The Shadow Lords & Their fake princess

Two

ADESSA POV

“You’ve been granted a full scholarship to Ridgeview University. I’m sure the opportunity is thrilling, to say the least.”

Thrilling?

There was nothing thrilling about any of this.

Nothing thrilling about pretending to be someone I wasn’t. Nothing thrilling about lying to an entire university just to save my sister.

I kept my expression blank, refusing to give the man sitting across from me the satisfaction of seeing my fear.

The stranger who was now supposed to be my father let out a quiet chuckle as he continued signing the stack of contracts spread across his desk.

“You must despise me,” he said, finally lifting his gaze to meet mine. “When I chose you, it was never out of malice, Adessa.”

Of course it wasn’t.

It was convenience. I happened to share the same first name as his real daughter, and I was desperate enough to accept an offer no sane person ever would. Rich people and their fake-ass nonsense control game laced as charity.

To the rest of the world, I was Adessa Michaelson, the beloved daughter of Dante Michaelson.

The truth?

The real Adessa Michaelson was lying unconscious in a private hospital room, trapped in a coma while I prepared to steal her life.

Every smile. Every conversation. From this moment on, I had to become her.

Because if I failed…My sister would die.

Dante set his pen down and slid the final contract across the desk.

“Everything you’ll need has already been prepared. Your identification, your academic records, your medical history, even your signature. From this moment forward, you are Adessa Michaelson.”

My fingers tightened around the edge of the chair.

He leaned back, studying me for a long moment before speaking again.

“There are rules.”

I met his gaze without saying a word.

“You will answer to the name Adessa Michaelson at all times. If anyone asks about your childhood, you remember only what you’ve been taught. If you’re unsure of an answer, say you’ve forgotten because of the accident. People are far more willing to believe memory loss than hesitation.”

I nodded silently.

“You will never contact anyone from your old life.”

That made my heart stop. “What?”

“You heard me,” he said firmly

“My sister—”

“Your sister is under my protection.” he cut me off. His voice remained calm, but there was no warmth behind it. “As long as you keep your end of our agreement, Selene will remain unharmed.”

“And if I don’t?”

His expression hardened. “Then our agreement ends. And you have to bear the consequences of your choice.”

A knot formed in my throat.

“You’ll have a private phone for emergencies,” he continued. “Only two numbers are saved in it. Mine and my head of security’s. You are not to call anyone else.”

I swallowed hard.

“You’ll be living on campus like every other student. There will be security watching from a distance, but they won’t interfere unless absolutely necessary. You are expected to behave exactly as Adessa Michaelson would.”

“And if someone figures out I’m not her?”

“They won’t.” he said quickly

“You can’t know that,” I said thinking of all that could go wrong “

“True,” he admitted. “I can’t. But Adessa has been long far too long for anyone to truly remember her.

Silence settled between us. He stood, buttoning his suit jacket before walking toward the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the estate.

“My driver will take us to Ridgeview in one hour.”

He glanced at the watch on his wrist. “Use that time wisely to learn.” He turned back to face me.

“Go upstairs, unpack your things, change intosomething my daughter would wear, and memorize your file one last time.”

He picked up the leather folder resting on the desk and handed it to me. “Once you walk through those gates, Adessa Scott ceases to exist.”

His words settled over me like a death sentence.

I looked down at the folder in my hands.

The name printed across the front wasn’t mine.

Adessa Michaelson. I had exactly one hour left to bury the person I’d been my entire life.

I clutched the folder against my chest and forced my legs to move.

The grand office felt colder as I walked toward the door. Every step echoed through the room, reminding me there was no turning back.

“Adessa.”

His voice stopped me just as my hand touched the doorknob.

I looked over my shoulder.

“If anyone asks how you’re settling in, you’ll tell them you’re excited to be back after your recovery. Keep your answers short. The less you say, the less likely you are to make a mistake.”

“I understand.” I muttered

“And don’t let anyone see you panic.”

A bitter smile tugged at my lips. “I’m pretty sure panic is all I know these days.”

For the first time since I’d met him, something almost resembling sympathy flickered across his face.

“It’ll pass.”

I didn’t believe him. Not for a second.

Without another word, I stepped out of the office and quietly closed the door behind me.

The hallway was larger than my entire apartment.

Polished marble floors stretched beneath my feet while priceless paintings lined the walls. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and fresh white lilies filled the air with a scent that made the mansion feel more like a museum than a home.

This wasn’t a house. It was a kingdom.

And I didn’t belong in it.

A middle-aged woman dressed in a black uniform was already waiting for me.

“Miss Michaelson.”

The name caught me off guard. I hesitated for half a second before realizing she was talking to me.

She smiled politely.

“My name is Evelyn. Mr. Michaelson asked me to help you prepare.”

“I can manage.”

“I’m afraid that wasn’t a request.” she said her voice making it clear it wasn’t debatable

I sighed. “Lead the way.”

She guided me upstairs, down a long corridor, before stopping in front of a pair of white double doors.

“This is your room.”

She pushed them open. I froze.

The bedroom was bigger than the apartment Selene and I had shared our entire lives. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked acres of perfectly manicured gardens, a crystal chandelier sparkled above a king-sized bed, and a walk-in closet stood open, filled with designer clothes that still had their tags attached.

None of it felt real. None of it felt like mine.

Evelyn walked to the wardrobe and pulled out a navy blazer embroidered with Ridgeview University’s crest, a crisp white shirt, a plaid skirt, and a pair of polished black heels.

“Your uniform.”

She laid everything neatly across the bed before placing another folder beside it. “Mr. Michaelson would like you downstairs in exactly one hour.”

She offered me one last polite smile before leaving the room.

The door clicked shut behind her.

Silence settled around me.

I stared at the uniform lying on the bed. This wasn’t just a change of clothes. It was a costume. I reached for the blazer, running my fingers over the embroidered crest before looking at my reflection in the full-length mirror.

For the last nineteen years, I’d only ever been Adessa Scott.

In one hour… I’d have to convince the entire world I was someone else.