sob story not only failed to hurt Mia, but actually made Lydia lose points with Gideon.

This was my welcome gift to Lydia.

Lydia's fall didn't manage to hurt Mia but left herself bruised and swollen, hiding in her room for several days without daring to show her face.

But this didn't make Gideon settle down.

Soon, the Lancaster Corporation's annual charity gala was about to begin.

This was a major event in elite circles and a key step in Gideon's plan to transfer assets.

Two days before the gala, Gideon came to Mia with a thick document.

"Mia, we need to set an example at this gala. I want to establish a charitable trust fund in your name and donate part of your shares in Lancaster Entertainment specifically to support education in remote areas."

It sounded noble.

I stood nearby pouring water and glanced at the document.

On the surface it was a charitable trust, but the terms hid traps. Though the actual controller and beneficiary were written vaguely, after layers of investigation, everything ultimately pointed to an offshore shell company belonging to Gideon.

Once Mia signed, those shares would vanish into the fund, never to be seen again, while Gideon would get the reputation of a "philanthropist."

I sneered. Perfect.

Using this "document," Mia and I would prepare a surprise for Gideon.