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

With an off-the-charts IQ and the crowd she kept around her... sheesh, she didn't seem like your average girl at all.

Ben leaned his head back, slouched comfortably in the car seat, and switched gears to a totally different topic: "I just finished fixing up my house in Clearview. I'll hand you the keys later. You might want to invite your classmates and friends over for a get-together."

Hearing this, Lisa immediately caught on to the hidden message in his words. Offering a place for a hangout was just a front; he was really nudging her to bring her friends, especially Mirabella, over.

"Thanks, but no thanks," Lisa replied coolly.

Ben didn't seem bothered by her rejection. Instead, he smiled slightly, "I heard Gracie and Dad are thinking of heading abroad for the holidays."

The mention of her mother made Lisa's heart clench, "Ben, just spit it out. Don't play these games with me!"noveldrama

She knew him too well; he had a knack for these manipulative mind games. Outwardly, it seemed like casual chit-chat, but every word carried an underlying warning.

Ben clicked his tongue lightly, "You might not know, but some places overseas are pretty unstable. Unrest isn't uncommon, and innocent folks can easily get caught in the crossfire."

Lisa's eyes flared with anger, "You're unbelievable. My mom has treated you like her own for over a decade, better than she treated me, and you dare say something like that."

"So, Gracie's future is entirely in your hands," Ben said calmly.

Lisa got his drift loud and clear. She bit down hard on her lip, and after a moment, said, "Don't even think about using me to get Mirabella out. Not happening!"

Ben pressed the gas pedal a bit harder, but his voice was as casual as ever, "Suit yourself. After all, you've only got one path to choose from."

As his words sank in, Lisa went even paler, feeling like her blood was running backward. A wave of helplessness and despair washed over her. She knew Ben meant what he said.

He was scary and relentless.

Since stumbling upon his true nature, she hadn't dared to get close to any classmates. That's why she lacked real friends all these years, all because of him. More than once, she wondered if, had she never learned the truth about Ben, she might not have to live in constant fear.

Meanwhile, James drove back to his place.

Getting out of the car, he scooped up some blueprints that had slipped under the back seat.

Mirabella was busy texting on Messenger, looking like she had her hands full, so once they were inside, James, feeling a tad envious, thrust the blueprints into her arms.

"Can you take these to the study?"

Mirabella, interrupted, sent one last message to Cassandra before tucking her phone away, "Alright, sure."

She took a couple of steps with the blueprints, then turned back to James, "Which room's the study?"

James pointed upstairs, "Second door on the left."

Mirabella nodded, but as she glanced at the blueprints, she couldn't resist a

playful jab, "What if I were a spy?"

James raised an eyebrow, "I've got plenty more of these. If you want them, they're all yours."

Mirabella chuckled and headed upstairs.