The True and False Heirs: A Journey of Redemption and Love

The real daughter of the Morris family returned home.

When my brother got wind of this, he hauled my suitcase outside and declared, "An imitation can never hold a candle to the original.

He told me to get out.

Half a year later, he was on his knees, begging me to come back home with him, admitting he was wrong.

1

I was Amelia Morris, the daughter who had been mistakenly reported as the Morris family's own. To be precise, I was the one who took her place. Years ago, amidst the chaotic circumstances in the hospital, a nurse misplaced the real daughter and picked me up randomly, as I was born on the same day, to impersonate her. The Morris family was wealthy and powerful. If they had discovered the truth, it would have ruined the nurse's life.

I overheard this while quietly eavesdropping through the crack of my bedroom door upstairs.

The nurse was kneeling before my parents, pleading for forgiveness for her small mistake years ago.

Beside her stood a girl, whom my mother immediately embraced, declaring her to be her real daughter.

I laughed. In seventeen years, she had never once smiled at me.

I struggled to get up from the floor, but before I could gather my thoughts, a strong hand pushed open my bedroom door. It was my brother, Daniel Morris.

He was only two years older than me, attending the same high school.

Daniel shoved me aside, grabbed my suitcase from the top of the wardrobe, packed a few clothes from my closet, and locked it. His actions seemed so practiced, as if he had rehearsed them many times.

He walked straight up to me and coldly said, "Downstairs."

When I saw my parents in the living room, they turned their faces away, focusing solely on their so-called "biological daughter".

I cautiously called out, "Mom." My mother, sobbing, cursed at me, "Get out, you bad omen. I never want to see you again."

I didn't understand. What was wrong with raising two daughters? Even if I was not their biological child, we had shared so many years together.

But then again, was there ever any real affection between us?

The housekeeper opened the villa door, and Daniel threw my suitcase out, saying, "An imitation can never match the original."

I opened my mouth but said nothing.

Clothes from the suitcase scattered everywhere. I crouched down, picking them up one by one, unsure of where to go next, wandering aimlessly down the street.

2

As for why my parents disliked me, it all started from my birth.

My mother only wanted a son. Having a daughter was an accident, but she had no choice but to give birth. Afterward, her health deteriorated, and seeing me annoyed her. So, until I was five, I lived with my grandmother in the countryside.

After I turned five, I was brought back, but my mother's gaze was always filled with resentment. Whenever I appeared before her, she would curse, "I don't have this child. She's been a curse since birth. Just die already."

Ironically, two days ago, I was diagnosed with leukemia.

At first, I thought my frequent nosebleeds were due to the weather. But as they became more frequent, even my classmates suggested I see a doctor.

I went to the hospital, and the doctor asked me to bring my parents. I guessed it wasn't something simple.

I told the doctor I was an orphan, with no parents.

The doctor eventually told me I had leukemia and needed immediate treatment.

He said I had about half a year left and insisted on scheduling surgery to possibly extend my life.

I firmly refused. After all, what was the point of treatment if the outcome was death? I would rather enjoy my remaining months.

As I left the diagnostic room, I saw Daniel.

Next to him was Lily Sutton, the most popular girl in school.

I didn't know what Daniel said to Lily, but he immediately stormed up to me, threatening, "If you dare tell our parents, I'll make your life hell. Don't expect to have any friends at school."

I nodded. After they left, I went to where they had just been, the obstetrics and gynecology department.

Luckily, Daniel didn't ask why I was at the hospital, or I wouldn't have known how to explain.

I crumpled the test results into a ball, quietly staring at it. "My life is already a mess, and now you want to add to it?"

Daniel frequently bullied me at school. I used to put up a fight and inform our parents, yet now I had come to terms with it.

His bullying was routine, and our classmates had long grown accustomed to it.

He would secretly stuff boys' underwear into my desk, fill my water bottle with mop water, and even force me to kneel while eating.

One day, I took him to the equipment room to confront him and asked why he treated me this way.

The door clicked shut. His hands became restless, grabbing my neck. "Because I hate you. Not just me, our parents hate you too. Your existence in this world is a mistake."

I slapped him. We were both stunned.

3

Before I knew it, night had fallen. I snapped back to reality, spotting a hotel ahead. I walked in with my suitcase.

"Hey, I need a room." I said, lowering my head to hand over the money, avoiding eye contact.

"Amelia?" A steady voice sounded above me.

I looked up, meeting his clear eyes. His hair was freshly washed, still damp. As we locked eyes, a drop of water fell from his hair into my eye. I wiped it away with my sleeve.

"Tobias, what are you doing here?"

Tobias George was the school bully from the eighth grade, always at odds with Daniel. They constantly targeted each other.

Whenever Daniel lost to Tobias, he would come home and take it out on me.

Feeling awkward, I didn't know where to look. Tobias noticed my suitcase first, raising an eyebrow. "You need a place to stay?"

I nodded.

His fingers deftly flipped open the ledger. "One night is 30, a week is 150."

Without thinking, I opted for a week.

But when I took out my wallet, I found that I had no money. Daniel had taken the last of it when he threw me out.

"Sorry, I won't be staying." I grabbed my suitcase, ready to leave. Tobias was faster, blocking my way. "If you don't have money, you can stay first. My family owns the hotel."

I wasn't used to accepting charity. Seeing my hesitation, Tobias added, "I heard there are human traffickers around lately."

I paused. Even though I only had half a year left, I didn't want to be sold off to some remote mountain area, possibly dying without a proper burial.

He led me to the third floor, to a private room, not a standard room.

After leaving me there, he left.

I barely got any sleep last night; the lights downstairs stayed on until nearly 2 AM.

I had only met Tobias once before, during a one-on-one fight with Daniel. Even though Tobias emerged victorious, he sustained quite a few injuries.

The day before yesterday, Daniel beat me so badly that I couldn't straighten my back, so I went to the nurse's office to get some pain relief patches.

I applied one and handed another to Tobias.

He thanked me.

In truth, none at school was aware that Daniel and I were siblings.

The next day, Tobias waited for me to go to school together.

On the way, the regular gang of bullies who had always joined forces with Daniel to pick on me didn't dare to tug at my hair upon seeing me walking alongside Tobias.

Tobias raised an eyebrow, "They bully you often, don't they?"

How did he know that? Then again, it was not hard to see me being bullied around campus.

I ignored him, but I could clearly feel Tobias intentionally or unintentionally moving closer to me, as if declaring his territory.

At the school gate, a black Rolls-Royce stood out with its opulent elegance. I immediately recognized it as my family's car.

I furrowed my brow, staring at the car.

Soon, a girl in a princess dress stepped out. She was the same girl who was at my house yesterday.

Yesterday she was dressed in plain clothes, and today she was in a princess dress?

As I entered the school, Daniel saw me.

I didn't pay attention to him. After all, we had no relationship now. I just hoped he wouldn't bully me anymore and let me get through the next six months peacefully.

As soon as I entered the classroom, I saw everyone gathered, chatting about something. When they saw me, they suddenly stopped.

I felt a sudden chill run down my spine and moved slightly.

Daniel's cold, detached voice rang out, "Why are you hanging out with Tobias? I forbid you to talk to him."

That was ludicrous. I spun around to look at him, my eyes betraying not a shred of fear.

"You're overstepping, Daniel. When will you learn your place? Do I need your permission to choose my friends?" The whole class widened their eyes at me upon hearing what I said, including Daniel.

Seeing his expression, I felt even more annoyed and decided to throw caution to the wind. "What? Never been talked back to before?"

Daniel couldn't hold back and raised his fist to hit me. I closed my eyes, bracing for the storm.

"Tobias, you son of a..."

I opened my eyes abruptly to see Tobias standing in front of me, shielding me.

He looked at Daniel with a devil-may-care attitude, his tone dark, "Don't you dare touch what's mine."

I was a bit taken aback. At that moment, I thought it wasn't worth it for him to stand up for me.

4

During class, the teacher brought in a girl. She was the girl from the school gate, the true eldest daughter of the Morris family.

The girl smiled brightly, "Hello everyone, my name is Elianna Morris."

Changed her surname so quickly?

"I hope we can get along well. This weekend, I'm inviting everyone to a barbecue at my house. My parents are hosting it for you all."

The class erupted in cheers.

Suddenly, she remembered something and added, "Oh, and Daniel is my brother."

The moment she said that, the cheers stopped abruptly. Everyone knew she was a person not to be trifled with.

However, Elianna didn't care. She arrogantly told the teacher she wanted the seat I was sitting in.

The teacher tried to persuade her but, remembering she was the Morris family's daughter, asked if I was willing to change seats. He assumed I was too timid to refuse.

"I don't want to." I replied with a smile.

Daniel was visibly holding back his anger, and in the end, the teacher had to find another seat for her.

After cleaning up, I was about to leave. Just as I reached the door and touched the handle, someone hit me from behind, knocking me out.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in a small grove outside the school.

Daniel was leaning against his motorcycle, surrounded by his followers.

"Oh, you're awake. Crawl over and apologize to me, and I'll forgive you."

These words sounded like he was teasing a puppy.

How boring it was. He always liked these little games.

At some point, he became a dangerous person to me. I used to crawl over and apologize, but not anymore.

"Daniel, are you so bored that you find bullying me fun? Do you know why you always pick on me? Because I'm weak. Why don't you bully Tobias? Because you don't dare. That's the extent of your ability!"

Since I was already sick, I might as well go all out.

I remained unmoved, picked up my backpack, and walked in the opposite direction.

Daniel felt deeply insulted and took large strides to grab my hair. "Amelia, you're asking for it."

Then, his lackeys came over, and I was beaten to the point where I couldn't stand.

Four or five people surrounded me, punching my stomach, stepping on my calves...

I was beaten so badly I couldn't stand. My body was weak, but with the last bit of strength, I stood up and saw Tobias running towards me.

The final rays of the setting sun cast a glow on him, making him look like a deity coming to my rescue.

I couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed into his arms.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the hotel.

"Tobias, my phone." I said weakly.

Tobias handed me the phone without hesitation.

"Hello, 911? I'd like to report an assault."

Yes, I called the police. When the officers arrived and saw my injuries, they couldn't help but cry. A female officer patted my shoulder, "Don't worry, we'll help you."

The officer clicked her pen, ready to take my statement.

After I finished, Tobias came in. While peeling an apple for me, he asked if I wanted to go to the hospital.

Of course, I wouldn't go. If the doctors found out I had leukemia and wasn't hospitalized, I would be in big trouble.

"No need, just minor injuries. I'm used to it." I said with a smile.

"Why did you come looking for me?"

Tobias paused, his lips barely moving, "I was passing by while grocery shopping, but I was too late. I'm sorry."

It was the first time I had heard Tobias apologize.

I quickly said it wasn't necessary, but before I could finish, I tasted the metallic tang of blood.

It turned out I was coughing up blood.

Tobias insisted on taking me to the hospital.

I held his hand and whispered, "Tobias, I'm really fine. See, I'm still alive. I don't want to go to the hospital. I'm scared."

As long as he softened his heart, I wouldn't have to go to the hospital.