Chapter 2The Perfect Illusion

The thought of my miserable future life brought on a fresh wave of genuine, heartfelt sobs.

“Liam, this is mostly your fault.”

He looked at me, utterly bewildered.

I spoke with the conviction of a prosecutor. “You know what they say, ‘spare the rod, spoil the child.’ I read this story once, about a mother who let her son get away with everything, from stealing candy as a kid to robbing banks as an adult. He ended up on death row, and for his last wish, he asked to see his mom. Do you know what he did? He bit her ear clean off!”

Liam squeezed his eyes shut and took another long, slow breath, his voice tight. “What, exactly, are you planning to steal?”

I panicked. “Ugh, why are you so dense? It’s a metaphor! I’m making a point!”

He actually looked surprised. “A metaphor? Look at you, learning new words.”

That only made me cry harder. “This isn’t a joke! I’m really not your sister!”

Liam froze. Then, he reached down and effortlessly lifted me from the floor.

“I know. But I raised you. Blood or not, I’ll always take care of you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“…”

What if the real heiress decided I’d stolen her life of luxury for twenty-one years and convinced my parents to kick me out? Besides, everyone knew me as a spoiled brat. If we ever got into a fight, they’d all take her side and condemn me. My brother adored me, sure, but I wasn't his real sister. Over time…

Oh god, the more I thought about it, the more terrifying it became. It’s not like I asked to be switched at birth!

Seeing my lip tremble again, Liam sighed and knelt in front of me, his voice soft and coaxing, just like all the times before.

“Then what do you want me to do? I’ll agree to anything, okay?”

My head snapped up. “How about you send me to study abroad!”

Liam’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t say anything.

“No, wait, that’s a terrible idea. I made too many enemies in high school, and they’re all overseas now. If they find out I’ve gone from princess to pauper, they’ll make my life a living hell. I’ll probably end up dead in a ditch somewhere…” I chewed on my finger, immediately dismissing my own suggestion.

“Okay, what if you record a video promising to give me a monthly allowance… no, that’s no good either. If we have a falling out, you’ll just cut me off and sue me for blackmail. I’ll end up in jail, and when I get out, I’ll be a mess, and then one of my old enemies will find me and push me off a building—”

The vein on Liam’s forehead was practically pulsing. He clamped a hand over my mouth.

“Enough. I should have burned all of your trashy novels years ago.”

“Mmph! It’s your fault for spoiling me! I’m terrified and you’re still yelling at me!”

The thread of composure I’d been holding onto finally snapped. I grabbed the edge of the sofa, sobbing and stomping my feet.

“Liam, what am I going to do?”

He must have never seen me cry this hard before because he just stared, momentarily stunned. After a long moment, he pulled me into his arms.

“What are you so afraid of? I’m never going to leave you.”

I don’t know how long I cried, soaking a large patch of his custom-made black silk shirt before I finally drifted off to sleep. In a hazy daze, I felt someone carry me to a soft bed, gently wipe my face with a warm cloth, and then quietly close the door, leaving me in the darkness.