The homeless man I’d accidentally helped turned out to be the CEO’s long-lost son. After he returned to his family and took over the business, he wanted to appoint me as the General Manager of a new company under their conglomerate. When the appointment letter arrived, my father took my sister to a plastic surgery clinic and had her face molded into mine, intending for her to take my place. Tiffany, my sister, was mediocre at best and always hung out with a rough crowd. “Your sister has a low education, and her reputation is in tatters,” my father said. “If she doesn’t seize this chance to turn her life around, she’ll never marry well.” “You’re educated and capable. Even without this position, you can still make a name for yourself based on your own merit.” I said nothing. My father called in my fiancé, Brandon Pierce. Brandon’s smile was gentle. “Perhaps a different path would be more suitable. You should just listen to your uncle, Seraphina.” “You’re too stubborn, you don’t know how to adapt. If you really became General Manager, you’d regret it.” I nodded and agreed, “Sounds good.”
My agreement was so quick that my father’s carefully prepared words got stuck in his throat, almost choking him. His face lit up with delight as he immediately told the nanny to pull off my designer bracelet and replace it with a wrinkled old hoodie. I stood still, letting them do as they pleased. “Don’t blame your dad for being heartless.” My father let out a long breath. “Your sister got into trouble with that gang of troublemakers a while back. She broke the leg of the son of the CEO’s rival.” “After your surgery, you’ll go to the police station and turn yourself in. It’ll save the police from coming here to find you.” My heart felt like it was being impaled by an ice pick. I clenched my fists, biting back tears, my voice hoarse: “Dad, am I really your biological daughter?” My father flinched. “What foolishness are you talking about, child?” “Of course you’re my daughter, but your sister grew up without a mother’s guidance. She’s a bit wild, and she’s already pitiful enough.” Brandon walked over too, reaching out to guide me to the basement for the plastic surgeon to start. “It’s hard to get bail from the police station, but I’ll visit you often.” “Once your sister establishes herself with the CEO, she’ll find a way to get you out and be her assistant.” “Even with a criminal record, I’ll still marry you. Your sister will take care of you, and things will get better.” A shot of anesthetic went in, and my vision blurred. When I woke up, the mirror showed a face wrapped in bandages. Brandon shouted to someone outside, “This is the one who assaulted him. Send her to the police station immediately!” He leaned in and whispered, “Act convincingly. Don’t let anyone see through it.” Two bodyguards came to drag me out. I took a deep breath and yelled: “I’ll walk myself!” My father and Brandon exchanged a knowing look, a hint of complicity on their faces. They let go of me. My father, with feigned concern, touched my still swollen and painful face. “Good girl, I’ve wronged you.” Brandon pulled a small bag from his pocket. Inside were a few small bills, some antiseptic wipes, a trashy magazine… All essentials for the detention center. He pressed the bag into my hand. “I specifically went and asked around near the detention center for these. They’re all for you.” I fought back tears, walking towards the door without a word. “My sweet girl!” A frantic voice called from behind me. Grandma Grace ran over, breathless, and grabbed my arm. “My sweet girl, I heard the CEO wants you to be the General Manager of the new company?” “That’s wonderful! Our family will finally be able to hold our heads high!” She took off her gold bracelet and put it on my wrist. “You’ve suffered so much these past years. Good times are finally coming.” I couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears streamed down, splashing onto Grandma’s hand. Grandma panicked, quickly letting go of me. “What’s wrong?” My father’s eyes darted away. Brandon kept checking his watch, glancing frequently towards the door. He urged, “Don’t waste time. If we don’t go now, the police will get suspicious.” Grandma looked bewildered. “What police?” My father remained silent, only waving his hand for the bodyguards to take me out.
Grandma’s confusion deepened, and she held onto me tightly, refusing to let go. “You wouldn’t dare! My granddaughter is the CEO’s chosen General Manager!” Just then, the butler rushed in. “The police are here.” Grandma gasped. “What do the police want?” Brandon grew impatient. He forcibly pried Grandma’s fingers from my arm. “She’s the one who caused trouble now.” “The real Seraphina and her sister switched faces. Ugh, it’s complicated. Just get her out of here!” Grandma shrieked, clutching me tight, refusing to release me. She looked at my father, then at my bandaged face, and understood everything. She screamed hysterically: “Arthur Hayes, you heartless monster! Not only do you not care for your daughter, but you want your own flesh and blood to go to jail! I’d rather kill myself right here than let you commit such a heinous act!” Then, she grabbed me again, sobbing uncontrollably: “My good granddaughter, Grandma is useless. I let you suffer so much, but this opportunity you finally got, why should you give it to that walking disaster?” “Did you forget what you promised Grandma?” I was crying so hard I could barely breathe. Yet, I hardened my heart and pulled my hand away, forcing a smile. “Grandma, there are things in this world more important than positions of power or a clean record.” “I’ve made my decision. I won’t regret it.” With that, I cruelly pushed Grandma away and strode out. Grandma tried to follow, but the house staff held her back. She suddenly shrieked, “Granddaughter, if you dare to step out of this house, I will die right here in front of you!” Seeing her in such agony, my heart twisted in agony. I suppressed the bitter pain in my heart, walking forward without looking back. “If you die, you’ll no longer be Grandma Hayes.” Grandma cried even harder. “I used to endure everything, afraid your grandfather would get angry, all for your safe upbringing. But now you’re going to jail for someone else, what more do I have to fear!” I nodded. “Now that I’m going to jail, you don’t have to put up with it anymore. Move to the old house.” “Cut ties with the Hayes family.” Grandma collapsed onto the floor in despair. “My sweet girl, what foolishness have you gotten into?” My father rushed over, threw a statement of disownment at Grandma, and hastily told the bodyguards to push me out. I bit my lip, forcing myself not to look back, Grandma’s cries still echoing in my ears. I kept reassuring myself that at least Grandma had cut ties with the Hayes family. She wouldn’t have to suffer any more grievances. Brandon Pierce, afraid I might try something, drove his car behind the police escort heading to the detention center. He slipped the guard a thick envelope, buying himself a few minutes to speak with me alone. I sat in the chair, looking at him coldly. “What else do you have to say?” Brandon checked his phone. “She should be here soon.” I asked, bewildered, “Who’s coming?” Just as I spoke, a person wearing a hat and a mask rushed in. It was Tiffany. Her eyes were red. As soon as she entered, she grabbed my hand. “Seraphina, you’re willing to take the fall for me. I’ll never be able to repay this kindness in my life. I promise to make it up to you.” Brandon “caringly” helped her up. “Ugh, you just had your stitches removed. Why did you rush over?” My already numb heart was pierced with sharp pain again. “It’s all your fault, you hit him so hard.” Tiffany leaned weakly into Brandon’s arms, looking frail. Brandon stroked her back, his eyes still holding a hint of lingering intimacy, but he turned to me and explained: “Don’t get the wrong idea. She has to pretend to be you now, which means she needs to be close to me. But you’re the one I truly care about.” I forced a faint smile. “You two are certainly close.”
I pushed myself up from the table, opened the door, and called for the guards to “escort” the two of them out. As soon as they left, I was dragged by a corrections officer into solitary confinement. They said they wanted to show me what happened to disobedient inmates. My ears filled with cries, and the figures of those being punished blurred, overlapping with Grandma Grace’s image. My mother died in childbirth after having Tiffany. I was raised by Grandma Grace from a young age. In the Hayes family, Grandma was always treated coldly by my grandfather. I remembered what Grandma Grace used to tell me when she secretly wiped away tears. She said not to be like her, enduring everything in silence. No one could be a lifelong pillar of support in this world; to stand firm, you ultimately had to rely on yourself. So I worked incredibly hard, studying finance, earning certifications, practicing negotiations, sharpening my skills. I wanted to carve out my own path, so Grandma could live with her head held high. But in the end, all of it turned into a mirage. I was pushed into a detention center to take the fall for someone else. My father’s favoritism, Brandon Pierce’s schemes—they sliced at my heart like blunt knives. I wanted to cry my eyes out. But I knew crying wouldn’t solve anything. “Grandma, wait for me,” I whispered. The next day, I obediently changed into a prisoner’s uniform and joined the other inmates in the detention center’s labor. The TV happened to be showing Brandon Pierce and Tiffany’s engagement party. My cellmates craned their necks, whispering: “Did you hear? The CEO of Pierce Corporation’s son is marrying the CEO’s newly recognized adopted daughter, the one who’s supposed to be General Manager?” “Yeah, apparently the CEO was lost and alone, and she kindly took him in, even giving him medical and travel expenses, which helped him reclaim his identity.” “What good fortune…”
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