Chapter 3

Monica stood at the top of the stairs, watching me pack up my files with a smug grin plastered across her face.

I did not even glance at her. I picked up the box and walked straight past.

"Help yourself. As long as he can hold his own."

At the office, Brandon was even worse. With Victor backing him, he strutted around the company barking orders at anyone in sight and even inserted himself directly into several of the core projects I was managing.

"You know, Arthur, Dad says you play it too safe. You've got no killer instinct." Brandon sat in the head chair of the conference room with his feet propped on the table, staring me down.

"That development deal on the south side? I'll be running that from now on.

"Don't worry. I'll do a way better job than you ever could. I'll put the Carrington name on the map."

The executives around the table exchanged uneasy glances, but no one said a word. I looked at that arrogant face of his and let a cold smile cross my lips.

In my last life, the south side development had uncovered a protected archaeological site during excavation. The project was shut down indefinitely, the billions that had been poured into it were lost overnight, and the fallout nearly collapsed the company's entire cash flow.

"Sure."

I stood up and slid the project files across the table to him without hesitation. "If you're that eager to prove yourself, it's all yours."

Brandon faltered for a second, clearly not expecting me to give in that easily. Then a grin spread across his face and he snatched up the files. "That's a smart move."

Over the next two months, Victor recovered at home while Brandon tore through the company with his so-called reforms. He did not stop at the south side project. He planted his own people across every department.

Victor was thrilled with his performance and bragged to anyone who would listen about what a fine son he had raised. As for me, I became invisible.

I clocked in and out on time, turned a blind eye to Brandon's power grabs, and even stepped back voluntarily from several key decisions. From Victor and Brandon's perspective, I had given up completely.

"See, Victor? Look how obedient Arthur's been. I told you that all you had to do was put your foot down and he wouldn't dare push back."

One weekend evening, Monica massaged Victor's shoulders while whispering in his ear.

Victor sat in his wheelchair and scoffed. "Push back? Everything he has came from me. I could lose both legs and I'd still be the one running this family."

His gaze shifted to Brandon, who sat nearby peeling an apple, and his expression softened instantly.

"Brandon, next month is the company's 30th anniversary gala. It also happens to be my 60th birthday.

"I plan to use that night to officially announce that you will be stepping in as CEO and taking full control of the Carrington Group."

Brandon broke into a grin he could not contain. "Thanks, Dad! I won't let you down!"

I stood just outside the door, listening to their laughter, and felt every last trace of warmth leave my eyes.

It was the same gala, the same succession announcement. In my last life, Victor had done the same thing on the same night, humiliating me in front of every prominent name in the city while putting Brandon on a pedestal.

However, this time around, I had used what I remembered from my past life to stay ahead. I had quietly offloaded the overseas assets before they tanked and converted everything into a massive cash reserve.

I had been steadily buying up shares from the minority shareholders who were growing disillusioned with Victor.

At the same time, I had set a trap around the south side project, and Brandon had walked right into it. In his rush to claim credit, he had dipped into the company's emergency reserves and signed predatory loan agreements with ruinous penalty clauses behind closed doors.

Every single piece of it was exactly where I wanted it.

One month later, the Carrington Group's 30th anniversary gala doubled as Victor's 60th birthday celebration. Every major name in the city's business and political circles was in attendance, and the press had their cameras trained on the banquet hall.