Pretending to Be a Heiress

Chapter 4: The Beginning of the Test

Outside the car window, the scenery of the Hudson Valley whizzed by, with verdant hills and blue skies intertwining into a beautiful canvas. The manor came into view, perched halfway up the mountain, ancient and majestic as if stepping into another century.

Emma couldn’t help but murmur in awe, “This looks like something straight out of a movie. It’s... unreal.”

Vivian nodded slightly, maintaining her professional smile. “It is quite beautiful. But this is just a small vacation estate of the family in New York, not used very frequently.” Her tone carried a touch of dismissive indifference. “Wait till you see the family’s main estate. This place is practically a toy compared to that.”

Sensing Vivian’s sense of superiority, Emma responded coldly, “Right now, it’s doing the job just fine for me. Guess not every piece of fancy real estate needs to meet your high standards.”

Vivian seemed momentarily taken aback, adjusting her attitude slightly. The car fell silent.

***

The luxury car slowly came to a stop in front of the main building of the estate. Emma stepped out, the crisp air brushing against her skin as she followed Vivian. The courtyard stretched before her, meticulously manicured but with an intimidating stillness like it belonged to a different, far colder era.

The old buildings exuded an indescribable sense of grandeur. Vivian pointed to another woman waiting at the entrance and introduced her, “This is Victoria Green, your secretary.”

Victoria wore a tailored black suit, her face adorned with a professional smile that gave an impression of flawless composure.

She smiled and extended her hand to Emma. “Good morning, Miss Carter. I’m Victoria Green, and it’s a pleasure to serve you. From today, I’ll be assisting you with managing all your daily tasks and coordinating your social engagements within and outside the family.”

Emma shook Victoria’s hand, feeling the steadiness in her grip but still overwhelmed by the complexity of her new world. She asked instinctively, “So what’s the difference between a personal assistant and a personal secretary?”

Victoria chuckled lightly, glancing at Vivian before explaining, “Vivian handles your daily schedules and personal decisions; I focus on managing family-related matters, organizing your calendar, arranging meetings, handling paperwork, that sort of thing.”

“So, Vivian’s more like my ‘lifestyle manager,’ and you’re the ‘family handler,’ right?” Emma caught the distinction.

“You could put it that way,” Victoria nodded, then continued, “The family is aware that you may have limited experience in these matters, so they’ve arranged for a family tutor, Mr. Edmund Caster. He will be guiding you through the family’s history, culture, and how best to reintegrate into the family.”

Emma nodded thoughtfully, realizing that they didn’t seem to know her true background but still accepted everything with such ease. Why was that? She decided to keep her thoughts to herself for now.

She recalled the main points of her contract: five years, maintaining her role as a wealthy heiress, blending into high society, and avoiding being discovered as an outsider.

So, it’s not just about luxury and leisure... Emma mused with a tinge of regret.

***

Following Victoria and Vivian, Emma entered an opulently decorated drawing room. The door opened softly to reveal a tall, well-dressed gentleman inside. He bowed slightly, his smile refined and welcoming.

“Hello, Emma, I’m Edmund Caster.” His voice was steady and magnetic, each word seemingly chosen with care. “Please, come in. We need to talk.”

Emma hesitated briefly before stepping into the room.

The opulent drawing room was a blend of classic luxury and stifling coldness. Velvet drapes, deep shades of blue and gold, cascaded down to polished marble floors that reflected the dim lighting like cold, emotionless mirrors. A grand chandelier hung overhead, its crystal droplets gleaming but casting shadows that seemed to crawl along the walls, giving the room an almost suffocating, museum-like stillness.

Edmund gestured for her to sit, then took a seat opposite her. His manner exuded a classical charm and calmness that put Emma slightly at ease.

Edmund’s eyes briefly scanned the room before he started, “The Catherian family’s roots go back centuries—nobles who chose to vanish from the spotlight. They traded castles for corporations and old power for new influence. And now, they’re everywhere, controlling more than you can imagine, though you’d never see their name in the headlines.”

As Edmund spoke, he casually adjusted his cufflinks, a polished silver set that seemed to catch the dim light with every movement. His fingers briefly tapped the edge of the mahogany desk, a rhythmic pattern that seemed almost calculated, like the ticking of a clock measuring Emma’s reactions.

Emma listened, though her skepticism lingered. “So, the family controls a lot of companies?” she guessed, trying to piece together the puzzle.

Edmund nodded, his smile unwavering. “Yes, the Catherian family has global investments and influence, though the outside world knows very little about it.”

Emma furrowed her brow, curiosity, and doubt mingling. “But... why go through all the drama of a reality show? What’s the point of a family like yours?”

Edmund chuckled softly and gently corrected, “Emma, not ‘ours.’ I serve the family, but I’m not one of them.” He paused, his tone shifting slightly to a more serious note. “Your current role has been carefully crafted. The family is watching closely and expects you to excel in this position.”

He paused again, arranging his thoughts. “As for the reality show, it’s a way for the family to observe the outside world. Most of the family’s children grow up under intense protection, but sometimes that protection becomes a cage. Overprotection can be as much a prison as anything else.”

Emma picked up on the nuance in Edmund’s words; she sensed that he knew about her true situation, but also that he wasn’t going to lay all the cards on the table.

Take it slow, Emma thought. I’ll figure this all out.

Edmund did keep certain things back, choosing to share what he deemed necessary. “For centuries, the family has been careful in nurturing and protecting its young ones, who are the future. But with the world evolving at such a rapid pace over the past decades, the family needs to ensure that the next generation can interact more deeply with the outside world.”

Emma’s frustration bubbled up. “So, I’m just some guinea pig in your family’s social experiment? Is that it?”

Edmund remained calm, his tone gentle but firm. “You could see it that way, but I hope you can also see this as an opportunity. For the family, you serve as a reference point, a clearer window into the differences inside and outside the family. And for you, this might be the best shot at changing your destiny.”

Emma fell silent, her mind racing with thoughts. She realized she was not just a so-called lucky participant but a carefully selected piece of this massive puzzle.

“Everyone chosen has their unique reasons and value,” Edmund concluded, his voice carrying a note of certainty. “And so do you. What’s important is that you know you’re expected to achieve great things.”

He stood up, giving a small, reassuring nod. “Take your time, Emma. You don’t have to understand everything right away. If you’re willing, I’ll be here to help you every step of the way.”