The Double ( or More ?) Life of The Fake Heiress

The next morning. Mirabella woke up bright and early. Her internal clock was as reliable as the Big Ben, sounding off at six a.m., rain or shine. However, due to the change of scenery, she lounged in bed for a few extra minutes before slowly crawling out and shuffling to the bathroom for a leisurely wash– up. After emerging, she plopped down on the floor, legs crossed, and started to sort through her suitcase.

She hadn’t packed many clothes, just two outfits. The remaining space was taken up by an assortment of unlabeled bottles and jars, along with two iron boxes that whispered tales of antiquity. Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Mirabella only took out the clothes, pondered for a moment, picked two bottles from the collection, and then zipped up the suitcase without bothering to reset the combination lock.

Scanning the room, her gaze finally settled on the wardrobe door. She stood, grabbed her suitcase, and walked over. Swinging open the door, she was surprised to see it filled with brand new clothing that, while lacking tags, seemed of decent quality. As for the style–Mirabella had no qualms, finding it a vast improvement over the room’s overly girly decor.

After stuffing her suitcase in a corner, Mirabella changed into activewear and twisted her long hair into a bun before heading out of the room. She had always been one for morning runs and wasn’t about to let a change of location disrupt her routine.

By 8 a.m.. Delilah had breakfast ready and waiting on the table. She glanced towards the staircase, then at her husband Shawn, who was engrossed in the newspaper in the living room. “Shawn, should we wake our daughter for breakfast?”

Shawn adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose and replied, “Let the kid sleep in. She was exhausted last night and went to bed late. No need to disturb her dreams.”

“Alright.” Delilah nodded, about to add something when the doorbell rang. She looked puzzled, “Who could that be this early in the morning?”

Shawn put down the paper, thoughtful. “Could it be the accountant?”

Delilah shot him a look. “Emmitt, it’s only the 20th. Payday is still a few days away.”

Shawn had an ‘aha‘ moment, then added, “Let the accountant know not to come by the house this month. Our daughter just got back, and I don’t want to startle her.”

Delilah thought it over and agreed. “Sure, I’ll tell them. Let me check who’s at the door.”

Soon after, Delilah opened the inner door to find Mirabella standing outside, leaving her stunned for a few seconds. Snapping out of it, she quickly unlocked the door with a surprised tone, “Mira, what are you doing outside?”

Fresh from her run, Mirabella’s face was flushed with the exhilaration of exercise, a few strands of hair sticking to her cheeks, and a bead of sweat tracing a path down her face, which she wiped away with a hand. “I like to get in a workout in the morning.”

Delilah was pleasantly surprised, nodding her head, “A morning run is great, a very good habit.”

But after a brief pause, she hurriedly added, “It’s also fine for a girl to sleep in once in a while, you know. It’s good for the skin.”

“Breakfast is ready. Why don’t you take a quick shower and come down?” Delilah said as she walked back inside. continuing the conversation.

“Okay.”

“Oh, and I’ve put some new clothes in your closet. I just bought them. See if you like them. If not, we can get more.”

Get more?

Mirabella stopped in her tracks, her expression complex. “Mom, are we rich or something?”

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Delilah turned around, her face a picture of astonishment, the words “Or I could have a designer come over and tailor–make them for you” suddenly frozen on her lips.