Part 1The Billionaire's Trash Princess

I am the long-lost heiress, beautiful but, allegedly, brainless.

The moment I was reunited with my wealthy parents, the fake heiress set me up to marry the Sterling family's notorious black sheep.

"Marry that country bumpkin? I'd rather die single!"

"Do you think I, Lucas Sterling, eat trash?"

Just as the fake heiress smirked, Lucas turned and saw me.

In the next second, the man who was just roaring turned beet red. He started stuttering.

"You're the sister from the country... You're actually... gorgeous!"

"Don't look at me like I'm a loser, my dad is loaded! Dad! Buy my wife two villas! Ten Porsches!"

"Wifey, what else do you like? Just ask!"

The fake heiress's face twisted in horror. That night, she made an excuse to send me away and sneaked into Lucas's bed.

A minute later, while washing fruit, I heard Lucas's furious roar from the bedroom.

"Where did this ugly monster come from?! Where is my sweet, beautiful wife?!"

* * *

When Lucas Sterling heard his arranged marriage partner had been switched to a country girl just back from the boonies, he smashed a teacup and threatened to call off the engagement.

I had just finished packing when I saw the Sterlings sitting in the living room. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.

"Lucas, Zoe is my biological daughter. Naturally, she should be the one to marry you," my dad said gently, playing the considerate father.

But last night, I heard his adopted daughter, Tiffany, crying her eyes out.

"Dad, I don't want to marry Lucas Sterling... he's a player, a loser..."

So, they pushed me forward. "Real heiress for real heir," they called it. Only fair.

I gripped the hem of my shirt and didn't argue.

Compared to my adoptive parents in the village who planned to sell me to an old bachelor for dowry money, the Sterlings wouldn't treat me badly, at least on the surface.

But Lucas didn't seem to want me.

His back was to me, but his voice was icy.

"Marry that hillbilly? I'd rather stay single forever!"

"Do you think I, Lucas Sterling, have no standards?"

Dad looked awkward. Tiffany stood aside, the corner of her mouth twitching up.

I took a deep breath, suppressing my trembling.

"Dad, I'm not worthy of the Sterlings. I've embarrassed you."

The air froze.

Lucas whipped around, a frown still etched on his face.

But the moment his eyes landed on me, his breath hitched.

The anger vanished. His ears turned visibly red. He started stammering.

"You're Zoe... the sister from the country?"

His Adam's apple bobbed. His voice softened instantly.

"You're actually... really pretty."

Silence.

I was stunned. Did I hear that right?

Tiffany's smile froze.

Lucas frantically straightened his collar, like he suddenly couldn't breathe.

His dark eyes locked onto me, words tumbling out fast.

"Don't look at me like I'm a bum, my dad is super rich! Marry me, and I guarantee you can live off his money forever!"