The False Heir

The lunch bell shattered the silence of the classroom.

In the crowded cafeteria, Blake Livingston was surrounded by a group of classmates. He wore the latest limited-edition sneakers, and the Patek Philippe on his wrist gleamed under the overhead lights.

"Blake, what are we doing this weekend? That mountaintop race last time was insane!"

"Blake, I heard your family just got another Maybach?"

Blake soaked up the attention, a perfectly measured smile on his face. Every now and then, he'd make some modest remark, only to draw even more enthusiastic flattery.

Meanwhile, I sat quietly in the corner, an insignificant shadow in his wake.

As far as everyone at school knew, I was the pathetic charity case who could only afford to attend this elite private school because Blake supported me.

"Mrs. Livingston's here!" Someone's shout caused a small stir in the cafeteria.

Fanny Livingston, the plainly dressed housekeeper—and Blake's mother—made her way through the crowd carrying two lunch containers, a broad smile on her face.

She ignored me in the corner and went straight to Blake.

She opened an expensive insulated container, revealing four dishes and a bowl of soup. Steak, truffle mashed potatoes, and other delicacies filled the compartments, their rich aroma immediately drawing attention.

"Blake, eat while it's hot. I made your favorite lobster bisque today." Her voice was full of affection, her concern for him obvious in every glance.

Then she pushed a cheap plastic container toward me. Inside were nothing but limp vegetables and bean sprouts left over from the night before.

Expressionless, I reached for the cold container.

In my previous life, I'd silently endured treatment like this. All it had gotten me was increasingly vicious humiliation—and, in the end, the destruction of my entire family.

Just before my fingers touched the container, Blake reached out and stopped my hand. He deliberately raised his voice, making sure everyone around us could hear.

"Finn Stanton, this is the lunch my family's housekeeper made for me. I may treat you like a brother, but that doesn't mean you can just help yourself."

The moment he finished speaking, muffled laughter broke out around us.

"So he really is just a freeloader."

"God, he's shameless. I actually thought he and Blake were really friends."

"Just look at him. Does he seriously think he's on Blake's level?"

Their contemptuous stares pricked at me from every direction.

In my previous life, my face would already have been burning with humiliation. I would have turned and walked away, leaving Blake to bask in his victory.

But this time was different.

I'd been reborn.

The instant Blake said those words, memories of my previous life came crashing back.

The sickening weightlessness as I was shoved from the top of a building.

The excruciating pain of my bones shattering.

And Blake's twisted smile as I lay dying.

I slowly raised my head. My gaze swept over Blake's smug face before settling on the elaborate meal in front of him.

Under everyone's stunned gaze, I picked up the steaming bowl of lobster bisque.

Blake froze for a moment. Apparently thinking I was about to steal his food, he gave me a mocking smile.

"Finn, if you want some, just say so. There's no need to—"