Chapter 1

I never imagined myself as the privileged heir born with a silver spoon in my mouth.

When my biological parents found me, I was in the middle of a brawl with a few of my sidekicks.

At the sight of the bold and defiant tattoos on my arms, my biological parents instinctively labeled me a thug.

But wasn't it their actions that made me who I was?

1

Who would have thought that someone like me, born and raised in the slums, would turn out to be the son of the president of the Edwards Group? It was an absurd twist of fate.

Wasn't this plot even more ridiculous and laughable than a soap opera?

When my biological parents found me, I was standing by the roadside, having just finished a fight with a few of my gang members.

As their eyes landed on the bold tattoos covering my arms, I caught a flicker of fear and a heavy dose of disdain in their gaze-a reflexive judgment, labeling me as nothing more than a thug.

Moments later, they masked their emotions, seemingly snapping back to reality. They rushed over to me, their faces lit with excitement, and even reached out to touch my cheek.

When their fingers brushed against the scar behind my ear, their agitation grew.

"You... you're Nate, aren't you?"

It wasn't until much later that I learned it wasn't a scar but a birthmark I'd had since birth.

I casually flicked the cigarette butt from my fingertips onto the ground, crushing the last ember under my boot, and nodded at them as an answer.

My crew, confused by the situation, assumed it was just another set of clueless parents looking for trouble. They stepped closer, ready to back me up.

Just as I was about to ask what they wanted, the elegantly dressed woman suddenly threw her arms around me, sobbing uncontrollably into my chest.

"Nate, I have finally found you. It's been twenty-seven years, and I've finally found you, my baby."

I twitched the corner of my mouth, my mind still struggling to process what was happening.

But soon, everything became clear.

A man about my age stepped forward, his features bearing an uncanny resemblance to mine.

He introduced himself as Ryland Edwards, my younger brother. He explained that our family's reunion had been delayed because Darren George, an enemy of the Edwards family, had kidnapped me shortly after I was born. Darren had used me, still an infant, to extort a fortune from the Edwards family.

Later, the Edwards family paid the ransom, but the child returned to them wasn't me-it was an imposter.

I listened quietly, my face expressionless.

However, there was someone whose face looked even worse than mine. I squinted and turned my gaze to the man behind Ryland, whose hand trembled slightly beneath his coat, his eyes betraying a hint of panic.

A flicker of doubt and suspicion crossed my mind.

Ryland followed my gaze and realized there was another man behind him. He pursed his lips and quickly walked over, patting the man's shoulder and began explaining to him.

Seeing this, my mom Kate Edwards, who had been crying in my arms, also realized something, quickly releasing me and turning to walk over.

In an instant, the whole family gathered around that man, as if the main character of this ridiculous reunion had suddenly shifted to someone else.

"Davie, this is not your fault. Don't worry, you'll always be a son of the Edwards family, just like your brothers. You're all our pride, and we'll always be together." Kate said.

I scoffed, curling my lips into a smile.

A son of the Edwards?

Our pride?

Why did it sound utterly ridiculous?

2

Soon, a stretch limousine pulled up in front of us. Without hesitation, I got into the car under the expectant gaze of my biological parents.

As the window rolled down, my good friend Chris Howe shouted at the top of his lungs, reminding me to come back and visit them when I had the time.

I nodded, waving them off.

Turning back, I saw the Edwards family sitting across from me. All of them were looking at me with awkward expressions.

Especially my dad, Tom Edwards, whose fleeting look of disdain didn't escape my notice.

I was not naive; I knew that people from their upper-class circles rarely spared a glance for someone from the slums.

If it weren't for the blood we shared, they wouldn't have given me a second look.

So, I didn't care about their attitude at all.

After closing the window, I reclined and shut my eyes, seeking solace.

After all, it was better to avoid unnecessary argument, and since they were my biological parents, I figured they wouldn't seek trouble with me.

But I overlooked a jinx among them.

"Nate, I'm your brother, Davie Edwards. I'm sorry. I know I am the last person you want to see, and your life for the past twenty-seven years has been tough because of me. It's all my fault, so please don't take it out on Mom and Dad. They're innocent. They didn't want any of this..."

My temples throbbed twice, and I raised an eyebrow, glaring at him.

How could a grown man cry so easily like a child? What a pussy.

Seeing me ignore Davie, Kate seemed unable to bear his sadness and gently took his hand, soothing his fragile heart.

Tom frowned, seemingly displeased with my arrogance, but ultimately said nothing.

They knew they had no right to criticize me, after all. They had no idea how I had survived these twenty-seven years. If tears could amend, then everyone in the world would just cry at the slightest difficulty.

Why worked so hard and struggled? Wasn't that foolish?

I crossed my arms, propping my leg up, and let out a cold snort.

The space in the car wasn't large, so they quickly noticed my movement.

"What's there to cry about?" At my words, Davie looked at me in shock. "You are a man, not a three-year-old kid, crying at the drop of a hat, isn't that embarrassing? And you seem to be a good storyteller, don't you? Did I ever say I didn't want to see you? Did I throw a tantrum at Mom and Dad? If I recall correctly, I haven't said a word to you, have I? Yet you seem to know everything just by guessing. Since you're so good at it, it's a shame you're not a detective. In terms of my life for the past twenty-seven years, you have no right to comment on it. Whether you took my identity or I'm back now, that's the past to me and I don't give a shit. So, until I bring it up, you have no right to speak about it."

My words effectively left the whole family silent. Davie was stunned, his face turning a shade paler.

My family looked at me in shock, and the car fell into an awkward tension, the only sound being the breeze rustling through the trees.

I ignored them, opening the window wider to let the breeze blow away my irritation.

This was my first time in such a luxurious car, and seeing the envious looks from passersby, I felt nothing.

Seeing me like this, Kate cleared her throat and tried to persuade me.

"Nate, don't be angry. Davie is just trying to be attentive, which is why he overthinks. He feels sorry for the hard life you've had."

Ryland nodded in agreement.

But Tom, after hearing my words, looked even more displeased, his chest heaving slightly as if trying to suppress his emotions. But in the end, he couldn't hold back.

"Nate, now that you're home, we're a family. Families shouldn't argue. We should live harmoniously, alright? Davie might have spoken out of turn, but as his older brother, you should be more understanding. Also, now that you're an Edward, you need to cut ties with those people you used to associate with. And get that tattoo removed. An Edwards heir covered in tattoos-that is absurd. You should learn from your brothers to know how to behave yourself. At least he listens and doesn't cause any trouble. Do you understand?"

I couldn't help but find it amusing. I had known them for less than an hour, and they were already wanting to tame me. To put it nicely, they wanted me to be decent; to put it bluntly, they were ashamed of having an heir from the slums.

But weren't they the ones responsible for my tragedy in the first place?

Unaware of my annoyance, Kate chimed in, echoing Tom's sentiments. Davie glanced at me furtively, trying to persuade me despite the fear in his voice.

"Dad's right. You're now the eldest son of the Edwards family, a person of high status. You shouldn't associate with those from the slums anymore. Those people are known for their rough lifestyle and bad habits. If you hang out with them every day, you'll end up corrupted. Also, when Mom heard you were coming back, she tidied up your room and went shopping with me to pick out furniture and clothes you might like. You should check out your new room later; I'm sure you'll love it."

I squinted, scrutinizing him. I had thought he was just an innocent little lamb, but he was actually pretending to be harmless while being cunning. His words were cleverly crafted to show his generosity while appealing to the Edwards family's opinion.

What a brown-noser.

I didn't respond to him; instead, I found it amusing and couldn't help but laugh.

Seeing my lack of appreciation, Tom frowned, giving me a reproachful look.

I ignored him and spoke up.

"So, in your eyes, that's what my friends are. But you will never admit that I would have starved to death on the streets long ago without the help and support of those so-called slum people you disdain. If I were you, I should be thanking them. After all, you never raised me but they did for you." And my life for the past twenty-seven years, isn't it all because of Darren? He's the one you should blame, not the people from the slum."

As expected, my words silenced the Edwards family. No one dared to speak, not even Tom, who had just been lecturing me with disdain. He lowered his head, avoiding my gaze.

I shifted my attention to Davie. His face was pale, and his hands were clenched into fists, as if suppressing something.

I smiled slightly at them.

They thought I was ignorant, just a clueless thug from the slums. But they didn't realize that it was precisely that environment that had made me strong inside.

It also allowed me to see clearly how people could disguise themselves.

3

To welcome me, the Edwards family hosted a banquet at the villa, celebrating finally finding me after twenty-seven years.

To show their care, they even changed my surname immediately, naming me Nate Edwards.

Kate even took me to the Edwards family's tailor shop, where a suit was rushed overnight just for me.

They hadn't expected that after a makeover, the boy from the slums would radiate charm and a natural elegance.

It just went to show that no matter where one was born or raised, the elegance in one's bones couldn't be easily erased.

At the entrance of the dressing room, Davie saw me in my elegant attire. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, a flash of resentment in his eyes.

That night, the Edwards' private villa was bustling. I stood at the top of the staircase on the second floor, looking down indifferently at the elegantly dressed guests below, holding champagne and exchanging pleasantries.

When I descended, my parents warmly took my arm and led me to the stage, introducing me to the guests.

News traveled fast in high society. I knew they had already heard about my return the day it happened, so naturally, there were no overly surprised expressions on their faces.

However, when my gaze landed on Davie, whispering in the corner, I couldn't help but smile slightly.

It seemed an interesting confrontation was about to unfold.

After stepping off the stage, I went to the garden for some air. The overpowering scent of perfume and insincere smiles inside made me uncomfortable, and even the clothes I wore felt like a constraint.

Just as I lit a cigarette from my pocket, Davie approached me.

"Nate, why are you here? I've been looking for you."

I didn't look at him directly, just exhaled a puff of smoke.

"What for?"

Seeing my cold demeanor, he pursed his lips, looking a bit upset, but quickly forced a smile.

"Nate, come with me. I want to introduce you to some friends."

Before I could refuse, Davie hooked his arm around mine and pulled me back into the banquet hall, my fingers still holding a lit cigarette.

Standing beside him, I raised an eyebrow slightly, curious to see what kind of spectacle he intended to create this time.

Davie led me to a group of people who appeared to be around my age, all dressed impeccably, resembling pampered elites.

Their eyes met mine with blatant disdain and scorn. One particularly well-dressed man even let out a mocking laugh.

"Davie, is this your brother? He really is a hillbilly, smoking such low-grade cigarettes."

Davie seemed to realize the situation only then, quickly taking the cigarette from my fingers and tossing it into an ashtray.

The others, seeing this, began to mock openly.

Seeing this, Davie hurriedly stepped forward to defend me.

"Johnny, you can't talk about my brother like that. Although he lived in the slums for twenty-seven years and does have a bit of a rustic air, he is the eldest son of the Edwards family, and that's a fact. Yet you should respect him, just like me."

I snorted inwardly. His words were so well-crafted; it's a shame he isn't an actor.

Before I could speak, another man chimed in.

"Davie, you're too kind-hearted. Now that he is back, do you think the Edwards family will still have a place for you? He's here to compete with you for the inheritance, yet you still defense him." He looked at me with a challenging gaze and added. "Listen carefully, Davie is just too kind-hearted. As you, a scum from the slums, better not have any vile motives against him, or we won't let you off easily. And don't delude yourself into thinking that simply being the eldest son of the Edwards family confers upon you some unique and unparalleled status. The Edwards family places a far greater emphasis on one's capabilities and talents rather than mere status and lineage. Judging from your past track record, it seems highly likely that you've scarcely had a proper understanding of what an educational institution like a school truly represents. So, I ask you, with such a background, how on earth do you even dare to think that you have the right to cross the threshold of the Edwards family's abode?"

"Exactly, Davie is now the general manager of Edwards Group, admired by Tom for his conduct and work. It's only a matter of time before the Edwards family acknowledges him, while you might only be fit to run errands."

I watched them with amusement as they babbled like clowns, with the surrounding crowd even starting to echo their sentiments. As for Davie, he stood among them, lips tightly pursed, looking pitiful, as if I had bullied him.

Yawning widely with boredom, I walked over to a chair, resting my chin in my hand as I watched them.

After a while, when they finally stopped and turned their attention back to me, I spoke leisurely.

"Are you done now? Then go to the stage and apologize to me properly, saying ten times. 'Sorry, Mr. Edwards.'"

Upon hearing this, they stared at me dumbfounded, as if they had heard a hilarious joke. The next second, they burst into laughter.

"Come on, you haven't even had a drink, yet you're acting foolishly without a drink. What nonsense are you talking about? It's ridiculous."

Davie frowned at me, seemingly reproaching me for my words.

"Nate, how can you speak to them like that? They're used to speaking without restraint. Can't you be a bit more forgiving?"

I raised an eyebrow and glanced at him.

"Aren't they adults? They should take the consequence for what they did themselves, right?"

With that, Davie's face turned extremely sour, but I didn't care.

Instead, I lowered my head and started fiddling with my phone. Soon, the speakers in the banquet hall began playing their earlier words.

The once lively hall fell silent, and some people's faces turned dark, undoubtedly their parents.

After all, parents were responsible for their children's demeanors in noble families.

Now, the words from their kids were ruining their families' reputation in such a setting.

The young men who had been so eloquent and sharp-tongued now hung their heads, unable to utter a word.

Among them, my dear brother Davie's face was the worst, his lips tightly bitten, looking aggrieved.

Soon, my parents approached, their faces shadowed as they looked at the instigators and their parents.

Davie lowered his head and told Kate that he had tried to stop this farce but was too powerless, leading to this outcome.

Always obedient and well-behaved in front of the family, Kate naturally didn't blame him, gently patting his back to comfort him.

I watched coldly, feeling only a chill in my heart.

Seeing me sitting on the sofa with arms crossed and a stern face, the young men were forced by their parents to come before me.

"Nate, they're still young and have always been used to speaking without restraint. Can we let this matter go? Do me a favor, will you?"

Businesspeople naturally understood weighing pros and cons, knowing what was important. If the Edwards family made waves in the business world, these families would struggle not just to run but even to survive.

So now, they naturally knew they should appease me.

I picked up my wine glass, sipping slowly and unhurriedly.

"It's not a big deal. As I said earlier, go to the stage and say ten times. 'Sorry, Mr. Edwards.' Compared with the interest of business, this is a better choice, isn't it?"