Chapter 1

That year, when I was seventeen, I discovered I was the real heiress of a prominent family.

But after I swapped places with the girl who’d been living my life, something strange began to happen.

My biological parents, the Harringtons, saw their business plummet, while my previously struggling adoptive parents, the Millers, became incredibly prosperous.

Turns out, Serena, the girl who took my place, was a walking good luck charm. Wherever she stayed, that family would flourish.

So, both my adoptive and biological parents clung to Serena.

"Serena! You’re our only daughter now!"

I watched them coldly from the sidelines, but I didn’t tell them the full truth—

Serena was indeed a living good luck charm.

But her charmed life was only good until she turned eighteen.

After her eighteenth birthday, she would become a harbinger of ruin.

When I returned to the Harrington estate, Serena had just been thrown out.

She only managed to grab a backpack, and a woman who looked like a housekeeper impatiently shoved her.

"You imposter! The real heiress is coming home today. Now get out!"

Serena’s face was red with shame and resentment, just as my biological parents came out to greet me.

She immediately screamed at them.

"Dad, Mom, are you really abandoning me?!"

Mr. Harrington didn’t even glance at her. He spoke blandly.

"I’ve arranged a sum of money for you. Consider this our final settlement for the years you were with us. The Harringtons owe you nothing more."

Mrs. Harrington looked conflicted, but she also said, "Serena, take care of yourself from now on."

Serena’s eyes filled with even more anguish. She stumbled downstairs, almost tripping at the bottom of the stairs.

I reached out and steadied her.

"Are you okay?" I asked, genuinely concerned. But she just stared at me blankly.

The next second, she figured out who I was and angrily yanked her arm away.

"You’re Maya? Don’t pretend to be kind!" She yelled at me. "Do you think being the real heiress makes you special? I’m telling you, you’ll all regret this! You’ll come crawling back, begging me!"

With that furious declaration, Serena spun around and ran off.