Chapter 1

I was the fake heir. When the family’s biological son was finally found, he was skinny and deeply tanned. My parents felt sorry for him and offered to make it up to him.

But he said, “I’m your real son. If you want to compensate me, give me the company!”

The whole family tried to convince me. “You’re not their biological son, after all. It’s time you gave him back his place.”

I smiled, nodded, and handed everything over.

The next day, the company’s biggest client, its core technical team, and every one of its distributors announced that they would work only with me.

My parents panicked and came begging.

I folded my arms. “Tell your real son to come ask this employee to return.”

When Ryan Bennett was brought home, he stood timidly in the foyer.

I had just closed a deal with MC.

On the way home, my assistant told me the Bennetts had found their biological son.

My heart pounded for a moment, then settled. Now that they had found him, they could take good care of him. The Bennetts weren’t short on money.

What I hadn’t expected was for the fear in the real heir’s eyes to turn to jealousy the moment he saw me.

“I’ll come back and be part of this family, but he’s been in my place long enough. Isn’t it time he gave it back?”

“I don’t want anything else. Just the company!”

I smiled. “I’ve managed the family company for ten years. Are you sure you can handle it?”

My contempt was too obvious. Humiliated, Ryan lashed out. “If I don’t know something, I can learn! If I’d grown up here, I’d be just as good as you!”

The relatives chimed in. “Just give it to him, Evan. He’s their biological son, after all!”

I looked at my parents. Dad struggled to speak. “Evan, we owe him. Ryan’s had a very hard life.”

Mom held Ryan and sobbed. “Those damned traffickers sold him to a family in the middle of nowhere. If we hadn’t found him, he might have spent his whole life…”

“Please agree, Evan. I won’t let you lose out, either!”

Looking at them, I smiled. “Sure.”

I agreed and started the handover right there.

I had thought that even if their biological son came back, I would simply keep doing my best. I’d never intended to compete with him.

I’d even felt sorry for him and ordered a gift.

I hadn’t expected this to be what awaited me at home.

They wanted to make it up to him? Fine. I wanted none of it.

I had my assistant draft the transfer documents on the spot, then signed everything over to him.

Once he had the company, Ryan was so excited that he threw himself into Mom’s arms.

I took a deep breath. “Everything’s done. If that’s all, I’m going upstairs to rest.”

Only then did Mom look up. “Ryan just got home. Let’s have dinner as a family!”

“I’m tired. I don’t feel like eating.”

“Do you not want to see me, Evan? I just got here, and you already hate me!”

Ryan stared straight at me, his eyes red.

Mom looked displeased. “Evan Bennett! Why are you being so selfish?”

“I just spent over twenty hours on planes,” I said evenly. “I’m exhausted, too. I haven’t even gotten over the jet lag.”

Only then did she seem to remember that I’d just returned from a business trip.

When she noticed my bloodshot eyes, she looked embarrassed.

I went straight upstairs and ignored the voices below.

But the messages in the family Snapchat group kept pouring in.

After showering, I took a look and sneered to myself.

“Richard, when are you throwing Ryan’s welcome-home party? This is a huge occasion for our family!”

“Absolutely. Make it a big one, and announce the company transfer at the same time. Speaking of which, Evan shouldn’t be living in the house anymore, should he? And shouldn’t we reconsider the engagement?”

I ignored the other people kicking me while I was down, but I couldn’t ignore that message.

The Bennetts and the Morgans had arranged an engagement.

Now that I was no longer the Bennett heir, where did Claire Morgan stand?

The messages kept coming. I grew bored and left the group.

By their own logic, I was no longer a Bennett, so I had no business being there. Better to leave on my own than give them something else to criticize.

But I still needed to clear things up with Claire.

Early the next morning, Ryan went out with my parents. I packed a few clothes and prepared to head to my own place.