Four years ago, my birth parents, in their misguided devotion to the boy they believed was their true son, cast me out of the Sterling Manor. After leaving, I moved abroad, where I painstakingly built my own empire from the ground up. Just this year, I sold my company for a staggering sum—billions in assets—and returned to Coastal City, settling back into my adoptive parents’ old house. As I was making plans to renovate the aging property, the very 'son' who had replaced me, Miles Sterling, tracked me down. “Do you honestly think I’d be here if Mom and Dad didn’t want to see you?” he scoffed, his voice laced with disdain. “You should be begging me. Without my permission, you’ll never set foot back in the Sterling family again! Now, I’m giving you a chance: come back with me.” 1 I looked at Miles Sterling, his head held high in haughty arrogance, and simply shook my head. “No, thank you. I’m doing quite well on my own,” I replied, my voice even. When it came to Miles, I honestly couldn't be bothered to argue. As for the Sterling family, I had even less interest. Everything they had, everything they represented, held no appeal for me anymore. “Ethan, I’m giving you an opportunity here!” Miles retorted, his tone chilling. “Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in this backwater forever, tilling the soil for the rest of your life!” He saw my lack of reaction and simply reiterated, cold as ice, “Ethan, this is your chance! Just get down on your knees and beg me, and you can come back to the Sterling family!” I merely shook my head, my gaze unwavering. “Miles, I have no interest in the Sterling family. You can leave now.” My voice was flat, devoid of emotion. The Sterling family, in my eyes, was nothing. Yet, these people persisted in holding their heads so absurdly high. Miles, hearing my blunt refusal, exploded. “Ethan, I’m giving you a chance! Don’t you realize that ever since you left, our family’s business has boomed? The company is practically ready to go public!” He gloated, a triumphant smirk on his face. “If it weren’t for me, how could the Sterlings have grown so big? I’m here out of pity, giving you a lifeline. Don’t be ungrateful!” He prattled on, his words grating on my nerves. I found Miles utterly insufferable. With a decisive push, I ushered him out of my house. “Miles, I’m not interested in the Sterling family. Please, leave.” My words undoubtedly stung him. He spun around, his face flushed. “Ethan, Mom and Dad want to see you! Come with me, now!” I didn’t answer. Instead, I simply closed the door on him. I was long past caring about the Sterling family. So, I ignored Miles entirely. But I hadn't anticipated that my refusal would lead to Richard and Eleanor Sterling themselves showing up at my doorstep. Eleanor, my birth mother, wept dramatically when she saw me. “My child, you’ve suffered so much these past years,” she sobbed, reaching for my hand. “Come home with Mom.” I gently pulled my hand away, shaking my head. "Mrs. Sterling, have you forgotten? It was you and Mr. Sterling who threw me out of this family, all those years ago." My words caused both Richard and Eleanor to flinch, an awkward silence descending upon them. Richard, my birth father, glared at me, indignant. “We took you in back then, but you were so wayward, always clashing with Miles! Why else would we have sent you away?” I listened to Richard’s self-righteous tone and shook my head. They would never, ever believe they were in the wrong. And besides, when had I ever truly clashed with Miles? 2 Years ago, when Richard and Eleanor brought me home, I truly believed I had found my birth parents, that a wonderful new life awaited me. What I found instead was darkness. The very day I arrived at Sterling Manor, Richard and Eleanor made it clear they considered me, a country boy, utterly unfit for their family. They barely fed me, often leaving me meager scraps to eat alone. They constantly compared me to Miles. I studied tirelessly, desperate for them to see my efforts, to earn their approval. But back then, Richard and Eleanor had eyes only for Miles. Once, Miles had an accidental fall, and they somehow managed to blame me for it. Miles claimed I had pushed him down the stairs. In a fit of blinding rage, Richard brutally beat me senseless, then threw me out of Sterling Manor. For four long years, they never once inquired about my well-being, never cared if I lived or died. And now, they had the gall to show up, asking me to return to the Sterling family? At that moment, looking at the elderly couple before me, my eyes held nothing but cold indifference. The day they beat me within an inch of my life and cast me out, the only thing left between us was a bitter, festering hatred. “Mr. Sterling, if you weren’t willing to acknowledge me as your son then, why would you even consider bringing me back now?” I asked Richard, my voice frigid. I had no idea what their true intentions were. But knowing the Sterlings as I did, their sudden desire for my return certainly wasn't out of simple goodwill. They might even want to harm me. The thought solidified the coldness in my gaze. Richard looked at me. “Miles said you were struggling too much out there, so he asked us to bring you home!” he said, pointing at me. “You should learn from Miles; he’s so good. You pushed him down the stairs back then, and he still forgave you and wants you back in the Sterling family!” “Mr. Sterling, I assure you, I’m not struggling,” I stated, my voice devoid of warmth. “And I have no need to return to the Sterling family.” “Brother, stop pretending!” Miles burst out, tears welling in his eyes, his voice choked with sobs. “I’ve seen you so many times, working under the table, even begging on your knees for bosses to give you a job!” Miles’s words made Richard’s face fall. Richard valued his reputation above all else, and the thought of his son begging for work was an unbearable humiliation. “Typical. A child raised in the sticks, without a shred of pride, kneeling before others!” Richard sneered, his face etched with disgust. “If you didn’t have my blood in your veins, I would have thrown you out long ago!” I shook my head. Not only have I never knelt for anyone, but I haven't even been in this city for years. How could Miles have seen me? He was just trying to provoke me, to disgust me. “Miles, you claim I knelt for a job. Tell me, where did I kneel?” I demanded, my gaze sweeping over his face. Miles’s face still feigned hurt. “Brother, stop trying to act tough! Look at how you live! This house is drafty, the walls are practically crumbling. You’d be much better off coming back to the Sterling Manor with us!” he said, gesturing at the old house. I glanced at my adoptive parents’ home. It was indeed on the verge of collapse from years of neglect. I had come here today to hire a construction crew to renovate it, only to find three people with serious issues on my doorstep instead. 3 “Ethan, come, let Mom take you home. Don’t worry, as long as you treat Miles well, we won’t make things difficult for you!” Eleanor cooed, gently pulling my hand. Her words, though, only made me want to laugh. These two were truly delusional. They’d rather cast aside their own flesh and blood for a boy who had swapped lives with their son. At this point, I was beyond exasperated with their entire family. “Brother, come back with us! I’ll make you a branch manager!” Miles chimed in, grasping my hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll teach you everything! You won’t have to worry about finding work anymore!” Miles looked remarkably sincere, so much so that even Richard and Eleanor seemed touched by his apparent goodwill. But as I looked at Miles, my brow furrowed. There was a glint of triumph in his eyes, and an almost indiscernible urgency. I said nothing. At this point, I was more curious to see what game the Sterlings were playing. I followed them back to Sterling Manor. I was certain their sudden change of heart masked some underlying scheme. Why else would they, after all these years of never bothering to check on me—never even knowing I’d lived abroad—suddenly want me back? The very day I returned, Richard unceremoniously tossed me into the utility room. "This room is small, but it's still better than your dilapidated shack," he sneered. "You'll stay here for now. Don't think that just because you're back, you'll be treated like a Sterling heir. Only when you've truly proven yourself will I consider accepting you." I looked at Richard, letting out a weary sigh. Perhaps I had incurred his wrath in a past life. Why else would he treat his own son this way? I couldn't even begin to comprehend the twisted logic of the Sterling family. I simply lay down and fell asleep. After a day of such commotion, I was utterly exhausted. When I woke, it was already evening, and my stomach growled with hunger. The Sterlings were at dinner. The moment I stepped out of the room, Richard slammed his hand on the table, bellowing, "Ethan, what are you doing out here? You're ruining my appetite! Get back to your room! I'll have someone bring you a tray later." He looked at me, his eyes cold. At that moment, I let out a humourless laugh. “Mr. Sterling, did you bring me back to Sterling Manor just to torment me?” I asked, my voice cutting, my gaze fixed on him. Richard flinched, a flicker of awkwardness crossing his face. But quickly, his eyes hardened with chilling indifference. "This is to temper your spirit, to teach you that the Sterlings have rules too! Until I formally acknowledge you, you won't sit at this table!" He looked at me, his voice sharp. "Otherwise, get out of Sterling Manor!" I nodded slowly. "I never planned on returning to Sterling Manor in the first place! You dragged me back here!" I said, then turned, walked back into the room, grabbed my bag, and prepared to leave. Seeing me about to walk out, Eleanor rushed forward and grabbed my arm. "Ethan, your father is just testing you! Don't you want our family to be whole again? Hurry, be a good boy and go back to your room!" She tried to push me back inside. I shook my head. "Mrs. Sterling, I have no interest in such 'tests.' And I have no interest in the Sterling family." With that, I prepared to leave.
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