Chapter 1

My younger brother, Ian Lester, clung to our father Morris Lester's arm and said firmly, "Let me stay with you, Dad. I love you the most. I'm not afraid of hardships."

Dad was moved to tears, as Ian had grown up spoiled and willful. He didn't notice how dark Mom's expression had turned beside him.

"That won't do. Ian will only suffer if he goes with you. I'm taking him with me," she insisted as she stepped forward. So, she didn't want Ian to suffer with Dad. Yet, it seemed that she didn't mind if I suffered the same fate.

My parents fought hard over who got to keep Ian, as though I didn't even exist. In the end, when they couldn't change Ian's mind, Mom had no choice but to settle for me.

I followed her into my stepfather Mark Laurent's luxury car, while Ian left hand in hand with Dad. Before he left, he even shot me a taunting look.

I didn't care, though. After all, Mom was wealthy, while Dad's life was a complete mess.

In my previous life, Dad had taken me from place to place every day to hide from his debt collectors. I had never been able to study in peace.

The failure of his business and Mom's departure had been too much for him. He had completely given up on himself and spent his days drinking in a dingy rental without a single care in the world.

Even though I had been one of the top students at my school, I hadn't been able to afford the tuition. I had also needed to take care of him, so I had been forced to drop out to make a living.

Even though we were born from the same womb, Ian had always been the lucky one. He was fairer, better at charming our parents, and naturally, they adored him.

Since he was younger than me, they told me that I should behave like an older brother and give in to him no matter what. Even after the divorce, they both only wanted him.

However, in this life, Ian chose Dad. For once, the old man got to hold his head up high in front of Mom.

…

The moment we climbed into the car, Mom started criticizing me. "You've always looked plain, and you never know how to talk nicely. Now that we're moving in with Mark, don't you dare embarrass me!"

It was absurd. What kind of mother talked about her own son like that in front of other people?

I didn't let it get to me, though. The car rolled into an upscale villa district.

I had known that Mark had been wealthy in my previous life, but I hadn't expected him to be this wealthy.

Mark arranged for me to attend the best private school in the city. Every day, a chauffeur came to pick me up and take me home.

To make up for the opportunities I lost in my past life, I studied really hard. I didn't disappoint either; I consistently ranked in the top three every year.

Even Mom, who rarely paid me any mind, was suddenly happy to attend my parent-teacher meetings. Every time she went, the other parents envied her, and the teachers praised her.

Since Mark didn't have kids of his own, my life in that household turned out surprisingly comfortable. I eventually developed my own plans and realized I wanted to study abroad.

"What business does a kid like you have studying abroad? Don't let your good grades go to your head." Before Mark could even say a single word, Mom shut me down.

Later on, I learned that one didn't need a reason to despise someone. Sadly, that applied to a mother and her own child.