Chapter 3

The sharp, furious shout came from the entrance.

My cousins, Victoria and Chloe, had arrived, backed by a dozen heavy-duty bodyguards in black suits.

The security guards holding me down immediately let go in terror.

Julian flinched, but quickly composed himself.

I looked up to see Toby, my assistant, standing behind them with a bleeding lip, looking at me apologetically.

Victoria rushed straight to Julian, asking if he was hurt.

Chloe gave Julian a quick, concerned look before turning her gaze to me, her eyes filled with absolute disgust.

"You ungrateful brat! Trying to steal Julian's inheritance? Threatening to put him in prison? How dare you!"

In my past life, they had always defended Julian blindly like this.

I used to copy Julian's every move just to get a scrap of their affection, only for them to mock me for being a cheap imitator, which led everyone else to believe I was the adopted one.

But after dying once, I realized that biased people will never change, no matter how hard you try.

I let out a cold, mocking laugh. "What? Did you want me to copy Julian's pathetic act, or perhaps his talent for stealing what doesn't belong to him?"

"He's just an adopted stray. Why should I copy him? Have you two lost your minds?"

Seeing the two Sterling sisters siding with Julian, the guests immediately jumped on the bandwagon.

"He dares to talk back to Victoria and Chloe! No wonder he treated Julian so badly!"

"Julian was too kind to this viper. To think he'd try to usurp Julian's place in the company!"

Toby ran to my side, wiping the blood from his mouth, and yelled at the top of his lungs, "Ethan is the true biological son of Arthur Sterling! He is the rightful heir!"

Victoria frowned. "Ethan, you disappoint me. You even paid a little assistant to lie for you? From this day on, Julian is my only brother."

Chloe shoved me hard. "I should have disciplined you better. I can't believe you actually thought you could steal Julian's life."

Seraphina stood proudly behind Julian like a protective shield. "Ethan, you are disgusting! I am ashamed to have ever known you."

"Julian is the only man worthy of being my husband!"

With that, she took off the Hart family heirloom ring and slipped it onto Julian's finger right in front of my face.

Julian looked ecstatic. He smirked at me before quickly lowering his head, putting on a heartbroken show.

"It's my fault. I thought I could guide him with kindness, but I was wrong. I didn't realize an orphan's greed could go this far."

His crocodile tears filled the sisters' eyes with deep sympathy.

Julian raised his voice to the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, I think it is clear who the true heir of the Sterling family is!"

He shot me a smug, triumphant look.

I simply chuckled. My trump card was about to arrive.

My cousins, seeing my lack of remorse, exploded in anger.

Chloe sneered, "Victoria, Ethan has gone too far today. We should throw him out of the family once and for all."

Victoria hesitated. "Fine. Ethan, get down on your knees and apologize to Julian, and we'll end this right now."

Julian’s face stiffened. He didn't want me staying in the house. He quickly put on a pitiful face.

"Victoria, it's fine. What's mine will always be mine. Nobody can steal it."

"But Ethan, no matter how spoiled you are, you shouldn't embarrass our family in public."

Victoria's expression hardened. This was about the Sterling family's reputation.

"Ethan! Kneel down and apologize!"

Looking at their arrogant faces, I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

These were the cousins I had adored since childhood.

They were actually distant cousins from a poor branch of the family. Because I liked playing with them when I was small, my parents brought them into our household, giving them the Sterling name, immense wealth, and power.

And yet, they treated me like garbage.

"Kneel?" I stared coldly into Victoria's eyes. "I am the blood heir of the Sterling family. What right do you two leeches have to command me?"

Chloe sneered. "What right? While our parents are away, Victoria has full authority over the household."

Victoria was pushed past her limit. "Guards! Throw him out! From this moment on, Ethan is banned from the Sterling estate forever!"

Julian looked down at me, his face filled with hypocritical righteous fury. "Ethan, it's one thing to bully me, but to disrespect our sisters like this is unforgivable."

"Guards, break his knees so he can never stand again, then throw him into the street!"

My cousins nodded in cold agreement. Julian smirked, expecting to see my downfall.

But suddenly, the doors to the gala hall burst open, and a thundering voice roared through the room:

"Who dares to touch my son?!"