Chapter 3

In the cafe, James walked in with his girlfriend, Clarice Black.

He took my card without any hesitation as he said mockingly, “You didn’t manage to sleep last night, did you? Adam and Mary favor Theo, and he’s a lunatic. I bet you won’t have a good time there!”

I looked into the mirror and realized that my dark circles were indeed quite scary.

People complained in the comments.

[Finneas didn’t lose sleep because he’s terrified. He was trying on clothes for the whole night out of excitement. He also went on an online shopping spree and spent three million dollars.]

[Finneas really has no dignity. If the Swift family found that out, they would look down on him. In the past, James didn’t even touch a single cent.]

James was afraid that I would regret it, so he immediately added, “It’s too late to feel any regret. Enjoy yourself in that horrible place. I’m going off to live a good life with Clarice.”

I looked at Clarice and frowned.

She looked very average and ordinary, and her behavior was vulgar.

She ordered a lot of dessert, and she was burying her head in the food.

When James got together with her, I did not like their relationship.

However, he thought I was going to snatch Clarice from him, so I no longer bothered.

[That’s great. James would be able to start his own business earlier with a million dollars. Then, he would be able to teach the Swift family a lesson by becoming the next wealthiest man in the country and marrying Clarice.]

I laughed. How could I allow a poor man to destroy my precious happiness?

I sent someone to keep an eye on the two of them for the next five years.

Initially, their business started well, and they earned a small sum of money.

However, James was used to the lavish lifestyle in the past, so he wanted to dress luxuriously and eat expensive food.

Clarice expressed her dissatisfaction a few times, and both of them kept fighting over that.

James also liked to gamble. From the comments, I found out that the real reason why Adam and Mary were disappointed in him was his gambling addiction.

Every time after they fought, he would go and gamble. After winning a few times, he got addicted to gambling.

In less than three years, he had lost a million dollars.

Throughout the five years, James tried to contact me. However, as long as I did not want him to reach me, with his current social status, he would not be able to see me ever again.

In five years, I got a good grasp of Adam and Mary’s likes and dislikes, and even Theo grew to like me.

Very soon, I joined the family business and became the right-hand man.

One day, the orphanage gave me a call to invite me to attend the director’s funeral.

I agreed.

It was after that that I realized no one else was around.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice, and it interrupted my train of thought.

“Finneas, it’s so hard to even see you. How much longer are you going to replace me?”

When I turned around, I almost could not recognize him.

James looked disheveled as he was unshaven and had eye bags. He gained weight despite being very proud of his initial figure.

He rushed over like a madman and choked me. He yelled, “Are you the one who meddled in my business all these years? Was that why I didn’t manage to see anyone from the Swift family?”

He tightened his grip around my neck. “It shouldn’t be like this. Why is it that you can live happily with the Swift family? Why didn’t they throw you out and humiliate you?”

The few bodyguards were holding me down, and I could not move.

Clarice slapped him. “James, are you insane? Who will give us money if you kill him?”

I sat on the ground and panted.

The comments that I had not seen in a while started popping up.

[James’s character development is really bad. Give me back the cold and aloof James. Give me back the gentle and pretty Clarice.]

[I feel bad for Finneas. James was the one who wanted Finneas to replace him. Now that he regrets it, he wants to force Finneas to give the position back.]

I secretly put my hand into my pocket and touched the dagger that I always carried with me.

James mocked me, saying, “Finneas, you’re still so dumb. The director’s funeral is fake. If I didn’t lie to get you here, how would I be able to switch places with you?”

I calmly asked, “Why do you feel that after so many years, the Swift family would take you back just like that?”

“You’re fake, Theo’s fake too. I’m the only one who’s related to the Swift family by blood. No one would want their biological son back!”

He then turned around to instruct the bodyguard, “Quick, tie him up. Once he’s dead, I’ll be the only son of the wealthiest man in the country.”

James forced me into a corner. I found the right moment to slash his palm.

I tried to escape when he was in pain.

I barely managed to move a step before those huge men outside stopped me.

James grabbed my collar and kept punching me.

“How dare you run off? I’m going to kill you now.”

The comments kept popping up.

[James is so scary. Is he really going to kill Finneas?]

[James is planning to set a fire. When the Swift family finds Finneas’ dead body, they will accuse Finneas of stealing his identity. Then, James will be able to return to the Swift family.]

He then hit me with the wooden stick in frustration.

I endured the pain, and I shielded my head to prevent further damage.

However, in the end, they still tied me up.

James drizzled oil on me and kept cursing me crazily. He said, “Die, Finneas!”

I saw the lighter get closer to me as I shut my eyes in despair.

I should have taken up martial arts, so I would be able to defend myself.

Suddenly, several people appeared at the entrance. Theo got out of the car and strode over.

“Finneas, you’re such a loser. I thought you’d be able to settle it.”