I Texted the Heir in Her Name

My roommate wanted me to impersonate her and keep up her online romance with a rich man who never sent photos—a man she assumed was ugly.

I was about to refuse when the scrolling comments went wild. [He isn’t ugly!

The scar from his car accident just hasn’t fully faded yet!] [He’s actually the heir to one of the most powerful families on the East Coast.

Don’t hand the male lead over to this country bumpkin!] I looked down at my plaid shirt and thick blackframed glasses.

When I looked up again, my roommate was already holding out her phone. Chapter 1 I stared at the words rolling past my eyes, stunned.

My roommate had told me that she had run away from home because she refused the match her family had arranged for her.

Her family then cut off her access to their money, her standard of living plummeted, and she had no choice but to share an apartment with me. And I was the country bumpkin?

More comments appeared. [That butchered fringe wasn’t enough? You wear thick black frames every day, and it’s always a plaid shirt with jeans or a plaid shirt with sweatpants.

How are you not a hick? You and the heiress in her pretty dresses don’t even belong in the same picture!] I looked down at myself. These clothes were comfortable.

They weren’t hurting anyone. Besides, I had cut my fringe myself. So what if it was choppy? It had cost me nothing.

Vanessa Whitmore poked me with a rhinestonecovered nail. “Hey, do you really need this long to think about it? I’m not asking you to do it for free.

Whenever he sends me money, you get thirty percent and I keep seventy. Deal?” She curled her red lips. “And talking to him will broaden your horizons.

You’ll make money and see how the other half lives. Where else are you going to find a deal that good?” I sighed to myself. Why hadn’t she led with that?

Broadening my horizons was secondary. The money mattered. I accepted the phone with both hands and made her a solemn promise. “Don’t worry.

I’ll handle the chats for you.” After I showered, I flopped onto my bed and went through their message history. They had met through an online game.

They had exchanged names and voice messages. After reading everything from beginning to end, I found nothing especially hard to understand. Adrian Hale was just… chatty.

He could send seven or eight messages a day asking, “What are you doing, baby?” If she went more than half an hour without answering, his questions began circling closer and closer. “Are you busy, baby?” Then, “Who are you with, baby?” Finally, he would console himself with a wounded little, “You’re asleep, aren’t you, baby?” This was the heir to one of the most powerful families on the East Coast?

The man needed a hobby. Or a job. Then again, he and Vanessa had only been talking for five days, and he had already sent her $20,000. He certainly was generous.

When I finished reading, I rolled onto my back and tried to find something useful among the endless comments insulting me. [Heiress, obsessive men are easy to train.

He’s just a little starved for love and a little possessive. Don’t hold it against him.] [He’s only terrified of losing you.

Take the tiniest bit of initiative and he’ll do anything you say.] So this was what they meant by obsessive?

Chapter 2 A sensitive little puppy who would never let you pet another dog once you touched him, but who lit up the moment you gave him any affection?

As I considered that, the phone resting on my chest vibrated.

Adrian: [What are you doing, baby?] Adrian: [Checking up on you.] Me: [Waiting with my phone in my hands for your message.] Adrian: [Good girl.] A $520 transfer arrived right after it.

That woke me up fast. I accepted it in silence. Before I could thank him, another message came through.

Adrian: [I want to ask you something, baby.] Me: [Go ahead.] Adrian: [Are there any other men in your phone besides me?] Me: [My dad. Does he bother you?

I can delete him if he does.] The comments erupted. [Whoa! The hick looks honest, but she’s rotten inside!] [Try deleting your dad. I dare you!

I’ll have someone come after you!] I curled my lip. I was only soothing a puppy. Why were they so worked up? Vanessa had two phones.

On the one she used every day, she was talking to an incredibly obedient college athlete. If she asked to see his face, he sent a photo.

If she asked to see his abs, he sent that too. He was sweet, compliant, and firmly in her good graces.

The phone in my hands, meanwhile, was one she had bought solely to talk to Adrian. Adrian was the only contact on it.

His Highness had enjoyed such exclusive favor—until Vanessa learned he would not show his face and banished him from court. Adrian replied. [Don’t joke like that, baby.

Why would your dad bother me?] [$5,200 transferred.] I shot upright in bed. I might have just discovered the proper way to handle His Highness. Give him affection. Give him warmth.

Give him so much security he could barely breathe? Right. Thank you, scrolling comments.

The next morning, just before I left for work, Adrian sent me a photo of five ties. “Pick one for me, baby.” I studied them. “The navy one with the subtle woven pattern.” “Okay.

I’ll wear that one to work today.” I was about to send an OK and end the conversation when an idea struck me.

I pulled five plaid shirts from my closet, arranged them neatly across my bed, took a photo, and sent it to him. [Pick one for me too, baby.] Then nothing.

The comments began shrieking. [Help! The heir always answers immediately, and he’s been silent for two whole minutes!] [Ha! The little hick finally gave herself away.

Our polished heiress changes her manicure every week.

There’s no way she’d wear one of those painfully unfashionable plaid shirts!] [Just wait until the heir discovers you’ve been impersonating the heiress.

You’ll find out exactly what he’ll do to you.] What he would do to me? I had to admit, that made me nervous. But fortune favored the bold.

There was no such thing as riskfree money. The phone suddenly vibrated. Adrian had answered. [The navy plaid one.

Close enough—we’re basically wearing matching outfits today.] [Okay, baby~] The comments flared again. [What are you so excited about, little hick?

He’s only indulging you because this account belongs to the heiress!] [Impostor! You’re not allowed to be happy!] I arched a brow, set down the phone, and lightly flicked my fringe.

Oh. False alarm. Taking over Vanessa’s chats did have a real effect on my life.

I spent every spare minute at work answering Adrian and completely forgot to watch the funny video my best friend had sent me.

The moment work ended, she stormed over to my office. “Tell me the truth.

Are you seeing someone?” Chapter 3 I pushed the straw into her milk tea and handed it over with a coaxing smile. “No.

I spent the whole day working hard to make money.” That was not a lie. At lunch, Adrian had asked what I was eating.

I sent him a photo from the office cafeteria, and he transferred another $520. My best friend let me off the hook and pinched my cheek. “You promised me, Nori.

We’re going to buy a huge house together.” “Mmhmm. You and me against the world.” After dinner, she returned to her employerprovided housing, and I went back to my apartment.

The comments appeared. [Now I understand how the little hick handles someone as obsessive as Adrian so easily.

She already has one just like him in her life.] [Heiress, stop taking pretty pictures and get your phone back! She’s practically trained the heir into a helpless puppy!] [So what?

They’re only talking online. Just wait and see whether he even looks at her twice in real life.] When I opened the door, Vanessa was taking selfies with her phone.

She turned at the sound and held out her newly manicured peachcolored nails with a bright smile. “Pretty?” “Very.” She went back to taking pictures.

I changed my shoes, carried the bag of desserts my best friend had given me to the table, and asked, “Want some?” Vanessa ignored me.

I was about to walk away when she called after me. “Give me the phone.” I immediately took it from my bag and handed it over. Vanessa opened the chat and scrolled for a moment.

Then she looked up and gave me an amused onceover. “Not bad, June.

You got him to send you six or seven thousand dollars in less than a day.” I smiled awkwardly. “He really is generous.” Vanessa transferred $6,000 to her other account, handed the phone back to me, and smiled. “You can keep the rest.

Keep up the good work.” There was $240 left in the account. What happened to my thirty percent? I held the phone and looked at Vanessa, stopping myself from speaking.

She gave me a reproachful look. “Oh, come on. I’m going to the beach for a few days to find inspiration. Try to understand.” I glanced at the easel in the corner.

A layer of dust had settled over it. Fine. I understood.

Vanessa lowered her head to edit her photos. “Oh, and while I’m gone, if he asks you to play that game with him, brush him off somehow. “I still can’t believe you work for a gaming company and play this badly.

I’m not giving you my game account. You’ll expose us.” I was quiet for a moment. “What if he asks to meet?” Vanessa lifted her eyes and laughed. “Then go.

Just remember to wear something nice.” The comments returned. [Why is the little hick upset? And meeting him? In her dreams!] [Without the heiress, you wouldn’t even have that $240.

Be grateful!] They had a point. I had gotten carried away. Clearly, I should have volunteered to do all this for Vanessa for free.

Back in my room, I showered, sprawled across my bed, and sent Adrian a message. [Baby, don’t send me any more money.] [?

Why?] [I don’t like men who throw money around.] The status showed that he was typing for a long time. Finally, Adrian replied. [All right.] [Good boy~ I’m going to sleep.

You should go to bed early too. Good night. (Kiss)] The moment I hit send, my expression went dead serious. Then I deleted those messages one by one.

Chapter 4 I did not plan to keep the $240 either. Adrian gave me more than enough attention and emotional support. I was not losing out.

After another three days of talking to him, I realized he was like one of those highmaintenance pedigree dogs. Ignore him for a little while, and he started whimpering.

Slacking off all day at work was not a good idea, though. After some thought, I decided to make him a comfort toy.

I stayed up late three nights in a row and worked through the weekend to build a small game from scratch.

On Monday morning, I had barely turned on my computer when Adrian sent a message. [I miss you, baby.] I sent him the installation file. [Download this.] [Done.] [See the little avatar inside?] [Yes.

She’s cute. Did you make this yourself?] [Yep. I’ve been in a lot of meetings for a new project lately.

If I don’t answer, you can play with her.] [You made this game just for me?] [Of course. You can pretend she’s me and design pretty dresses for her.

From now on, she’s your exclusive little doll.] Adrian fell silent again. The comments pounced. [Childish.] [Calculating.] [Cheap.] [This is why we call you a hick.

Even the game you designed is tacky! Do you know what game the heiress met him through? He won’t care about this brainless little thing.] I shrugged. Whatever.

The whole point was companionship. Why did it have to be sophisticated? If he did not like it, he did not like it. Vanessa’s trip to “find inspiration” lasted almost a month.

By then, Adrian seemed to have figured out exactly when I could sneak messages during work.

We traded a few random remarks throughout the day, and somehow he became one of the ways I relaxed. With his constant suggestions, the simple game slowly grew elaborate.

I had to admit Adrian had excellent taste. He dressed the miniature version of me beautifully.

One night before bed, Adrian sent another message. [Baby, can I call you something else?] [What?] [My wife.] Heat rushed into my face.

I squirmed from lying down to sitting up and finally onto my stomach before answering. [That sounds weird. Don’t call me that.] [What’s weird about it?

You’ll be my wife sooner or later.] [We haven’t even met. Don’t say things like that.] A photo appeared the next second. It was a casually angled selfie. My eyes widened.

Adrian had thick black hair swept loosely away from his face. His features were sharply defined, with deepset eyes, a high nose, and thin lips.

He was the kind of strikingly handsome man who seized your attention at first glance. Now I understood why the comments kept saying the heiress had made a terrible mistake.

Adrian sent another message. [Baby, I was in an accident. It left a scar near the end of my eyebrow, and it hasn’t faded completely yet.

I hope you don’t mind.] I enlarged the photo and answered with complete sincerity. [A scar can’t hide a face like yours. You’re seriously handsome.] [Do you want to meet?

I really want to see you.] The smile vanished from my lips.

I held the phone and typed, deleted, and retyped for a long time before sending one question. [What do you imagine I look like?] Adrian answered almost immediately. [Cute.

A round face, round eyes… maybe like an adorable golden British shorthair kitten?] A laugh escaped me. My best friend had said I looked like a roundfaced kitten too.

Another message from Adrian appeared. [Meet me tomorrow, baby? It’s the weekend. We can go to the aquarium.] Chapter 5 I was torn.

Vanessa had said I could go if he ever asked to meet, but I could not actually do it. I was not the person who had met him in the first place.

I was about to refuse when my bedroom door flew open. Vanessa was back. “I’m home. Here, I brought you something.” She tossed a woven straw hat onto my bed.

As she turned to leave, she caught sight of the phone in my hand and stopped. “Oh, right. How much did he send you this month?” “Nothing.” The smile disappeared from her face.

She snatched the phone from my hand. “Did he really send nothing, or did you keep it for yourself?” She frowned as she scrolled through the chat, then suddenly froze.

She had clearly found Adrian’s selfie. Delight spread across Vanessa’s face. “When he told me his name, I thought some loser happened to share a name with the heir to Hale Group.

It really is him.” She looked up at me, smiling. “You’ve worked hard this past month.

I won’t trouble you with tomorrow’s meeting.” I pressed my lips together, hesitating. “Aren’t you still seeing that… college athlete?” “I’ll break up with him.” Vanessa gave a cold snort. “What are you worried about?

Don’t tell me you actually want to meet Adrian in my place.” I said nothing. Vanessa bent over me. One rosecolored nail tipped my chin upward as she smiled. “Wake up, June.

Ugly ducklings only turn into swans in fairy tales.” Then she opened the chat and sent a sweet voice message. “Of course, baby.

I’ll see you at the aquarium tomorrow!” It was Saturday, so I did not have to work. My best friend had invited me hiking