Chapter 26

Chapter 26
Mei lounged on the long, cream sofa in her parents’ mansion, one leg crossed neatly over the other. Morning sunlight streamed through the half-open blinds, cutting gold lines across her face. On the TV, Vivian’s downfall was plastered everywhere. The news anchors were practically tearing her apart.
“Former actress Vivian Li has been dropped from several endorsement deals after internal investigations revealed breach of contract and manipulation during a major wedding scandal involving the Fu"s family…”
Mei’s lips curved slowly. She sipped her drink not coffee, not tea, wine, at ten in the morning.
“Finally,” she muttered under her breath. “That bitch got what she deserves.”
She tilted her head, eyes glued to the screen, studying the way Vivian’s picture flashed beside Roberto’s name. Even after everything, the media still paired them together in headlines. That alone made her blood simmer.
“You liked him, didn’t you, Vivian?” she whispered to the TV. “You always had a thing for my husband.” Her tone dropped darker. “Now look at you career gone, reputation ruined. And I didn’t even have to lift a finger. Chengdid it for me.”
Her smile widened. Chengwas ruthless, decisive, and terrifyingly powerful. That’s my kind of man.
For a second, she imagined herself back beside him, dressed as his bride, cameras flashing, the world cheering her name the real her. Her knuckles tightened around the wine glass. “That spot belongs to me,” she murmured. “It always has.”
“Luisa and Amy, They’re being dragged into the mess by themselves “those girls thought they were untouchable… that’s cute. Really cute,” she says. They thought a few uploaded photos and a text chain would make them relevant. Instead they’ll get boardrooms on their asses. Daddy’s shares dropping? That’s their punishment they deserve every inch of it i can't believe they sold me for some clout. Fuck friendship.“
Her phone buzzed on the glass table. She glanced down and saw the encrypted number flash on the screen. A small smirk formed.
“Right on time,” she said, swiping to answer.
“Ma’am,” a female voice whispered. “You asked me to keep an ear on Lian.”
Mei leaned back, amused. “And?”
The spy’s tone trembled slightly. “I did what you said. I followed him at school. After class, he pulled someone named Andy into the restroom ”
Mei’s eyebrow arched. “Oh? Interesting. Go on.”
“I recorded their conversation like you told me. It’s… strange, ma’am. He told the boy something weird. He said he wasn’t really Mei. He said his real name is Lian.”
Mei’s smirk vanished for half a second, replaced by cold satisfaction. “Of course, he did,” she murmured. “I knew he’d slip eventually. My dear twin brother never could keep his mouth shut when emotions got in the way.”
“I also got a voice note of it, ma’am,” the spy continued nervously. “Should I post it on the student forums? It’ll go viral in seconds.”
Mei paused, thoughtful. The urge to humiliate him right away was tempting. But then she thought of the bigger picture Roberto, the Fu"s family, the empire she wanted to reclaim.
“No,” she said slowly, voice soft but commanding. “Not yet. Keep the file. Don’t post anything until I say so.”
“But ma’am ”
“I said wait.” Her tone cut sharp. “I’ll deal with That myself. I’ve waited this long I want to be there when he breaks.”
“Understood, ma’am.”
“Good. Keep listening, keep watching. You’ll be rewarded when this is over.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The line clicked off. Mei placed the phone down and leaned back, exhaling.
“So…” she whispered to herself, “you finally told someone, huh?” She laughed quietly, almost fondly. “You always had to share everything, Lian. Secrets, pain, even my identity.”
Her smile faded. Her reflection in the glass table looked sharper now cold eyes, perfect lipstick, the face of someone who’d already buried their empathy.
“I knew you’d tell Andy,” she said quietly. “You trust too easily. That’ll be your downfall.”
She stood up, pacing across the living room. The sound of her foot steps echoed off the marble floor. “You think because Cheng thinks you're really me, you’re safe? You think he’ll protect you when the he finds out you lied to him?” She chuckled. “Sweetheart, you have no idea what’s coming. But for Chengnot to discover you're identity you truly impress me even with your fake boobs”
Her hand brushed the edge of the table, tapping it rhythmically as thoughts swirled in her mind.
“First, I’ll isolate you,” she whispered. “One by one, I’ll make everyone around you walk away. Your friends, your fake allies, even Roberto.”
She pictured Andy’s shocked face when that recording went public. The betrayal, the disgust the kind that spreads fast in a place like a university. Then she pictured Roberto, finding out Lian real identity.
“He’ll never forgive that,” she said, almost gently. “He’ll see you as a threat, a liar, an embarrassment.”
Mei’s tone turned mocking, mimicking her brother’s polite, careful voice. “You wanted to save the family, right? To repay the debt? Then you’ll keep quiet and let me take my life back.”
She poured another glass of wine, her movements calm. “I’m sorry, brother,” she said softly, lifting the glass to her lips. “But this isn’t about you anymore. It’s about my happiness. And I’ll do anything to get it back.”
She sipped, savoring the taste.
“Even if it means destroying you.”
Mei walked to the window, pulling the curtain aside just enough to see the city skyline. Thought of how Lian was trying to live her life, pretending to be her, pretending he belonged beside Roberto. She felt her stomach twist, not in guilt, but in bitter envy.
“That should be me on his arm,” she whispered. “That should be my ring, my name, my home.”
She drained the last drop of her wine and set the glass down with a quiet clink.
Then, with a small smile, she whispered to the empty room,
“Let’s see how long you last pretending to be me, Lian.”
Mei turned, walked toward the cabinet, and pulled out another bottle. The day wasn’t even halfway through, but she felt giddy like watching the first domino fall.
She poured herself another drink, raised the glass, and toasted to no one.
“To revenge,” she said. “And to getting my life back.”
“Perfect,” she murmured. “The chaos is starting.”
And with that, she walk back and sat back on the couch, sipping her wine, watching Vivian’s ruined face on the news and imagining Lian’s next.