Chapter 1 Back to the Start

Amelie Blanchard, my mother, glanced at the documents containing the details of the pasta shop and gently said to Richard, "Honey, I've already found a job for you as a hotel inspector. You'll be paid $4,000 a month! Why don't you leave this shop to—"

Richard snatched up the document, cutting her off, "No! I'm going to inherit the shop!"

Everyone present was stunned by his declaration.

Perhaps he realized that he was behaving strangely as he quickly tried to smooth things over by wrapping his arms around Amelie's shoulders. "Mom, I'll be able to stay by your side if I take over the shop. Don't you want that?"

Her eyes welled up with tears as she patted his back in pride before glaring at me. "Hank, you'd best cherish this office job. Don't you dare embarrass the Lane family. You'd better be grateful to Richard for the rest of your life! You wouldn't be so lucky if it weren't for him."

Amelie did not want to let such a great job opportunity go to anyone else, so she reluctantly gave it to me.

I ignored their show of devoted affection and stammered softly, "T-Thanks."

Our parents never cared about me as I was diagnosed with autism soon after my birth.

To them, I was nothing more than a symbol of their misfortune. So, they promptly abandoned me at an orphanage.

Honestly, I was well aware that I was fine. The only issue I had was that I took a little longer than others to learn how to speak. Sadly, my parents had no patience to wait for me to "be normal."

Thus, I worked harder than the rest on my studies. My efforts were rewarded as I was named the top scorer in the state for the college entrance exams and admitted into the best college in the nation.

My parents instantly accepted me back into their home after they found out. They claimed that I'd been stolen by human traffickers, and they only managed to find me after I turned 18.

They cried and sobbed about how much they longed to be reunited with me when the cameras were rolling. Thus, the family business bloomed after they won the sympathy of millions over the internet.

After my return home, Richard had welcomed me with great cheer.

I was very happy to be met with such a loving brother. I had bought his act like a fool and genuinely thought that he truly liked me.

That was until I watched him sneakily splash water on his bed before claiming to our mother that I did it.

Although I could speak like a normal person, I always stammered when flustered.

I panicked as I desperately tried to defend myself. "Mom, I d-didn't do..."

However, Amelie immediately slapped me hard across the face while Theo Lane, my father, punished me to kneel in the yard for the entire night.

That made me realize that I would never be worthy of their love even if I had been admitted into the best college.

In my last life, Richard had gone on to work as a hotel inspector.

Not long after, he was trapped in a fire that caused his entire body to suffer from severe burns. Although he gained quite a lot in compensation, he could never regain his looks.

Meanwhile, I inherited the pasta shop. That was where I saved a weak and penniless woman.

To my surprise, that young woman returned with a check for 10 million and a diamond ring worth billions of dollars a few months later.

She introduced herself as Flora Wayne and said earnestly, "I could never have survived if it weren't for your helping hand, Hank. I'm forever grateful for that. Will you marry me?"

We dated for about six months before finally tying the knot. We'd been together ever since.

I kindly hired the best plastic surgeon for Richard, but he secretly spiked my drink with paraquat.

I could still remember the cold look in his eyes as he watched me suffer from organ failure. I could still remember the twisted satisfaction in his eyes as I died in agony.

Fortunately, luck was on my side.

I had gained the ability to travel back in time.

As my eyes fell on the triumphant Richard, I couldn't help but chuckle in sardonic amusement.