Chapter 1

My father was a titan of the business world, and my mother was an internationally renowned business mogul.

Yet, my two older cousins threw themselves at a literal beggar to win his favor, even letting him usurp my identity.

When my father decided to hand his empire over to me and threw a grand gala to celebrate, Julian—the beggar—blocked my way.

"A pathetic loser like you doesn't deserve a gala this grand," he sneered.

"Victoria and Chloe already promised that I would take your place as the sole heir. You’d better crawl back to your doghouse before you embarrass yourself further."

In my past life, I was so afraid of being rejected by my cousins that I let Julian walk all over me.

But now, I have been reborn.

Looking at Julian’s smug face, I kicked him squarely in the chest, sending him sprawling to the floor.

"Who the hell do you think you are to stand in my way?"

No one expected the normally submissive Ethan to fight back.

The guests gasped in shock. I immediately turned to the butler. "Throw him out."

The butler, Thomas, glanced at Julian with hesitation. In the end, he helped Julian up instead.

"Ethan... Julian is the one in charge of the household now. Why don't you go back to your room and rest?"

I glared at Thomas, a cold smirk playing on my lips. "Julian in charge? Last time I checked, I am the only heir to the Sterling family."

Thomas trembled, his eyes darting to Julian, who was scrambling up in a rage.

Without waiting for Thomas to say another word, I kicked him to the ground too.

"You’re just a butler. How dare you tell me what to do? If you don't want the job, pack your bags and get the hell out."

In my past life, this old butler ignored my father's orders and sided with my cousins, abusing his power to torment me.

He didn't just cut off my food and basic necessities; he actively helped Julian lock me out in a freezing blizzard, leaving my body to rot in the woods like a dead stray dog.

Thomas was terrified. He fell to his knees, knowing that being fired by the Sterlings meant he would be blacklisted from the entire industry.

"You can't do this to me! I was only doing what Julian told me to do! If you fire me, Victoria and Chloe will be furious!"

But Julian, the adoptive son, put on a fake act of sympathy. He helped Thomas up and looked at me with a pained, lecturing expression.

"Ethan, you are just an adopted stray. How dare you act so arrogant in the Sterling house?"

Before I could reply, Marcus Davis—Julian’s loyal lackey and the heir to the Davis family—rushed forward, pointing a finger at my face and screaming.

"Who do you think you are, disrespecting Julian? Today is Julian's big day—he's taking over the family business! How dare you make a scene here?"

The other guests at the gala began to whisper among themselves.

"Isn't that the Sterling family's adopted son? Talk about an ungrateful viper."

"The Sterlings adopted him from an orphanage just to keep Julian company when they were kids. Julian is so kind. He never bullied him and even shared his wealthy lifestyle with him."

"He's just an orphan. To challenge Julian like this is social suicide."

How laughable. Back then, I was the one who pitied Julian and brought him home. But my cousins, Victoria and Chloe, took one look at him and fell in love with his pity-me act.

Whenever there was a major high-society event, they would bring Julian and leave me behind in the dark.

But now that I’ve lived through it once, I see things clearly. My dad is a business titan. My mom is an international tycoon.

Why should I let an adopted stray and two leeching cousins walk all over me?

I swept my gaze across the crowd, my eyes cold and sharp.

"And who the hell are you, Marcus? Even if your father were here, he wouldn't dare utter a single word about my family’s business!"

Marcus’s blood boiled. He never expected me to talk back in public. In a fit of rage, he lunged forward to kick me.

I dodged him with a swift sidestep and countered with a brutal kick to his ribs, sending him crashing into the banquet tables.

Marcus shrieked in agony. "You bastard! How dare you! I'm going to ruin you!"

Julian’s eyes burned with fury. "Where the hell is security? What are you standing there for? Get him!"

I glared at the security guards stepping onto the stage, my expression sharp as a blade. "I am the only biological son of Arthur Sterling. Touch me, and you’re dead."

A flash of panic crossed Julian’s face. "What rubbish are you spouting? Everyone here knows I’m the one who represents the family at every major gala! You're just an adopted parasite trying to steal my inheritance!"

The guests nodded in agreement.

"I can vouch for that. Every time there’s a major event, Victoria and Chloe are always with Julian. That other kid is a liar and a thief!"

"To think someone would try to hijack the Sterling succession gala like this. How shameless."

I let out a soft chuckle and turned to my assistant, Toby. "Go tell my dear cousins that Julian is publicly claiming my inheritance. Ask them if they want him to end up in federal prison."

Toby hesitated, looking at me with worry.

My cousins spoiled Julian to a ridiculous degree.

Even when Julian was clearly in the wrong, they would always blame me and make me apologize.

I patted Toby on the shoulder, giving him an assuring nod. "Go. Now."

Julian sneered. "You really don't know when to quit, do you? You actually want to bring Victoria and Chloe into this?"

He knew that the moment my cousins arrived, they would blindly side with him, no matter the truth.

In my past life, Julian locked me out of the mansion in the dead of winter.

I had begged my cousins to open the door, but their eyes were only on Julian.

I remembered how my body grew numb, how the icy cold seeped into my bones, and how I died in agony.

Now that I’ve crawled back from hell, I will make every single one of you pay.