Chapter 1

“Lance, are you serious?”

On the other end of the line, Serena Gray’s voice carried both excitement and disbelief. “Last year, I offered a million dollars to poach you, and you said you’d finally found your family and couldn’t bear to leave them. What did the Lewis family do to push you this far?”

I did not feel like explaining. “If you don’t think you can take the Lewis family down within a year, I’ll go somewhere else. No point wasting each other’s time.”

“No, no, if you join us, I can definitely make it happen!” Serena quickly replied. There was a hint of eager amusement in her laughter, like she was enjoying the spectacle.

“The Lewis family doesn’t still think you’re just some ordinary salesperson, do they? If they do, they deserve to go under. They’re unbelievably stupid!”

After hanging up, I sent my resignation email to HR and started packing up my desk.

Before long, Clive, dressed in a flashy designer suit, strode over, flanked by a few junior managers. “Lance, I know you think the year-end bonus was too small, so I got you some extra benefits.”

He tilted his head toward a supervisor. The supervisor set down a bag of cheap rice and a barrel of unbranded cooking oil beside my desk, lifting his chin arrogantly.

“These are special care packages personally arranged by Mr. Clive. He knows you grew up in an orphanage and never had good rice or oil, so this is to broaden your horizons. You’d better learn some gratitude. Don't be so ungrateful!”

More than 20 years ago, my biological parents and Clive’s parents accidentally swapped their children because of a fire.

After that, Clive grew up as a wealthy young heir in Shoal Bay. My adoptive parents, however, were severely injured in the fire and passed away not long after. I was sent to a local orphanage and only left when I came of age.

Anyone else could mock my poor background, but Clive, the one who took everything from me, had no right to do so!

My expression turned cold, though I put on a mocking smile.

“If Mr. Clive thinks this rice and oil are so great, you should keep them for yourself. Or better yet, take them home and give them to his parents. After all, it’s such a rare luxury. Someone like you, a fake heir with no blood ties who’s taken someone else’s place, ought to treat your parents better than most.”

Clive’s expression instantly darkened. “Lance, what nonsense are you talking about?!”

People around us exchanged looks. Their expressions were full of intrigue.

Even though I had been taken back by the Lewis family for two years, they had never made my identity public to protect Clive’s pride. As a result, many in the company thought I was just some poor relative leeching off them, mocking me both openly and behind my back.

Back then, I thought the Lewis family did not love me yet and just needed time to adjust. That was why I let it go.

However, now that I had decided to cut ties with them, I had no interest in keeping up appearances with Clive. I might as well make everything clear.

“Whether it’s nonsense or not, you know better than anyone. You can play pretend all you want, but it'll never work!”

I let out a cold laugh and turned to leave, only to be blocked by Joanna Lewis, who had rushed over after hearing the commotion.

“Lance, have you lost your mind? Who gave you the nerve to talk to Clive like that?!” Right in front of everyone, she raised her hand and slapped me across the face.