Pretending to Be a Heiress

Chapter 2: Betrayal and Decision

For a split second, Emma stood in the rain, heartbroken and lost. But then she saw them—practically glued to each other. Lily, in a tight little dress, was pressing her barely contained chest against Ethan’s arm, rubbing up on him without a care. That was it. Emma couldn’t hold back anymore and stormed into the restaurant.

The waiter tried to stop her, probably because she looked like she was ready to breathe fire. But she moved too fast, cutting through the soft, elegant music filling the room, heading straight to the window table.

“What the hell are you two doing?!” she demanded, her voice trembling as she stood before them. The warm, sophisticated lighting of the restaurant cast a glow around them, while she stood there drenched, with rainwater dripping onto the polished floor.

Ethan looked up, surprised at first, then smirked, draping his arm even more possessively over Lily’s shoulder, his hand sliding down in a suggestive stroke.

“What do you think?” he sneered, leaning back in his chair. “We’re cutting you out, sweetheart.”

Lily’s smile froze for a second but quickly morphed into a fake act as she batted Ethan’s hand away. “Oh, Ethan, stop it,” she giggled, pretending to be shy.

“Hah,” Emma scoffed. “You got something to say, Lily? My best friend? This is how you repay my friendship?”

Lily flipped her wavy hair back, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, honey, sweet little girls like you are so clueless. You think I’d hang out with you if it weren’t for Ethan? You’re so damn boring. I’m just saving him from himself.” She winked at Ethan.

Ethan, grinning like he was the star of the show, stopped a waiter who tried to intervene. “That’s right, darling. You saved me from a life of loneliness and… other needs.” He laughed.

Emma felt dizzy, ashamed of her own naivety. Her heart felt like it had been stomped into dust.

And Ethan? He was reveling in her pain, practically feeding off it.

God, he was loving this. Ever since he’d started dating Emma, he’d craved a moment like this—a little drama to spice things up. Otherwise, she was just another pretty face, the perfect “good girl” to add to his collection. But he couldn’t keep it interesting anymore.

Watching these two women, one in rage, one pretending to act coy, all because of him? Priceless. He couldn’t help himself—he wanted to push it further. Smirking at Emma, he said, “Babe, your bestie here doesn’t mind keeping you around. How about we all stay ‘sisters’?” He made a crude gesture, his face lit with amusement.

Emma didn’t even think. She grabbed the champagne bucket, full of ice and all, and dumped it over both of them, not sparing a single drop.

Good girl? Screw that.

…Lily’s shriek echoed through the restaurant.

“Psycho!” Ethan jumped up, his face twisting in rage, the smug look gone. He reached for the wine bottle in Lily’s hand, clearly ready to escalate things.

Emma took a step back, just as a waiter grabbed her arm. “Miss, please leave, or we’ll call the police,” he said firmly.

“You two fakes are perfect for each other,” she spat. She didn’t bother saying more, just shook off his grip and stormed out. The rain hit her face as she exited, and she finally broke down, tears mingling with the downpour.

She wandered aimlessly through the streets of New York, feeling like the whole world was laughing at her foolishness.

She wanted to forget it all—the stupidity of putting her heart on the line for six months, only to end up here. She cried, gritting her teeth, her tears outlasting even the rain, still lost in the endless “whys” and “hows.”

She knew now that Ethan and Lily were trash, scumbags. But she couldn’t help wondering… was it her fault? Was she really that naive, that boring, that easy to fool?

Her hand found her phone. Without thinking, she dialed back the number from earlier.

A grand prize? Probably a massive scam. But she thought with bitter irony, what’s left for anyone to take from her? A heart already broken?

“Is this Anna?” she asked, breathing in deep as if making a decision.

“Yes, Ms. Carter. We’ve been hoping to hear from you.”

“Can you pick me up tomorrow?” Emma asked.

“Of course, see you tomorrow,” the other side responded. Anna answered almost instantly, her voice sounding genuinely pleased, as though she’d been waiting.

Emma hung up, staring up at the sky as the clouds began to clear, revealing the stars. Wiping away the rain and tears from her face, she felt a spark of defiance flicker to life. Whether this prize was real or not, she was all in.

***

The luxury car slid into the underground parking of The Grand Vista headquarters, its sleek surface reflecting cold, sterile lights. As Emma stepped out, a staff member was already waiting to escort her to a private elevator.

Once the doors closed, Emma found herself alone in the small mirrored space, her reflection showing every hint of her anxiety. She clutched her bag tightly, her palms slick with sweat, heart pounding in the silence. The mirrored walls seemed to close in, the metallic chill pressing on her chest. She closed her eyes, trying to calm her nerves, but the soft hum of the elevator felt like a drumbeat in her head.

When the doors opened, she was led into a spacious, icy conference room. The table was lined with thick stacks of contract papers, and the walls were sleek, almost imposing. Soft lighting cast a subtle glow, but the room felt like it could swallow her whole.

Her gaze darted around the room, landing on each of the four people seated there, all of whom stared back at her with polite but unflinching intensity.

“Good morning, Miss Carter,” said a middle-aged man as he rose, giving her a practiced smile. “I’m Donovan, Chief Operating Officer of The Grand Vista. Welcome to The Grand Vista.” He added, “This is Anna, and you have already spoken with her over the phone.” Anna smiled and gave a slight nod toward Emma.”

Across the table, a woman sat, her gaze cool and assessing. Donovan gestured toward her. “This is Ms. Harper, our Director of Client Experience.” Then, pointing to another woman by the documents, he continued, “And this is Katherine Blake, our attorney. She’ll be overseeing your rights throughout this process.” Katherine gave a slight nod, her face calm and serious.

Emma gave a nod, feeling a bit out of place. She awkwardly took a seat, her gaze fixed on the intimidating pile of papers in front of her, unease washing over her.

Ethan and Lily’s betrayal still haunted her thoughts, their mocking smiles etched into her memory. Even though these people looked every bit the professional part, she couldn’t shake off her distrust.

Who knew what hid behind those polite smiles?

Donovan spoke again, his tone low and steady. “Miss Carter, first of all, congratulations on winning The Grand Vista Hotel Group’s grand prize.”

Emma smiled, trying to relax.

Ms. Harper, seated across from her, gave a faint smile and slid the contract over. Her eyes held Emma’s as she said, “What you have in front of you is a ticket to the world of the elite—a life-changing prize.” She paused, as if to let her words sink in. “For the next five years, you’ll live as a member of the family, with all the resources and status that entails.”

“Dream Life,” Emma’s voice wavered slightly, “I heard it’s called the ‘Dream Life’ experience?”

Donovan leaned forward, a hint of persuasion in his tone. “Yes. Dreamy, isn’t it?”

Emma felt light-headed. “Why… why me?”

Ms. Harper’s smile stayed fixed. “You were chosen, not just by chance, but because of your potential. The group recognized it and believes you’re fit for this role.” She gestured to the thick contract in Emma’s hands. “Of course, the group has its reasons. I suggest you go through the terms as we discuss.”

Emma flipped through the contract, her eyes skimming over the dense legal jargon, her fingers trailing over the paper as she tried to wrap her mind around this unbelievable opportunity. She could barely believe each word on the page.

She snapped the contract shut, almost as if it might bite. “So… this is basically a five-year reality show? And I’m supposed to play some… super-rich heiress?”

Ms. Harper nodded. “Exactly. It’s a whole new challenge—and the kind of luxury lifestyle most people only dream of. After five years, the show will be aired, and your identity revealed. If you slip up, there’s a massive penalty fee, plus you’ll need to work for the family until it’s repaid.”

“Oh my god, this is insane. Why… why would anyone do this? What’s the point?” she stammered.

Ms. Harper didn’t flinch at her outburst. “Powerful families… the kind that operate behind the scenes—they always have their reasons. It’s not for us to question.

Emma felt suffocated, on the verge of screaming. Ethan and Lily’s faces flashed repeatedly in her mind, and she kept asking herself: Could this sweetness be another huge trap?

She stared at the dense contract terms; each word seemed like an invisible chain pulling her back to that helpless feeling. Maybe this was a chance to escape the past? She thought, conflicted, clenching her teeth.

At worst, it would mean working for the family for life—that didn’t even seem like much of a punishment clause.

Whether this was a scam or not, she was ready to take the gamble!

She took a deep breath and finally picked up the pen, hesitating for a moment before quickly signing her name on the line. As the pen tip moved across the paper, she felt her heart sink, as if completely severing ties with her past.

Donovan closed the document with satisfaction, smiling. “Welcome to the family, Miss Carter. You’ve made a wise choice.”

Emma walked out of the conference room, her emotions mixed.

She looked up and saw a tall man’s back at the end of the hallway, surrounded by people as he slowly walked away. The man wore a perfectly tailored black suit, his steps firm and cold. Emma watched him disappear around the corner, a sense of unease rising in her heart.

Donovan stood beside her, speaking softly. “That’s one of the core members of the family. Few get to see him. You are indeed being given special attention by the family, and I hope you can maintain this good fortune.”

***

Meanwhile, the man’s assistant handed him a document, reporting in a low voice, “The contract has been signed as planned.”

The man walked while flipping through the document, pausing slightly when he came across a photo—a picture of Emma in the park, holding a cat and looking up at a man. The interaction between them was undeniable; her gaze was pure, while the man's eyes held an unmistakable interest.

The man stared for a moment, his lips curling into a cold smile.

“Good. Report on time,” he ordered indifferently.”