The Heiress in Disguise

My wealthy and beautiful roommate Nora Miller looked down on me for being from the countryside. She teamed up with the others in the dorm to exclude me.

She loudly announced in the dorm, inviting everyone to her idol's concert. Someone asked if they should take me with them.

She scoffed, "Look at her clothes, they're obviously from a discount retailer. Taking someone like her to my idol's concert would be embarrassing."

Later, when a well-known rich guy, Kellan Lambert, who happened to be my childhood friend, publicly revealed our relationship, he was wearing a shirt bought from that same retailer.

1.

I had just turned down my dad Jake Palmer's offer to buy me a mink coat. After hanging up the phone with my dad, I heard the unrestrained laughter from the dorm.

They were mimicking my accent, perfectly imitating me.

No need to guess, it was the same isolation tactic from Nora and our roommates again.

It all started with our first introductions in the dorm.

They said they were local city ladies. I mentioned I was from a rural area in Triuy shistan.

Who would have thought that in the 21st century, someone would still feel superior for being a city dweller?

Since then, Nora's sarcasm became increasingly apparent. First, she mocked my rustic suitcase. Then, she pinched her nose at the local specialties inside, dramatically exclaiming, "Do you smell that?"

The other two roommates, Rita Holt and Sallie Nash, were confused.

She widened her eyes, "It's the scent of being poor. Some people are so poor that even their belongings carry that smell... unbearable."

I stared at my suitcase. It was a custom design by a well-known designer, arranged by my mom herself.

The leather was scratched and worn by my mom when she used to carry groceries, indeed looking quite shabby. But the specialties inside were truffles, my dad's favorite. He guarded them like treasure, and here they were being scorned. Looks like I would have to enjoy them alone.

Seeing I didn't respond, the other Rita and Sallie quickly tried to ease the tension.

At the time, I thought they were different from Nora. I took out two exquisite bracelets from my bag, giving one for each of them.

Thinking back now, it was painful. They were nearly ten thousand each, just gone down the drain. Because a week later, under Nora's sweet talk, Rita and Sallie completely switched sides, becoming her loyal followers.

Their roles were clear. Nora would insult, and they would echo her words.

Within a month of starting school, everything from my skincare products to shoes, blankets, and glasses was criticized and ridiculed.

Initially, considering our four years together, I tried to explain. But they didn't believe me at all. Instead, they accused me of being vain and buying fake stuff.

Later, I realized it was better if they didn't believe me, so they wouldn't latch onto me for my money.

Being a simple country woman was fine. At least it met my parents' expectations for me to be low-key.

I did think about changing dorms, but at the start of the semester, all beds were taken, so I had to wait.

I even thought about moving out and living off-campus, but that would make it harder to see Kellan, whose dorm was right across from ours.

It was convenient for me to keep an eye on him.

2.

Nora's sharp mockery snapped me back to reality.

She had a disdainful smile tugging at the corners of her lips, "What are you looking at? Am I wrong? Your clothes are indeed from a discount retailer!"

I was totally speechless and gave her an eye roll. What was wrong with buying from there? I didn't steal or rob. I spent my own money. Why should it matter if it was cheap or expensive?

Seeing my eye roll, Nora was furious.

She deliberately raised her chin, scanning the dorm, "Recently, my dad gave me some more allowance. How about I treat you all to my idol's concert?"

Rita and Sallie squealed with excitement, "Nora, you're amazing! Who's your idol?"

"Mathew Blake." Nora lifted her chin, like a proud peacock.

"Mathew, the famous singer!" Rita said.

"His concert tickets are hard to get and expensive. Wow, Nora, you're incredible!" Sallie exclaimed.

"Isn't it?" Rita added.

Their constant shrieking drew curious students from the neighboring dorms.

Nora straightened her back, giving me a sidelong glance, and casually said, "It's just a small amount. My dad wants me to get along with you all. Everyone here gets a ticket."

Rita was in disbelief and pointed at me, "Jenessa Palmer is going too?"

Nora sneered, her smile mocking as she looked me up and down, "Taking someone in discount clothes to my idol's concert, isn't that embarrassing?"

3.

I quickly waved my hand to interrupt, "Who wants your ticket? I have my own."

Nora covered her face, mocking me with a raised voice, "A country bumpkin claiming to have money for a concert, that's hilarious. Do you believe her?"

Rita chimed in, "She can't even afford clothes, how could she afford concert tickets?"

"Yeah, she's just bragging. As if it's that easy to just show up at the Mathew's concert." Sallie added.

Their sycophantic remarks made my cheeks ache from laughter.

I slapped the table, proposing a bet, "What if my seat is better than yours?"

"Talking about seats? Let's see if you can even get in." Nora didn't take the bait.

She deliberately pulled out six tickets from under her pillow, There was a whole stack hidden beneath the pillow.

She waved the tickets in front of me, and I saw the seats clearly. Then she said, "See? Not only can I get in, but I can also bring them along! And the seats are VIP! This bet is pointless; I'll definitely win. I'm not betting with you for your own good, so you won't say I bullied you."

That was amusing. She was the one who bullied me the most, always mocking me the hardest.

Something was off.

"What if you can't get in?" I quickly threw out a new topic, not giving her a chance to back out, "I bet you can't take them in. If I lose, I'll pay for your meals for the semester. If you lose, you have to run across campus shouting you're a bumpkin. If you refuse, it means you're scared to bet with me."

Her loyal followers were anxious, urging her one after another.

"Nora, bet with her. We support you." Rita said.

"Yeah, she's so arrogant, show her who's boss." Sallie added.

They cornered her with no way to back out.

Nora's face darkened with anger as she glared at me through gritted teeth, "Fine, if you're provoking me, then don't beg me when you lose. But let's add another condition. If you lose, you'll be doing a full-on streak across campus."

The room fell silent.

Her loyal followers shouted even louder. Sallie screamed, "Nora, you're really making things awkward for everyone."

"Exactly, she was a country woman, probably stuck doing all the tough work. Her skin is definitely not something we want to look at. Just imagining about it makes my eyes burn." Rita added.

Seeing my silence, they thought I was scared.

Nora quickly added, "You can add conditions too, but the bet can't be canceled."

I smiled, "Alright, but I won't add any conditions."

Nora scoffed, "Hope you can still smile when you lose."

Not wanting to argue, I grabbed my bag and left.

The concert was the day after tomorrow. Before that, I needed to confirm something. Only Kellan could help with this.

4.

"What are you thinking about?" A playful flick on my forehead stung.

I winced, reaching to retaliate.

Kellan's habit of teasing me hadn't changed since we were kids. Even after two years apart, he was still so familiar.

"Nothing much. Just wondering if there's anyone with the last name Miller in the department that got concert tickets as a company reward." I replied.

"What's the full name? Send it to me, I'll check for you." Kellan served me some food and opened his messages.

"Mr. Gregg Rowe said there's no one with the last name Miller in the design department. But this was arranged by the department manager, Jorge Hewitt. We'll have to ask him for details. Want me to ask?"

A sudden thought struck me, and I stopped Kellan, "No need. Just tell Mr. Rowe that the tickets are for design department employees only, no one else can have them or transfer them."

"What scheme are you plotting now?" His big head leaned in, curious as ever. "With that sinister smile, you're scaring people away."

"Someone ticked me off, " I said, waving my fist. "Just because I don't make a fuss, they think I'm a pushover, someone they can easily bully."

Kellan chuckled indulgently, serving me another meatball, "Right, right, you are not a pushover."

Seeing his teasing face, I reached out to punch him.

"Stop!" A loud voice erupted from behind.

Out of nowhere, Nora appeared, angrily standing between Kellan and me.

Her eyes were red as she accused me, "Jenessa, it's bad enough you're poor, but now you're bullying schoolmates. That's just a character flaw."