## My mother is the CEO of the powerful Brown Financial Group, a titan in the industry. My uncle is a globally renowned investor, and my grandfather was one of the first entrepreneurs in the country to revolutionize the economy. And yet, my father gave all his love and support to a foster child, Ryan Brown—the son of a housekeeper. Ryan not only stole my identity but also took my fiancée, with my father’s full backing. Together, they did everything they could to suppress me, tearing apart my life piece by piece. On Ryan’s 21st birthday, at the grand celebration held in his honor, he blocked my way, sneering at me in front of everyone. “A nobody like you, a foster child, has no business being at my coming-of-age party.” “You’re an embarrassment. Looks like I’ll have to teach you some manners myself.” He then rallied the staff and had them beat me until my legs were broken, my eyes gouged out. To seal my fate, they dumped me into the icy pool behind the mansion, leaving me to die. In my previous life, I endured their torment in silence, hoping to earn my father’s approval. I never exposed Ryan for the fraud he was. And for that, I paid the ultimate price—death. But now, I’ve been reborn. Watching Ryan bask in his arrogance and self-importance, I didn’t hesitate. I kicked him to the ground with brutal force, towering over him as he writhed in pain. My eyes were ice-cold as I said: “Who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that?” … The air in the grand ballroom felt frozen in time. No one could have predicted I’d pull a stunt like this. Expression cold as ice, I turned to the housekeeper, Sarah, and ordered, “Clean this mess up and return the room to its original state.” But Sarah ignored me. Instead, she rushed to Ryan’s side, helping him to his feet as she scolded me with a sharp tone, her voice dripping with fake righteousness: “Young Master, today is Master Ryan’s coming-of-age party. How could you create such a scene?” “I’ll report this to Mr. Brown immediately. He’ll make sure Master Ryan gets the justice he deserves.” Hearing this, I grabbed a chair, dragged it to the center of the room, and sat down with a smirk. My voice was laced with mockery as I said: “Young Master? Aren’t I the true eldest son of the Brown family? When did I become the ‘young master’ instead?” Sarah’s eyes flickered with panic for a brief moment, but she quickly recovered, her lips curling into a sneer. “You? The eldest son? Don’t kid yourself. You’re just a foster child in the Brown family. If you’re not a ‘young master,’ then what are you?” In my previous life, this very housekeeper had been one of my greatest tormentors. Sarah constantly sided with Ryan, aiding him in humiliating me. She manipulated my mother, turning her against me, and even helped Ryan frame me for failures I didn’t commit. In the end, Sarah and my father assisted Ryan in burning me alive. I’ll never forget the way she laughed as the flames consumed me. Her words dragged me back to the present, snapping me out of the memory. I let out a cold laugh. “A foster child? Me?” “Who else could it be?” Sarah retorted bitterly. “You’ve always been jealous of Master Ryan’s rightful place in this family. He’s gracious enough to tolerate you, but you keep pushing your luck. You should be grateful he hasn’t thrown you out!” I stared at her, unflinching. Everyone in the Brown family knew the truth—who the real heir was and who the imposter was. I shot Sarah a frigid glare. “You’re just a housekeeper in this family. Don’t forget your place.” “You’re fired.” Her expression twisted with disbelief, and she let out a disdainful laugh. “Fired? You? A foster child thinks he has the authority to fire me? Did you ask Master Ryan? Did you consult Mr. Brown?” At that moment, Ryan was helped up by a few staff members. His face was livid as he pointed at me and shouted: “Michael Brown, how dare you disrupt my birthday party? Just wait until I tell Dad about this—you’re finished!” He turned to the rest of the staff with fury in his voice. “What are you all standing around for? Get him out of here!” The staff hesitated, their eyes darting between Ryan and me. I chuckled lightly, savoring the panic that flickered in Ryan’s gaze. My father had married into the Brown family, so I’d taken my mother’s last name, Brown. As her only child and the true heir to the family fortune, I was the rightful eldest son. When I was sixteen, my father had brought home a boy, claiming he was his late brother’s orphaned son. “We should take him in,” he said. “It’s the right thing to do.” My mother, ever cautious, had insisted the decision be left to me. Back then, I naively believed my father’s words. I felt sorry for the boy and called him “little brother” out of pity. That’s when Ryan entered our home, but not as “Ryan Jones.” My father gave him our family name. He became Ryan Brown—the so-called “eldest son.” From that moment on, my father showered Ryan with love and attention, treating him like the golden child. And me? I became nothing more than an afterthought, a shadow in my own home. But now, reborn and armed with the knowledge of my past life, I finally understood. I am the true heir of the Brown family. Why should I let a fraud like Ryan trample all over me? The staff began to move toward me, clearly intending to drag me out. Ryan’s smug expression and Sarah’s sneering face only fueled my resolve. I stood my ground and swept my cold gaze across the room. “I am the eldest son of the Brown family. Touch me, and you’ll face my mother’s wrath when she returns. Are you prepared to answer to her?” The staff froze, glancing nervously at Ryan. Ryan’s face turned a sickly mix of green and white as fury twisted his features. “Michael, have you lost your mind? Everyone here knows you’re just a foster child in this family!” He sneered, his tone laced with mockery. “And you dare invoke Mom’s name? She’s out of town negotiating an important deal. If she’s delayed because of you, you’ll be the disgrace of the Brown family!” Sarah stepped forward, her voice dripping with fake concern. “Young Master, stop causing trouble. Everyone knows you’re the foster child here. Think about how angry Mr. Brown will be if you keep this up.” The guests began murmuring their agreement: “Exactly. Ryan is the real Brown heir.” “Unbelievable! At Ryan’s coming-of-age party, no less—this foster kid has no shame.” I clenched my fists, but my face remained calm. I turned to one of the servers and said, “Since they’re so eager to bring my father into this, go ahead. Ask him whether I’m the foster child or not.” The server hesitated, clearly torn, knowing how much Mr. Brown favored Ryan over me. If my father found out I’d disrupted Ryan’s party, he’d likely lash out at me in front of everyone. I smiled faintly, trying to ease the server’s discomfort. “It’s fine. Just go.” Reluctantly, the server nodded and left. Ryan smirked, crossing his arms. “Michael, when Dad gets here, this whole charade will end.” Sarah chimed in, her voice thick with mockery. “Young Master, you know how much Mr. Brown dotes on Ryan. Why would you put yourself in such a humiliating position?” I remained silent, staring at them with icy indifference. In my past life, the father I had adored had stood back and watched as Ryan stripped me of everything. He had even helped Ryan burn me alive, his cold eyes watching as the flames consumed me. They scattered my ashes into the sea and told my mother I had committed suicide. The grief broke her, leaving her bedridden and sick. But now, reborn from the ashes, I vowed to make them feel the searing pain of betrayal and the torment of a fiery death. This time, I would burn their world to the ground. 2 The sharp scolding echoed down the hallway as the butler emerged from my father’s study, his face flushed with humiliation and still wet with spit. He looked at me apologetically and said: “Mr. Brown said he’s busy getting dressed and will be down soon to attend Master Ryan’s coming-of-age party. Oh, and he also said… he hopes Young Master Michael won’t cause any more trouble.” I wasn’t surprised by the response. In fact, I was certain the butler had softened my father’s words. What he probably meant to say was: Tell him to get lost. After all, to my father, I was never good enough compared to Ryan. He always favored Ryan. Sarah, the ever-loyal housekeeper, couldn’t pass up the opportunity to twist the knife. Her voice dripped with mockery as she said, “Young Master Michael, I told you to stop, didn’t I? But no, you didn’t listen. Now look—Mr. Brown’s spoken. Regret it yet?” Ryan’s face lit up with triumph as he sneered at me. “Michael, you brought this on yourself. Stop embarrassing yourself and end this farce. Someone come and drag him out of here!” I narrowed my eyes and let out a cold laugh, about to retort when the doors to the ballroom opened. A woman in an elegant white gown walked in, stealing the attention of the entire room. My gaze froze for a moment. It was her—Megan Wren, my so-called fiancée. The woman my mother had arranged for a powerful alliance through marriage. The whispers started immediately: “That’s Megan Wren, the fiancée of the Brown family heir!” “She’s gorgeous, isn’t she? And her family is just as prestigious as the Browns’. They’re a perfect match!” But Megan didn’t walk toward me. Instead, she went straight to Ryan, slipping her arm through his with a warm and tender smile. When her eyes landed on me, they were filled with nothing but disdain. “Michael,” she said sharply, “why are you here at Ryan’s party? You’re just the Brown family’s foster child. And to think—you lied to me, claiming you were the heir!” She scoffed and glanced at Ryan affectionately. “If it weren’t for Ryan telling me the truth, I might’ve been fooled. Imagine how humiliating it would’ve been if the Wren and Brown families had formed an alliance based on your lie!” I chuckled softly at her words. Back when the marriage was first proposed, it was her family who had begged for the union, desperate to link themselves to the Browns. I had reluctantly agreed. But after meeting Ryan, she’d fallen for his sweet words and decided he was the true heir, turning her contempt squarely on me. Her public display of affection for Ryan erased any lingering doubts the guests might’ve had about my identity. After all, who would mistake their own fiancé? Ryan’s smirk grew even wider as he slid his hand around Megan’s waist and gave me a mocking look. “So, Michael,” he taunted, “what do you have to say for yourself now?” Megan turned to me, her expression filled with disgust. “Let me make myself clear,” she said, her voice cold. “I’m here today for two reasons: to celebrate Ryan’s coming-of-age and to tell you, once and for all, that the person I love is your brother.” She crossed her arms and added with a sneer, “From now on, address me as your sister-in-law!” “Sister-in-law?” Her words brought back memories of my previous life—when she’d found out Ryan was the foster child, she’d knelt before my mother, screaming and crying that she’d always loved me. I couldn’t help but laugh softly. “Sure, little sister,” I said mockingly. “As your big brother, I wish you and Ryan all the best. Make sure to lock it down.” Megan’s expression darkened, and her voice turned icy. “Little sister? You keep claiming Ryan is the foster child and that you’re the real heir. Where’s your proof?” I spread my arms out casually and gestured toward Ryan with a smirk. “Isn’t it obvious?” I stood tall and unflinching, exuding a natural air of authority. Even though the room was against me, my confidence was unshaken, the mark of someone born to lead. Ryan, on the other hand, fidgeted nervously. Despite his expensive, tailored suit, he couldn’t hide the hunched posture and shifty eyes that made him look like a fraud trying to fit into a world that wasn’t his. “And if you really want proof,” I said, reaching into my pocket, “how about this jade pendant?” I held up the piece of exquisite green jade, and gasps rippled through the crowd. “Wait, isn’t that the legendary jade pendant Mr. Brown gave to his child? There’s only one in the entire world!” “Doesn’t this mean… Michael might really be the true heir?” Ryan’s face twisted with panic, and his voice trembled as he stammered, “If I’m the foster child, then why would Dad side with me? That jade pendant must be a fake! You forged it!” Sarah quickly jumped in, her expression venomous. “Exactly! I just saw the real pendant on Ryan earlier. Yours is a counterfeit!” Megan chimed in, her voice dripping with scorn. “Even if it’s real, maybe you stole it. A pendant doesn’t prove anything.” Their accusations fed the crowd’s doubts, and murmurs of agreement spread. Sarah’s smirk widened as she added, “Michael, if you’re the true heir, then why doesn’t a single servant here call you Master? Look around—none of them respect you.” I scanned the room. Everywhere I looked, the servants avoided my gaze, keeping their heads down. They were afraid. Afraid of saying the wrong thing and facing punishment. Sarah seized the moment, her voice rising in triumph. “Today is Ryan’s special day, and you’ve done nothing but ruin it! You’ve disgraced the Brown name. Someone grab him and take him to Mr. Brown!” The servants moved toward me, but I remained calm. From a young age, I had trained in martial arts. Even though they outnumbered me, they were no match for me. One by one, they fell to the ground. I stood in the center of the ballroom, my clothes slightly rumpled but still composed. “Is that all you’ve got?” But before I could say more, Ryan grabbed a bottle of red wine and smashed it over my head. The glass shattered, and the sharp sting of wine and blood trickled down my face. I staggered, collapsing to the floor. Ryan stepped on my face, pressing down with increasing force as he sneered, “You think you’re tough? So what? You’re just a foster child playing pretend.” He snatched the jade pendant from me and clipped it onto his own belt, grinning triumphantly. Megan spat at me, her voice dripping with disdain. “See what happens when you try to take Ryan’s place? You’ve humiliated yourself!” Sarah poured a glass of wine over my head, laughing cruelly. “If you love talking nonsense so much, why not drink up?” I clenched my fists tightly, enduring the pain and humiliation. “When my mother gets back,” I said through gritted teeth, “you’ll all pay for this.” Unbeknownst to them, I had already called her. She was on her way, flying home as we spoke. Ryan crouched down, his tone mocking. “Your mother? Don’t make me laugh. She’s not here to protect you. And even if she were, Dad would side with me.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I could kill you right now, and he’d help me cover it up.” His words lit a fire in my chest. Not again. This time, I would turn the tables. 3 I seized the moment when Ryan wasn’t paying attention, flipping him to the ground and snatching back the jade pendant. Pinning him beneath me, I unleashed a flurry of punches. Every blow carried the weight of my past life’s agony—of skin scorched by fire, of betrayal and humiliation. Sarah screamed as she ran over to help Ryan, but I sent her flying with a single shove. Megan, standing nearby, tried to copy Ryan’s earlier move, grabbing a wine bottle to smash it over my head. But in her panic, she missed—and the bottle shattered across Ryan’s face. The scene descended into chaos. People rushed to intervene, shouting and scrambling. Then, from behind me, I heard a furious roar: “Stop this madness, you animal!” I turned slowly, my blood boiling as I faced my father. My knuckles turned white as I clenched my fists. “Animal?” I said, my voice trembling with rage. “Tell me, father—who are you calling an animal? Me? Or Ryan?” He stormed toward me, his face twisted in fury, and slapped me hard across the face. “Of course I mean you! You dare lay a hand on Ryan? Have you lost your mind? Do you have a death wish?!” While I was still stunned from the blow, he crouched down and helped Ryan up, his face filled with concern. “Ryan, are you okay? Did that brute hurt you?” he asked, his voice tender. Suppressing the rage rising in my chest, I stood and dusted myself off, forcing a bitter smile. “I’m an animal, am I? Then what does that make you, father? An old animal?” I had always known he favored Ryan. But still, I couldn’t help but ask myself: did he ever see me as his son? Ryan, wiping fake tears from his eyes, threw himself into my father’s arms. “Father, you have to do something about Michael,” he whimpered, his voice trembling with false emotion. “He’s gone crazy!” My father turned to me, his eyes blazing with rage. “Crazy? You’re worse than crazy! Fighting your own family in front of our guests—you’ve disgraced the Brown name!” I met his gaze head-on, cold and unflinching. “So what if I hit him?” I said, my voice sharp and cutting. “This family’s name is Brown, not Moore!” At my words, my father’s eyes widened in shock. Then, with a roar of fury, he slapped me again, harder this time. “You’ve gone too far! Do you want me to disown you?!” I refused to back down, staring at him with defiance. “If you want to disown me, go ahead. Let’s see if you have the guts!” Before he could respond, Sarah stepped forward, her face painted with faux concern. “Mr. Brown, you have to stand up for Ryan! Michael didn’t just ruin Ryan’s coming-of-age ceremony—he attacked him!” Megan, emboldened, chimed in with her own accusations. “That’s not all, uncle! He’s been harassing me, too! He even tried to force himself on me!” She glanced toward Ryan with teary eyes. “If it weren’t for Ryan, who knows what might’ve happened to me?” The crowd erupted, their voices rising in condemnation: “She’s right! Mr. and Mrs. Brown have spoiled him too much—that’s why this foster child is so arrogant!” “Exactly! He’s just a foster son, but now he’s acting like he owns the place!” The weight of their accusations pressed down on me like a suffocating net. Lies twisted into truths, and the whispers of the crowd became a deafening roar. My father cast a pitying glance at Ryan before turning his furious gaze back on me. “Do you hear that, Michael? Is the entire room lying about you?” He pointed a shaking finger at me. “Apologize to Ryan and the guests immediately!” His words burned like fire, igniting the fury inside me. I pointed at Ryan, my voice steady but filled with venom. “Him? He doesn’t deserve my apology.” My father’s face twisted with rage. “Doesn’t deserve it? What about me? I’m your father! I’m ordering you to apologize—and you’ll do it on your knees!” The room fell silent as his words echoed. Ryan, ever the actor, put on a show of humility. “Father, there’s no need to humiliate him like that. He’s still my brother, after all. Let’s not hurt his pride.” But his smirk betrayed the satisfaction he felt. The crowd erupted with praise for Ryan: “Ryan is so kindhearted—he’s a true Brown heir!” “What a gentleman! He’s the perfect future head of the Brown family.” Sarah sneered. “Young Master Ryan, you’re too soft. That’s why this foster child thinks he can get away with anything. Making him kneel is the least he deserves!” My father nodded, his voice colder than ice. “If it weren’t for the fact that he still carries the Brown name, I’d have thrown him in jail already!” Megan, leaning into Ryan with a coy smile, added, “Exactly. Ryan, you’re destined to lead this family. You can’t let emotions cloud your judgment.” Ryan sighed dramatically, shaking his head. “Michael, you’ve really forced my hand today. But you don’t have to kneel to me—we’re still family, after all.” His words dripped with false benevolence, his smirk daring me to resist. My father’s gaze bore into me, colder than ever. It wasn’t the look of a father—it was the glare of an enemy. “Do you hear that? Why can’t you be more like Ryan? Now, kneel and apologize!” I raised my chin defiantly. “And if I refuse?” My father’s face darkened. He took a deep breath and bellowed, “If you won’t kneel willingly, I’ll make you kneel! Someone, hold him down and force him to bow!” The servants hesitated, glancing at each other nervously. “Sir… if we force him, we might seriously hurt him.” “Then hurt him!” my father snapped. “If he dies, so be it! Do it now, or I’ll do it myself!” The servants advanced, their faces grim, muttering apologies under their breath. “Sorry, Michael. We have to follow orders…” They grabbed me, trying to force me to my knees, but I fought back with everything I had. My father grabbed a heavy cane and swung it at the back of my legs, hitting me with enough force to buckle my knees. I fell forward but refused to bow my head. I clenched my teeth as the pain burned through me, staring defiantly at the laughing faces around me. If kneeling meant submitting to Ryan, I’d rather die. My father pressed his hand against the back of my head, trying to force me down. But just as he was about to slam my head into the ground, a powerful voice boomed from the entrance: “I dare anyone to lay another hand on my son!”
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