The Imposter

I met Simon in a quiet café. My hands shook as I handed him the folder. "This is what you asked for."

Simon took it and flipped through the pages. His eyes darkened as he read. "Are you sure about this?"

I nodded. 

Simon took a deep breath. "This proves it. Mimi's father is the heir of the man who ruined my parents." His voice was cold. "I always thought it was him."

I hesitated. "But there's more. Keep reading."

He scanned the papers quickly. Then, suddenly, he stopped. His jaw clenched. "No… This can't be right."

I leaned forward. "What does it say?"

His fingers tightened around the pages. "It wasn't Mr Larkin. It was his wife. Her name is all over these documents. She lied. She was the one who made sure my parents lost everything."

I swallowed. "What will you do now?"

Simon shut the folder. His eyes burned with anger. "I'm going to see Mr. Larkin. He needs to know the truth."

---

Later that evening, Simon went to Mr Larkin's house. Mr. Larkin opened the door, surprised to him.

Simon wasted no time. "We need to talk."

Inside, Simon placed the folder on the table. "Read this."

Mr. Larkin frowned but opened the folder. As he read, his face changed. Shock. Confusion. Then anger.

"My wife… she did this?" His voice shook.

Simon nodded. "She destroyed my parents' business. She made sure they lost everything."

Mr. Larkin stood up, his hands in his hair. "I trusted her. I believed her." He turned to the stairs and shouted, "Amelia! Come down here!"

She came,with her face calm. "What is it?"

Mr. Larkin threw the papers on the table. "You lied to me. You ruined people's lives. You let me think it was my father's doing, but it was you all along!"

Amelia crossed her arms. "I did what I had to do. Your family was weak. I only made things better."

Mr. Larkin's face turned red. "Better? You destroyed people!"

Amelia shrugged. "Does it matter now? It's in the past."

Mr. Larkin shook his head. "It matters to me. To my family. To everyone you hurt." He took a deep breath. "This marriage is over. Get out of my house."

Amelia's face turned pale. "You can't mean that."

"I do." His voice was final.

Amelia's eyes darted around, but no one spoke for her. Finally, she turned and walked away.

Simon let out a breath. "It's done."

Mr. Larkin sat down, looking lost. "I never knew… I never imagined."

"Now you do,Simon said".

*****"*

Chapter 2

II heard it—Mimi was awake. I had to go. I rushed to the hospital, my heart pounding in my chest. This was it. I needed to see what she was doing with my body.

When I entered the room, she was already sitting up, staring at the mirror across the room, completely calm. Not a hint of panic, no shock, nothing. She looked at my face—her new face—and for a second, I thought she knew exactly what was happening.

A nurse was by her side, talking gently. "How are you feeling?"

Mimi blinked slowly, her voice soft. "I… I don't remember anything." She paused. "Who am I?"

The nurse gasped. "Memory loss? Oh, dear. I'll call the doctor."

Simon walked in just then, his face lighting up. "Bella!" He hurried to her side, taking her hand. "You're awake. Thank God!"

Mimi blinked at him, wide-eyed. "You know me?"

Simon gave her a gentle smile. "Of course. You're my best friend."

Mimi's lips parted slightly, but she quickly put on a sad, helpless expression. "I… I don't remember. I don't remember anything."

Simon squeezed her hand. "It's okay. I'll help you. Don't worry about anything." Then he turned to the reporters crowding outside the room. "She's not ready to talk! Leave her alone!"

The reporters hesitated but backed away as Simon glared at them. He sat beside Mimi again, speaking softly. "I'll protect you. You don't have to be scared."

I clenched my fists. Liar. She wasn't scared. She wasn't confused. She knew exactly what she was doing.

Later, when Simon step out to get her food, I stepped forward. "Drop the act, Mimi."

She tilted her head, her lips curling. "What do you mean?"

I glared at her. "You're not fooling me. You know exactly who you are."

Mimi's smile turned dark. "And if I do?"

What will you do about it?"

I took a step closer. "Then switch back! You stole my life!"

She smirked. "Oh, Bella. You never deserved this life anyway."

Anger boiled inside me. I grabbed her wrist. "Say that again!"

Mimi gasped loudly, then started screaming. "Help! Help me!"

Simon burst into the room, eyes wide. "What's going on?"

Mimi, now the perfect picture of a terrified victim, pulled away from me, her eyes wide with fake fear. "She attacked me!"

Simon turned to me, his face hard. "Get out, Mimi."

I froze. "What?"

His voice was cold. "You heard me. Leave."

I stared at him in shock, but he wasn't looking at me. He was focused on her—on my body, I wished I could tell him 

I had no choice. I left.

That night, Mimi returned to Kelvin's house. My house.

Kelvin opened the door, his eyes narrowing. "You're finally back."

He let her in without a word. She glanced around, he

r eyes sharp and calculating.

I watched from the shadows. She wasn't here for Kelvin. Neither was I. We both wanted Simon.