I was the fake heir. When the real one was found, he was thin and dark. My parents felt so bad for him they immediately offered compensation. But he said, “I’m their biological son. If you’re going to compensate, just give me the company!” My whole family tried to persuade me: “You’re not their real son after all. It’s time to give him back his place.” I smiled, nodded, and handed everything over. The very next day, the company’s biggest client, the core technical team, and all channel partners announced they would *only* work with me personally. My parents panicked, rushing over to beg me. I crossed my arms. “Tell that real heir to come beg me, the ’employee,’ to come back.” When Justin was found, he stood in the living room, looking timid. At that moment, I had just finalized a major deal with MC. On the way home, my assistant, Liam, had told me the family’s biological son had been found. My heart hammered, then settled. *They found him? Good, we’ll raise him well. We’ve got plenty of money.* But I never expected that when the real heir saw me, the timidity in his eyes would suddenly morph into raw jealousy. “I’ll come back, but he’s taken my place for so long, it’s time he gave it back!” “I don’t want anything else, just the company!” I just laughed. “I’ve managed the family business for ten years. Are you sure you can handle it?” My dismissive tone was too obvious. He flushed with anger, his voice rising. “I can learn! If I’d grown up here, I wouldn’t be any worse than you!” My relatives also tried to persuade me. “Alex, just give it to him. He’s the real son after all!” I looked at my parents. My dad, Robert, spoke with difficulty. “Alex, we owe him. Justin has had a really tough life these past years.” My mom, Sarah, was hugging Justin, weeping. “Those damn kidnappers sold him to some village! If we hadn’t found him, Justin might have been lost forever…” “Alex, just agree. Mom won’t treat you badly!” Watching them, I smiled. “Alright!” I agreed. I’d hand everything over to them. I had thought that even if the family’s biological son returned, I’d continue to be myself. I never intended to fight him for anything. I even felt sorry for him and bought him gifts. But I never expected to face this situation upon his return. Compensation, huh? Fine, I don’t want any of it. Right then and there, I had Liam draft the handover documents. I signed everything over to Justin. Justin practically vibrated with excitement, clutching the company papers, then throwing himself into Mom’s arms. I took a deep breath. “It’s all done. If there’s nothing else, I’m heading upstairs to rest.” Mom finally looked up. “Justin just got back. We should all have dinner together, as a family!” “I’m tired. I don’t feel like eating.” “Are you saying you don’t want to see me, Alex? I just got back, and you’re already treating me like this!” Justin’s eyes were red as he stared at me. Mom looked annoyed. “Alex! How can you be so insensitive!” I said calmly, “I just got back from a twenty-hour flight. I’m pretty exhausted. And I haven’t adjusted to the jet lag yet.” Hearing that, she finally remembered I was indeed just back from a business trip. Seeing my bloodshot eyes, she looked a little awkward. I ignored the sounds downstairs and went straight up. But the family group chat on SnapChat kept buzzing with new messages. I showered and glanced at my phone, a cold laugh bubbling up inside me. “Justin’s back! When is Alex throwing a party? This is huge for our family!” “Yeah, it should be a big one! And they can announce the company news at the same time. Oh, by the way, Alex shouldn’t be living at home anymore, right? And what about his engagement? Should that be reconsidered too?” I didn’t care about the others taking cheap shots, but that last message, I couldn’t ignore it. I wasn’t the family heir anymore, so what would Victoria’s stance be? The group chat kept refreshing, endlessly. I found it boring and just left the chat. According to them, I wasn’t family anymore, so I had no place in the group. I left on my own, saving them the trouble. But I still needed to clarify things with Victoria. The next morning, Justin went out with Mom and Dad. I packed a few clothes, planning to move into my own place.
Victoria asked me to meet her. “Alex, there’s a problem with our engagement.” Victoria and I had known each other for over ten years. As soon as she said that, I knew exactly what she meant. I spoke calmly into the phone. “I hear I’m not the heir anymore, so you want to call off the engagement?” She was silent. Those ten seconds of silence told me everything. “Alright, but ending an engagement isn’t something we can just decide between ourselves. Both families need to discuss it, don’t you think?” After a long pause, she simply said, “Okay.” After hanging up, I let out a long breath, feeling a sense of relief. For ten years, I’d dedicated everything to this family, bringing the company to new heights. Our engagement was also a strategic alliance, where we both got what we needed. I considered myself a pretty good fiancé, and Victoria and I generally got along well. We had an unspoken understanding, always protecting each other’s image in public. I thought Victoria and I had a genuine connection, but I never expected that a change in my status would quickly turn us into this. I took a deep breath and shook my head. After getting all my things sorted, I was about to leave when I found Justin and the others had returned. Money truly is a good thing. Justin, who had been timid yesterday, was now dressed in a sharp suit, looking like a completely different person. His skin was still a bit dark, but a few weeks of pampering would fix that. Seeing me with my bag, about to leave, Justin looked startled. “Are you leaving, Alex?” I nodded. “It’s not very convenient for me to stay here.” “You’re leaving the moment I return? Are you upset with me?” Mom’s face clouded over. “Alex, what’s gotten into you? Justin just gets back, and you’re giving everyone attitude!” “Sarah, let’s be real. Weren’t you all discussing kicking me out in the group chat yesterday? Am I doing something wrong by simply following your wishes now?” At my words, her face immediately froze. “I… they were just talking nonsense. That’s not what they meant. The family can still support you. Are you trying to drag our reputation through the mud by doing this?” I smiled. “If not, why were you consulting with Victoria?” “Victoria already proposed ending our engagement today. I’m giving everything back to you. Moving out now is exactly what you want, isn’t it? Unless you want outsiders to say our family has two sons, even though you didn’t give birth to twins.” My words clearly rattled her. She swayed slightly. Justin, standing nearby, piped up, “Alex, why are you talking like this? Mom means well!” “But Alex, the place you’re going to live is still paid for by the family. If you really want to cut ties, you can’t…” I stopped, turning to face him directly. My presence hardened, and a cold aura radiated from me, immediately making him shut up. “The money Alex earns, *I* decide what happens to it. Whether I relied on the family or the family relied on me, it doesn’t matter if you don’t understand. I’ll have someone teach you properly later!” With that, I walked out. Mom called after me from behind. “Alex! Alex!” I didn’t flinch. Today they forced my hand. Soon enough, they would be begging me. But I hadn’t expected my dad, Robert, to call me the moment I left. “Alex, they don’t understand, and neither do you. Let’s leave some dignity for everyone involved. Don’t make a scene, okay?” “Tomorrow is Justin’s party. You *must* come.” I just smiled, saying nothing. Liam, my assistant, heard I’d left the family and immediately followed me. “Mr. Lee, we’ll go wherever you go.” 3. Everyone in my team also pledged their support. Justin didn’t know that the reason the family could stand strong in this region wasn’t their so-called long-standing reputation, but *me*, Alex. Still, I had to attend his party. The family spared no expense for the party, holding it at the luxurious Grandwood Estate. All the prominent figures were there, and so was I. Upon arriving, I saw a few of the rich kids I used to socialize with, their faces twisted with a sneer. “Alex? You actually have the nerve to show up! Kicked out by your own family, and you’re still trying to act high and mighty? Aren’t you embarrassed!” “Exactly! This party is such a huge affair, clearly for the real heir. And look at you, all those years of hard work, now you have nothing!” “Why don’t you beg me? Maybe I can give you a job. Our company just happens to need a doorman. You’re not bad-looking, you can stand there. How about eight grand a month?” I scanned them, scoffing. “No wonder your families would rather keep their illegitimate children outside than let *you* take over the company!” The moment I said that, they flushed with anger and were about to rush me when Justin appeared. They immediately quieted down. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to attend our party. We’ve finally found our long-lost son, Justin! From now on, we will fully compensate Justin!” Justin, dressed in a sharp suit, slowly walked onto the stage. After just a few days, he was visibly more ‘regal.’ His forced posture, however, made him look a bit awkward, like his head was too heavy for his body. Meeting my gaze, Justin puffed out his chest. “Although Alex isn’t our biological son, he’s been with the company for many years, and I’m willing to let him continue working there.” “Alex, stop being angry with Mom and Dad!” The moment Justin said that, everyone around turned to look at me, their eyes full of mockery and disdain. I curled my lips into a smile. “No thanks. I’m not short on cash.” “Alex really isn’t short on cash. Unlike me, who had a terrible life when I was out there, but I never gave up on learning.” “Alex, if possible, I hope you can stay on, even if it’s just working for *me*!” Mom and Dad also came to my side. “Alex, I won’t argue with you about moving out, but your brother is right. The family raised you for so many years, it’s time for you to give back.” I raised an eyebrow. “In ten years, I transformed this family from a prominent family into a top-tier powerhouse. Do you think I haven’t given back enough?” “Work for you? I, Alex, only work for myself. If a boss can’t handle me, they shouldn’t expect me to work my butt off for them. *You* taught me that, Mr. Robert!” At my words, Dad’s face turned ashen. The relatives nearby murmured, their voices dripping with sarcasm. “Look at how arrogant he is, still acting like the eldest son!” “Without the family, what is he? How dare he talk big!” “Justin, I think you’re just too soft. Kick him out sooner! He’s occupied your place for so long and still shows no gratitude!” Justin stood high and mighty, his eyes full of triumph. I smiled. *This idiot actually thinks these people genuinely care about him?* I scoffed. “You don’t need to kick me out. I’ll leave. But you need to remember, the moment I walk out that door today, from now on, I have no connection to this family whatsoever!” “Alex!” Dad was furious, but then he sighed. “Don’t blame us for being heartless. Your temper needs to be reined in.” “Alright then. Go ahead and announce it. Publicly acknowledge that Justin is the one in power!” “I’m out!” With that, I turned and walked away, immediately sending out a message that I was cutting all ties with the family. Seeing me leave, Justin got angry. “Dad, Alex is being too petty, isn’t he? He…” Before he could finish, Robert’s phone rang. Not just his, but cell phones across the room started ringing, one after another. “What?! MC only recognizes Alex?! The contract is void!”
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