Oops! Keep the Fiancé… I’m Taking the Fake Heiress Chapter 10

Oops! Keep the Fiancé… I’m Taking the Fake Heiress Chapter 10

That night, Vera came to my room.

She knocked before opening the door.

When she leaned her head inside, her face was still flushed with embarrassment.

“Tessa, are you asleep?”

I was leaning against the headboard, scrolling through my phone.

I patted the spot beside me.

“Come here.”

She climbed onto the bed in her pajamas and wrapped her arms around her knees.

Her loose hair covered half her face.

“What’s wrong?”

She remained silent for a moment.

Then she spoke quietly.

“Tessa, there’s something I want to tell you.”

“But I feel a little embarrassed.”

“I spent eighteen years wishing for a sister,” I said.

“Nothing you tell me can be more embarrassing than that.”

She laughed softly.

Then she pressed her lips together as though gathering courage.

“I’ve always loved fashion design.”

“When I was little, before the Grants became wealthy, the woman who raised me was still alive.”

“She made me a dress on her sewing machine.”

“It was pink, with two butterflies embroidered along the hem.”

“I kept it for years, but it disappeared during a move.”

Her voice grew quieter.

“Later, when the Grants became wealthy, I asked to study design.”

“Mr. Grant said it was useless because I would eventually marry.”

“He told me to focus on piano, etiquette, and the things he believed would make me a suitable wife.”

“The Ford family didn’t approve either.”

“They said a future Ford wife shouldn’t build a public career in fashion.”

She buried her face against her knees.

“I’ve always wanted to study fashion design at the University of the Arts London.”

“I researched every requirement in secret.”

“I built a portfolio.”

“I started an application.”

“I even received a conditional offer.”

“But I couldn’t complete the enrollment.”

“I had no independent money.”

“No one willing to support me.”

“And Mr. Grant kept my birth certificate and identification documents locked in his safe.”

“I couldn’t even apply for a passport.”

She lifted her head and looked at me.

Her eyes were red.

“Tessa, am I pathetic?”

“I didn’t even dare say what I truly wanted.”

I sat upright.

Then I swung my legs off the bed and pulled a folder from the nightstand drawer.

I climbed back onto the bed and placed it in front of her.

“Open it.”

Vera looked at me in confusion.

Then she opened the folder.

The first page was the finalized admission confirmation from the University of the Arts London.

Her name was printed across the top.

Behind it were her passport, student-visa approval, and travel arrangements.

There was also a statement for a two-million-dollar education and business trust established in her name.

Vera stared at the pages for a long time.

Her finger traced lightly over the university letter.

Then she touched her own face in the passport photograph.

When she looked up at me, tears began falling onto the protective sleeve.

“Tessa, when did you do this?”

“I started working on it after I learned what the Grants had kept from you.”

“lan’s legal team recovered your records.”

“Your existing portfolio and conditional offer did the rest.”

“I was going to surprise you later.”

“But after what Mom said tonight, I couldn’t let you spend another day believing your future belonged to

someone else.”

I pressed the trust documents into her hands.

“The two million is an investment.”

“When you finish your degree, we’ll build the largest independent fashion house in the country.”

“I’ll be your business partner.”

“You’ll be my chief designer.”

“Fifty-fifty.”

Vera held the papers and cried so hard she couldn’t speak.

Finally, she buried her face in my pillow and sobbed.

I patted her back and laughed softly.

“Why are you crying?”

“You’re the sister I spent eighteen years wishing for.”

“Of course I’m going to give you the best.”

When she’d finally cried herself out, she lifted her face.

Her nose was red.

Her eyes were swollen.

Then, suddenly, she smiled.

“Wait for me to come back.”

“I’ll make you the most beautiful dresses in the world.”

“Deal,” I said.

“I’ll be waiting.”

On the day of her flight, lan came with me.

He removed a small pouch from the inside pocket of his suit jacket and handed it to her.

“A medallion,” he said.

“Mom had it blessed at the cathedral.”

“She asked for an extra one for you.”

“If anyone gives you trouble abroad, call me.”

“I’ll fly over.”

Vera took it and held it tightly in her palm.

“Thank you.”

When it was my turn, I didn’t give her anything.

I simply walked over and hugged her.

“Go,” I whispered in her ear.

“Fly.”

“I’ll be here waiting for you to come home.”

She wrapped her arms around me.

Her voice was muffled against my shoulder.

“Tessa, you’re the best person I’ve ever met.”

“You too,” I said.

“You’re my sister.”

She released me and pulled her suitcase toward security.

Halfway there, she turned and waved.

Sunlight streamed through the glass ceiling of the terminal.

Her smile was so bright it hurt to look at.

My phone buzzed.

She had sent me a selfie beside the terminal window.

The caption read:

[Wait for me, my little Tessa.]

I stared at the words for a long moment.

Then I locked my phone and slipped it into my pocket.

I turned toward lan and lifted my chin.

“Let’s go home.”

I walked ahead with long, certain steps.

Beyond the terminal’s glass wall, an airplane slowly taxied toward the runway.

Afternoon sunlight flashed across its wings.