The Double or more Life of the Fake Heiress (Mirabella)

Mirabella shot a glance at Lisa while stashing her laptop from under her pillow into her suitcase. Casually, she asked, "So, where are you from?"

"Right here in town," Lisa replied.

Mirabella raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised. She had always thought Lisa was from another state since locals usually had a distinct accent.

"Not heading home for the holidays?" she continued.

Lisa's eyes dropped slightly, and her mood visibly darkened. "Nah, I've had enough of home. Dorm life feels new and exciting; I prefer it."

Sensing the shift in Lisa's demeanor, Mirabella just hummed in acknowledgment and didn't push further.

As she finished packing, Mirabella's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw it was Atlas calling. She answered, "...Hmm, Grady's in Riverdale? Alright, I'll be out in a bit."

After hanging up, she pondered for a second before sending James a quick message on Messenger, telling him not to wait for her.

Putting her phone away, Mirabella looked at Lisa. "I'm heading out."

"Okay." Lisa waved at her.

Mirabella nodded, grabbed her suitcase, and headed out.

**

The girls' dorm was a bit of a trek from the east gate of Prestige College, and without a pass or a student escort, outsiders couldn't get in.

Just as Mirabella stepped out of the dorm, pulling her suitcase toward the campus gate, a middle-aged man blocked her path.

Mirabella stopped, her hand still on the suitcase handle, and looked at the man, who seemed somewhat familiar.

Thanks to her sharp memory, she quickly recalled where she had seen him before. Two months ago, at a celebration dinner her parents threw at a hotel for her high school valedictorian achievement, they had a brief encounter.

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The man had been standing by the roadside as she walked up, only stepping forward to stop her as she got closer. Clearly, he had been waiting for her.

Mirabella kept a calm demeanor, not initiating any conversation.

The man, Mr,

Zhu, was slightly taken aback by the young woman in front of him. Their previous briefnoveldrama

encounter had left him with the

impression that she was quite

But today, she seemed different, carrying an air of sophistication similar to Yara.

Quickly refocusing on his task, Mr. Zhu cleared his throat and said, "Miss

Beaumont, our Miss wishes to see you."

Miss Beaumont?

Mirabella narrowed her eyes, puzzled by the title.

Seeing her confusion, Mr. Zhu explained, "Our Miss, Kitty, is your mother Delilah's younger sister."

That clarified the "Miss Beaumont" bit.

Mirabella's expression stayed cool. "What does she want?"

Mr. Zhu wasn't sure if Delilah had ever mentioned the Cunningham family to Mirabella. Her unfamiliar response made him decide not to bring up Donald's illness just yet.

With that thought, he softened his demeanor and spoke gently, "Your aunt found out you're studying in Riverdale and has been eager to meet you."

Mirabella eyed him sharply. "My mom never mentioned having a sister."

Delilah had never talked about her family, almost as if she didn't have one.

People who were never mentioned usually weren't important. Moreover, if her supposed aunt really wanted to see her, she would be the one standing in front of Mirabella right now.

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