Chapter 4
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Chapter 4
Dad stood tall and unmoved. “Call the lawyer and the police. This kind of fraud must be dealt with according to the law,” he
ordered his men curtly.
Not long after, the police and lawyer arrived, and solemn air filled the villa.
Just as the officers were going to take the fake Deborah away, she started begging again. “Mr. Larson, please, for my mom’s sake,
could you spare me? I swear I didn’t mean any harm.”
Dad’s brows furrowed slightly. “Who is your mother?”
She hesitated, her voice barely audible as she said, “Kate Carter.”
The name made me stop in my tracks while a familiar figure surfaced in my memory. I scrutinized the fake Deborah’s face more
closely and pieced together her features.
And then it hit me. She was Debra Carter, my nanny’s daughter.
After I was born, Mom’s health deteriorated. Kate, her caregiver, had been by her side for years.
Mom had always treated Kate kindly, and when she learned Kate had a daughter about my age who lacked proper care, she’d
suggested bringing her to live with us at the manor.
From that moment on, Debra had become part of our household. Mom had showered her with affection. Everything prepared for
me, be it clothes, food, or toys, had always included an identical set for Debra.
Not only that, but Mom had also often taken her along to events so that she was never left out.
My neighbors and classmates would remark how we were like real sisters, and Debra had always carried herself with a confidence
that matched mine.
We spent our childhoods together at the manor, sharing lazy afternoons napping beneath the osmanthus trees and counting
stars in the garden at night.
It had felt as though we were destined to be lifelong confidantes.
But everything changed when Debra turned 12. Her parents divorced, and her father insisted on taking her away. Afterward, our
connection waned.
I later heard her father’s gambling addiction left their lives in shambles.
Mom often sighed over their misfortunes and sent money to help when she could, though it was never enough to make a lasting
difference.
It was hard to believe that we’d met again after all these years in such circumstances.
As we prepared to leave for the police station, Isaiah, ever the opportunist, tried to escape. “Mr. Larson, this seems like a family
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Chapter 4
matter… I’ll leave it to you. I trust you’ll handle it well.”
Dad shot him a cold glance and said resolutely, “You’re coming with us, Mr. Joubert. After all, you played a part in this.”
Isaiah’s forced smile faltered, and he reluctantly followed us.
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At the station, Debra finally began to unravel her story. Gone was the composed facade she had worn so convincingly. Her head
hung low, and her voice quivered as she began.
“While taking care of Mrs. Larson, my mom… she learned a lot about your family.”
Debra paused, her gaze flitting to the floor.
“After Mrs. Larson passed away, my mom told me Deborah didn’t get along with Mr. Larson. There were frequent arguments between them. She said Deborah resented Mr. Larson’s plans for her. Deborah refused to study at Brookley College, even if he
wanted to send her there. That was when I saw an opportunity.”
“You thought you could assume her identity?” Dad asked coldly.
Debra nodded with a wry smile and continued, “Yes… I thought if Deborah could so easily throw it all away, why shouldn’t I give it a try? So I begged my mom to sneak a photo of Deborah’s acceptance letter for me.
“With that photo, I forged a fake admission letter and ID. I secretly followed Deborah to Marbleton and saw her leave immediately after landing. That’s when I went to the college in her place.”
Taking a shaky breath, she added, “I guessed the villa’s passcode because your family uses simple birthday combinations… Once I got in, I staged a minor car accident to injure my hand. That gave me an excuse to avoid guitar practice and prevent suspicion at
the college.”
The police officers and lawyer remained solemn, while Isaiah’s complexion gradually paled.
Dad’s gaze bore into Debra with evident anger and disappointment. “So, you thought you could claim what wasn’t yours through lies, regardless of who you hurt?”
Debra’s hands trembled, and she bowed her head in shame.
When Dad and the lawyer began discussing legal procedures, she finally broke down.
“Mr. Larson, please! I’m begging you to give me another chance! I didn’t mean to hurt anyone! Please, for my mom’s sake. She
cared for Mrs. Larson for over a decade!”
Dad was unfazed as he stared at her.
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