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 c

"Finn, you should come too. Don't let what happened at lunch get between us."Blake put on a magnanimous act, as though the humiliation in the cafeteria had never happened.He was certain I wouldn't dare show up.My grandfather, Charles Stanton, who'd always doted on me more than anyone, happened to be away at a resort for a few days, while my mother, Vivian Stanton, was abroad on business.With the real owners gone, Fanny had apparently decided she was the lady of the house.If I went to the party, I'd only be setting myself up for humiliation, forced to watch Blake play the rich heir in my own home.If I didn't go, it would only reinforce everyone's belief that I was petty and unreasonable.Watching his pathetic little performance, I almost laughed.He'd done the exact same thing in my previous life. With a single party, he'd humiliated me so thoroughly that I became the laughingstock of the entire school.But this time...I looked up and met his challenging stare, the fain

"Of course, Grandpa," I said softly.That afternoon, the plaza outside the school auditorium was packed.I stood straight and tall on the temporary stage, dressed in the custom-tailored suit Grandpa had sent over that morning.The principal personally adjusted my tie, beaming as he stepped up to the microphone."Today, we're incredibly honored to celebrate the grand opening of the Finn Stanton Library! Please join me in thanking Mr. Charles Stanton for his generous support of our school, and welcome his grandson, one of our outstanding students, Finn Stanton, to officially unveil the building!"Thunderous applause erupted below the stage. Countless eyes fixed on me, filled with envy, jealousy, and curiosity.Before long, the murmurs in the crowd nearly drowned out the applause."Wait. Didn't everyone say at the party this weekend that Blake was the real heir? His dad practically proved it himself.""Exactly. So why is the library named after Finn? The Finn Stanton Library? Whic

His body went limp and started to fall backward."Grandpa!"My eyes widened, and I lunged forward to catch him.Grandpa clutched my hand tightly. His lips moved, but before he could get a single word out, he lost consciousness completely.The wail of an approaching ambulance grew louder, its siren echoing across the school grounds.Holding my unconscious grandfather, I looked at Dad. There wasn't a trace of guilt on his face. If anything, I caught a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.Rage surged through me.Inside the ambulance, I pulled out my phone and called my mother. The moment she answered, I heard an airport announcement in the background."Mom, Grandpa had a heart attack. We're on our way to the hospital.""What?!" Mom's voice immediately filled with panic. "I just landed. I'm coming right now!"My blood ran cold.She'd just landed.In my previous life, Mom had been rushing from the airport to the hospital when she was killed instantly in a horrific "accident."S

"These are the Stanton Group share transfer agreements, along with the inheritance documents for all the family's real estate."Dad picked up one of the documents and handed it to Blake, a manic gleam in his eyes. "Blake, sign it! Starting today, you'll be the true head of the Stanton family!"Blake's hands trembled with excitement. He'd dreamed of this day for years.I leaned against the doorway, watching the ugly spectacle with cold detachment."You're awfully sure his signature will actually mean anything," I said calmly.Dad turned and looked at me as though I were already dead. "Vivian is dead, and the old man doesn't have much longer. Everything the Stanton family owns will belong to my biological son.""Oh? Is that so?"My phone vibrated.Patrick had sent me a file.I opened it.It was a DNA paternity test.I turned the screen toward them and spoke unhurriedly, "There's something here I think you'll find interesting.""Blake Livingston..." I looked at him, enunciatin