Chapter 1The Fake Heiress and the Empty Mansion

My dad bought me a massive mansion.

I thought it was way too flashy and would ruin my image as the down-to-earth, minimalist "campus goddess."

So, after visiting it once, I just left it sitting there empty.

A month later, a freshman girl joined our college club.

She claimed the mansion was hers.

She also claimed her dad was a billionaire.

Looking at this tacky, awkward freshman, I fell deep into thought.

* * *

I am the president of the Art Society at our university.

Art is supposed to be about talent. I didn't want people thinking I was just a rich kid buying my way in.

So, I never told anyone that my dad is actually a billionaire.

Originally, I planned to keep my identity under wraps, enjoy being the "campus goddess," and date my handsome, ambitious boyfriend.

Then one day, a tacky, awkward freshman walked into the club room, surrounded by a group of eager students.

She announced that her dad was a billionaire!

My first thought was, Did the Forbes list change overnight?

Until she pulled up a photo of my dad, Richard Sterling, on her phone, held it next to her face, smiled sweetly, and said, "I take after my dad."

I was stunned. I immediately called my dad, demanding to know when I got a sister!

My dad swore on our ancestors' graves that I was his one and only daughter, and only then did I believe him.

"Your dad is Richard Sterling?" I asked her, sounding skeptical.

"That's right. I'm his only daughter, Chloe Sterling," she said, without a hint of shame.

I felt a surge of anger rising in my chest.

Does Richard Sterling know he has a daughter like you?

But I decided not to expose her right away.

I wanted to see what she was trying to achieve by stealing my identity.

"Aria, let Chloe join the club. She said she might let us have a BBQ at her mansion this weekend," said Liam, a club member, happily shaking Chloe's arm.

"Sure, let me see your student ID so I can register you." I held my hand out to Chloe.

Chloe hesitated for a moment but handed over her ID.

I flipped it open and looked at her birthplace. It clearly said: Omaha, Nebraska.

I was confused. "Isn't the billionaire from New York? Why does your ID say Omaha, Nebraska?"

Chloe was quick on her feet and smooth: "My family's roots are in Nebraska, we just live in New York now."

What Nebraska?! Our family has been in New York for generations!

She was banking on the fact that no one would actually check, so she felt confident spewing lies.

My dad values privacy and has always kept our family's information strictly confidential, which gave Chloe the perfect opportunity to exploit.

"Did you say you're taking everyone to your mansion for a BBQ this weekend?" I asked, looking up from the registration form.

A flash of pride crossed Chloe's eyes. "Yep. My dad bought me a mansion in Beverly Hills, not far from campus, so I can stay there whenever I want."

A bad feeling flashed through my mind.

Could the mansion she was talking about be the one my dad bought me a month ago?

I had checked it out once. It was grand, sure, but it was too big. I felt creeped out thinking about living there alone, and the decor was way too ostentatious for my taste, so I just left it empty.

How did it suddenly become hers?

The club members excitedly crowded around Chloe: "A billionaire's mansion! Can I really go?"

"Chloe, count me in! I want to go too."

...

Chloe didn't turn anyone down, smiling generously: "Anyone who wants to come is welcome."

She was met with unanimous cheers from the club.

I sneered internally. The front gate of the mansion requires facial recognition and a fingerprint scan. The system only has my information in it.

I'd love to see how Chloe plans to get past the front door.