My parents always adored my brother, Brandon. Me? I was just a *tool*, born solely to provide the umbilical cord blood that would treat his leukemia. Even the woman I fell deeply in love with, my girlfriend, Celeste, abandoned me without a second thought the moment she met my brother and fell for him. I knew she had mistaken him for me. I tried every possible way to make her see the truth, but all I earned was her deeper contempt. In the end, Brandon had me run over and killed. The last news I heard was of his wedding to Celeste. My girlfriend coldly *declared*, “People like him *deserve* to die sooner!” When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn, back to the time when Brandon and Celeste had just gotten engaged. **Chapter One** “Leo, your brother is already engaged to Celeste. Stop trying to sabotage them. Your mother and I have bought your plane ticket; you’ll stay abroad for a few years and only return after your brother’s wedding.” Seeing the “we’re doing this for your own good” expressions on my parents’ faces, I realized I had been reborn. I was back on the day my parents forced me to go abroad, the day I was meant to completely give up on Celeste. In my previous life, I had been pressured to leave just like this, but I couldn’t accept it. I’d tried countless times to explain to Celeste that I was the one she truly loved, begged my parents repeatedly to reveal the truth, to stop letting Brandon take credit for what I had done. But all I got was Celeste’s even deeper disgust. She even had the audacity to coldly tell the nurse over the phone, as I lay dying in a car accident, “What new trick is he pulling now? Tell him not to ruin Brandon’s and my wedding.” And I? I died on the operating table, watching that globally televised, lavish wedding on the TV screen, watching Brandon gently slide a ring onto Celeste’s finger, watching them bathed in everyone’s blessings… Since fate has granted me this second chance, I refuse to degrade myself, to waste my life, ever again. “Okay, I’ll go.” I reached out and picked up the plane ticket, my voice unnaturally calm. My parents were stunned by how readily I agreed. “Leo, you’re really agreeing to leave? You’re not planning another trick to sabotage your brother’s wedding, are you?!” Sabotage? It’s a bitter joke. Celeste was always *mine*. But my parents cruelly ripped her away and handed her to Brandon. More than two decades ago, Brandon was diagnosed with leukemia. My parents, without hesitation, decided to have another child. And so, I was born. My umbilical cord blood saved my brother’s life, but from that moment on, I lived entirely in his shadow. Because Brandon was always frail and sickly, my parents showered all their affection on him. From childhood, I gave way to him in everything – my room, my friends, even spots in competitions… There was only one thing I wouldn’t concede: the girl I fell for at first sight – Celeste, the Sterling heiress. She had been the belle of every ball, a darling of fate. But after a birthday party, a car accident left her blind, and her family abandoned her in a secluded estate. I kept it a secret from my family, stole the keys, and every day after school, I would climb the fence to go be with her. “I’ll be here every day.” In the darkness, my deep, resonant voice became Celeste’s only anchor, her only salvation. I never revealed my name, simply tracing “Call me Seven” into her palm, stroke by careful stroke. I combed her hair, she played piano for me, and on stormy nights, she’d press my cold hands to her chest. The night before her eye surgery, she kissed my fingertips and vowed, “When I get my sight back, you’ll be the first person I want to see. And then, we’ll be together, okay?” The surgery lasted twelve hours. But when Celeste woke up, the first person she saw was Brandon. Because as soon as my parents learned Brandon also had feelings for Celeste, they secretly slipped sleeping pills into my drink, knocking me out for an entire day and night. Then, they *lied*, fabricating stories that Brandon had been the one by her side all those years, allowing him to take my place. Celeste never suspected a thing. She and Brandon dated and became engaged, their love seemingly boundless. For three years, I tried to explain countless times that I was the one who had been with her, that I was the one she should love. But she never believed me. Not until I died. I looked at my biological parents standing before me, finding it utterly absurd. “You tried to make me leave repeatedly before. Now that I’ve agreed, you don’t believe me? Don’t you find that strange?” “That’s not what we meant. It’s best if you’re willing to go, of course. You’ll depart for Europe in half a month. Use this time to pack your things and sort out your affairs.” My parents, afraid I might change my mind, quickly added a few more instructions before happily leaving. I turned and went back to my room. The moment I closed the door, my phone vibrated. It was a SnapChat message from Celeste. [8 PM, The Grand Hyatt, Room 1808.] I stared at the message, my fingers tightening slightly. In my previous life, I was ecstatic when I received this message, thinking she was finally willing to listen to me. But when I arrived, I found she had deliberately called me there to witness her and Brandon together, to make me give up. I broke down and cried, but she just said coldly, “Did you see clearly? He’s the only one I love.” Thinking back now, it was ridiculous. I took a deep breath and replied: [Okay.] At 8 PM, I arrived at the hotel precisely. Room 1808’s door was ajar. Celeste was embracing Brandon, both of them naked. Used condoms were scattered around, and the room was thick with desire. Seeing me standing outside, Celeste let out a surprised gasp. Brandon lowered his head, tracing delicate kisses along her collarbone. Celeste’s voice was soft and seductive. “I called him here on purpose, so he’d know you’re the one I love. That way, he won’t harbor any inappropriate thoughts about me. He needs to realize I’ll only ever be his sister-in-law.” Reborn, watching this scene unfold for the second time, my heart still felt a brutal stab, bleeding profusely, an unbearable agony. But I *have* to get used to it! Because from now on, Celeste will only ever be my brother’s wife. I don’t know how much time passed. I unclenched my hands, seeing the nail marks digging into my skin. Then, Celeste, fully dressed, walked towards me. “Did you see clearly? My only love is your brother. Remember your place. I’m your sister-in-law. Don’t ever do anything so shameless again!” My face was completely devoid of emotion. “I saw clearly. And I understand.” Celeste paused, seemingly surprised by my calm reaction. After a moment, she picked up an invitation from the bedside table and handed it to me. “Brandon’s and my wedding is next month. I hope you’ll come.” I took the invitation. “I’ll be there on time. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.” Celeste stared at my face, her brows slightly furrowed. For some reason, I was uncharacteristically compliant today. But she asked nothing, allowing Brandon to lead her out of the hotel. I followed behind, my steps heavy. My head was down, my thoughts hazy, when I heard a scream beside me. The next second, the giant overhead light fixture crashed straight down. Celeste instinctively recoiled, pulling Brandon back, perfectly dodging the impact. Only I remained where I stood, struck down, covered in blood, collapsing to the floor. Waves of pain surged over me, tearing at my nerves. I trembled uncontrollably in the pool of my own blood. Large tears welled up, blurring my vision. I watched her shield Brandon, then closed my eyes. The girl whose heart had only ever been mine was truly gone. And I, at last, could finally let go completely. **Chapter Two** When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in the hospital. The nurse was changing my IV drip. Seeing me awake, she let out a sigh of relief. “You were in a coma for two days. Glad you’re finally awake. How do you feel? Your brother fainted from shock the day he brought you in. Your parents and your sister-in-law are in the next room, taking care of him. Should I call them over?” At her words, my eyelashes fluttered. I shook my head. “No need. They wouldn’t want to see me, and I don’t want to see them.” A flicker of sympathy crossed the nurse’s eyes as she turned to leave the room. “Oh, they’re brothers, but the younger one suffered a major hemorrhage and was in the ICU. Yet his family didn’t even ask about him, only tending to the ‘shocked’ older brother. They haven’t visited him once in two days.” “I heard his sister-in-law is the CEO of the Sterling Group. His brother’s social status has risen because of her. It’s understandable if they neglect the younger brother. But the sister-in-law is truly devoted; she stays by the older brother’s side, personally assisting with medication and meals. She even hired a retired psychologist for counseling, and comfort gifts are constantly pouring into his room…” Their hushed comments reached my ears clearly. But I remained expressionless throughout. I was already accustomed to such situations. In the afternoon, the doctor called me for a follow-up check-up. With no one to accompany me, I had to force my weak body out of bed on my own. As I passed the room next door, I saw my parents and Celeste gathered around Brandon, showering him with concern. My father was tucking him in, my mother peeling grapes to feed him. A sweet smile spread across his face, his voice gentle. “Mom, Dad, you’ve been taking care of me these past few days and haven’t checked on Leo. I’m full now, so why don’t you send the rest of this fish soup to him? He was injured so severely, he definitely needs to recover.” “Oh, don’t worry about him. He’ll survive anywhere. This soup took your mother all night to make. Sending it to him would just be a waste.” My father refused without a second thought, and my mother nodded in agreement. Celeste smoothed Brandon’s hair, her eyes overflowing with tenderness. “Brandon, the doctor said you fainted due to excessive anxiety. Leo has always been cold and heartless, with no regard for brotherly affection. He even dared to covet his own brother’s fiancée! Why bother with him?” Hearing her icy assessment, I gave a self-deprecating, bitter laugh. I was born with a severe seafood allergy, unable to eat any aquatic products. But Brandon adored fish, shrimp, and crab, so our family meals always featured seafood. I couldn’t touch any of it, left with only vegetables and bread, and still, my parents would scold me for being a ‘picky eater.’ Brandon put on an act of being incredibly concerned about his younger brother in front of others. But the moment we were alone, he’d unleash a barrage of cruel taunts and often resorted to punching and kicking me. Worse still, after beating me, Brandon would cry to our parents, twisting the narrative, making it seem like *I* was the aggressor. My parents, without even asking, punished me by making me kneel in the rain all night. From then on, I kept my distance from him, giving Brandon whatever he wanted. In my last life, Celeste was the only thing I wanted to fight for. But it ended in such a miserable fate. In this life, I just want to live my own life. No fighting, no snatching, and no more loving. I completed my check-up alone and went to the pharmacy to pick up my medication. The pharmacy was in a building behind us, requiring a walk through a garden. As I passed the fountain, someone stopped me. I looked up and saw Brandon. “Well, look who’s able to get out of bed so quickly. Doesn’t seem like you were hurt too badly, huh? Let me tell you, Mom and Dad are both on my side. Even if you tell Celeste that you were the one who was with her back then, that you’re the one she truly loves, it’s useless. Save your breath!” Faced with his provocation, my reaction was calm. “Don’t worry. From now on, I won’t love Celeste anymore. Everything you want, I’ll give to you.” Brandon was already accustomed to my submissive nature. The smugness in his eyes grew more pronounced. “Give? Do I need you to *give* me anything? I’ve had everything I’ve ever wanted since I was a kid. You only deserve my leftovers! You’ll never win against me in this lifetime!” **Chapter Three** I didn’t want to engage with his taunts and tried to slip past him. Seeing my attempt to leave, Brandon frowned, about to scold me further, when a familiar figure suddenly appeared in the corridor. An idea sparked in his mind. He grabbed my arm and dragged me into the fountain. Neither of us could swim. We thrashed frantically in the water, calling for help. My wounds reopened, and blood stained the water red. The icy water surged into my nostrils, making me cough uncontrollably. The pain was so overwhelming I had no strength to struggle. My body sank straight down. Just as I was about to suffocate, I saw Celeste rushing towards us, jumping into the water. She swam past me, not sparing me a single glance or offering any help, pulling Brandon straight out of the water and onto the bank. Brandon, eyes red, pulled her into a tight embrace. He looked at me, still drowning in the water, and feigned a look of urgency. “Leo accidentally pushed me into the water, Celeste. You know he’s my only brother. Could you please save him?” At his words, and seeing me in the water, Celeste’s face turned as cold as ice. “Brandon, don’t make excuses for him. He clearly intended to harm you, even going so far as to jump in himself to gain sympathy. Since he refuses to learn his lesson, let him stay in the water and reflect properly!” Every single word pierced my heart deeply. My face was turning purple, my ears buzzed with a deafening hum, every ounce of strength draining from me. My consciousness grew hazy, and the scene before my eyes blurred. I watched Celeste and Brandon leave, then lost consciousness… I don’t know how long passed, but a gust of cold wind jolted me awake. I shivered and woke to find my parents standing before me, their faces livid. “Have you lost your damn mind, daring to push Brandon into the water? Were you trying to kill him, to take his place, to be with Celeste?” “I’m telling you, as long as your father and I are alive, we will never let that happen! You don’t hold a candle to your brother in any way. You’re simply not worthy of Celeste. I advise you to face reality and stop harboring such false hopes!” Hearing their enraged shouts, I felt a chilling despair slowly creep into my eyes. The years of suppressed pain, the anguish I’d swallowed for so long, finally, violently erupted. “I’m not worthy? Does *he* deserve her? If you hadn’t fabricated stories and lied, Celeste would never have looked at him in this lifetime! You stole what was rightfully mine and gave it to him – don’t you feel any shame?!” Seeing me dare to talk back, my mother’s face flushed with anger. My father raised his hand and slapped me across the face. “You ungrateful son! We are your parents. Your life, everything you possess, we gave it to you. We can take it back, give it to your brother, whenever we please! What right do you have to object?” “If you dare to reveal the truth again, you’ll see what we—” Before he could finish, the hospital room door was flung open. Celeste walked in, her brows furrowed. “The truth? What truth?” My parents were startled by her sudden intrusion, their words stumbling. “It’s just… we were disciplining this ungrateful son of ours. Asking him to tell the truth about why he pushed Brandon into the water.” “Yes, yes. He utterly refuses to admit his fault. Your aunt and I are furious; we don’t know how to punish him.” They exchanged a glance, then smoothly changed the subject. Celeste didn’t think much of it, her gaze towards me icy cold. “Since he still won’t admit his mistake, then lock him in the morgue. He’ll stay there until he realizes his mistake.” My parents both thought it was an excellent idea and immediately called for bodyguards to lock me away. I clutched my swollen face, my eyes numb and hollow. I knew that resistance would only invite harsher punishment, so I didn’t struggle, letting them drag me away. Wrapped in the bone-chilling, eerie cold of the morgue, I could only hug my trembling body, shivering uncontrollably. In a daze, I remembered the days at the old Sterling estate, snuggled up with Celeste for warmth during thunder and lightning storms. Back then, I’d take off my jacket and give it to her, and she’d tightly hold my hand, lying in my arms, whispering again and again, “I’m here, don’t be afraid.” Sweet memories intertwined with the icy reality, tormenting my mind. Time passed minute by minute. Hunger and cold gnawed at me, and my consciousness began to fade. Then, I saw the door open. Celeste walked in, her face cold, her gaze razor-sharp. “After a day and a night in here, have you realized your mistake?” “Yes, I’ve realized my mistake. Completely.” I huddled, forcing a hoarse, ragged whisper from my throat. Watching the satisfied expression on her face, I stumbled to my feet and left, murmuring inwardly. My mistake was in believing her promise that we’d be together, in falling in love with her. **Chapter Four** After being discharged from the hospital, I returned home and cleared out everything related to Celeste. Diaries and love letters from my teenage years, photos of her I’d secretly collected, gifts I’d planned to give her, surprises I’d prepared… I had intended to tell her my story of secret love, piece by piece, once we were finally together. But now I knew that we would never have a future, and these things would never be useful. I threw them all away. As I turned, I bumped into Celeste, who had just dropped Brandon off. She glanced at the trash can, then her gaze fell on me, still indifferent. Brandon also saw the items and deliberately took her hand, smiling. “Celeste, it seems Leo has truly learned his lesson this time. He definitely won’t bother you anymore. He’s still my brother, after all, so please don’t be so cold to him.” Celeste looked at me with a detached expression. “I’m always indifferent to people I don’t like. I simply can’t force myself to be pleasant.” I listened silently, saying nothing. I took a shallow breath, swallowing down the ineffable emotions, and returned to my room. The next day was Brandon’s birthday party. The grand hall was packed with guests, buzzing with conversation. “Ms. Sterling truly put on a magnificent birthday party for her fiancé! I heard these flowers were flown in from Europe this morning. Later, there will be fireworks for three days and three nights to celebrate! Mr. Hayes’s suit and watch are said to be worth hundreds of millions; Ms. Sterling personally bid for them at Sotheby’s!” “To make her beloved happy, Ms. Sterling really went all out! Mr. Hayes is so fortunate to marry her; the Hayes family’s fortunes will soar with this marriage. It’s just a shame they have Leo, that ticking time bomb, always coveting his sister-in-law. So shameless!” “Exactly. Why is it that the two brothers are so different? Leo’s looks and personality are both inferior, and he shamelessly clings to Ms. Sterling. Even his morals are twisted! If I had such a corrupt son, I’d want to kick him out of the house. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes are truly kind-hearted!” Listening to the gossip, my heart lay still, a dead sea, stirred by no ripple. I sat like an invisible man in a corner, wanting to attract no attention. Not far away, my parents and Celeste surrounded Brandon, showering him with adoration like satellites around a star. They adjusted his suit, shielded him from toasts, lit his birthday candles, and sang “Happy Birthday” with smiles. Watching their harmonious scene, I remembered my own past birthdays. Brandon would always find an excuse to take my parents away, leaving me to celebrate alone, blowing out candles by myself. During the years I was with Celeste, having her by my side to make wishes and eat cake, receiving her gifts, I thought I would never be lonely again. But that fleeting sense of care and warmth I once had was now completely stripped away. And I wouldn’t cling to it anymore. Amidst the joyful atmosphere, Brandon closed his eyes and made a wish. Guests then presented their gifts. He unwrapped each one, from luxury handbags to exquisite jewelry, his smile unwavering. The last two gifts, from my parents and Celeste, caused a huge stir when announced. “Your mother and I deliberated for a long time and decided to make Brandon the successor of Hayes Corp, inheriting all the family assets!” “My gift to Brandon is a fifty percent stake in the Sterling Group, and the Sterling family’s heirloom wedding ring. My grandmother once told me that any couple wearing these rings is destined for a lifetime of mutual devotion and eternal love. Brandon, you are the only man I wish to marry in this life. Thank you for choosing me.” Under the gaze of a thousand eyes, Brandon personally slid the ring onto Celeste’s finger, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her. The entire hall erupted in cheers and applause, showering them with blessings. I watched from afar, a suffocating weight pressing down on my chest. I pinched my palm hard, wanting to leave, but Brandon called out to me. “Leo, where’s your gift? When are you going to give it to me?” Suddenly, all eyes were on me. I paused, took out the gift I had prepared long ago, and handed it to him. Brandon smiled broadly, about to make a snide remark, when Celeste, standing beside him, froze, staring intently at my raised hand. “Why do you have that watch?” I looked up at her, meeting her incredulous gaze, and instinctively touched the watch. During the time Celeste was blind, even though I knew she couldn’t see, I would still dress carefully to visit her. Back then, I often wore this watch. Every time she held my hand, she’d touch it, asking about the gems embedded in it. Seeing my silence, Celeste suddenly grabbed my wrist, her voice urgent.
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