The Double (or more?) Life of the Fake Heiress novel Chapter 1

"Mira, back from the race already?" Mrs. Thompson called out as she stood in the doorway of her quaint corner store.

As the old lady's voice caught her attention, Mirabella, decked out in sleek black cycling gear, smoothly applied the brakes to her bike. With a practiced toe-touch to the ground, she removed her helmet, and her long ponytail cascaded down, giving her an air of effortless grace and cool beauty.

Mrs. Thompson couldn't help but sigh internally as she watched Mirabella. She really was something special. Even riding a bike, she exuded an aura that set her apart from the rest.

"Oh, by the way, it looked like you had visitors at home – they arrived in a car so fancy, it'd make your head spin! My son said it's worth a fortune, probably more than any car in our whole town..." Mrs. Thompson exaggerated with her hands as she spoke.

Mirabella listened thoughtfully, her delicate features betraying no particular emotion.

Noticing Mirabella's silence, Mrs. Thompson cautiously looked around before leaning in closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially, "Mira, tell me the truth. How did your family come to know such wealthy folks? Or did you... perhaps offend someone?"

Mrs. Thompson remembered that there was also a commotion involving a fancy car at Mirabella's house last year.

Mirabella's eyelids twitched slightly, and she couldn't help but give a wry smile at Mrs. Thompson's wild speculation. To avoid any misunderstanding, she replied softly, "Maybe they're like, distant cousins or something."

As soon as she said this, confusion spread across Mrs. Thompson's face, but before she could probe further, Mirabella had already put her helmet back on and waved goodbye. "I better get going, Mrs. Thompson."

Mrs. Thompson watched Mirabella ride away, murmuring to herself, "Wasn't her family known for being hard up?"