Chapter 1

"Jonathan Campbell, you make me sick! The only man I acknowledge as my fiancé will only ever be Frederick Campbell! Don't even dream that I'll fall in love with you! "You pushed Frederick into the water, knowing how weak his body is! You almost killed him! Today is his birthday party, and you deliberately humiliated him in front of everyone! That was beyond cruel! Get down on your knees and apologize to him now! That's an order!" The sharp, venomous words echoed in Jonathan's ears. He froze and glanced around in confusion. Wasn't he dead? Hadn't he spent ten miserable years working at a factory, screwing bolts onto machines, only to collapse and die from exhaustion? Why was he now standing at a grand party held by the Campbell family in the city of Satbury? The guests, eager to curry favor with the Campbell and Cooper families, joined in the scornful interrogation. "Jonathan, don't you think you've gone too far? Frederick's been kind enough to stand up for you despite all the times you've bullied him. Is this how you repay him? By trying to kill him?" "Exactly! His jealousy is eating him alive. He has no talent, and his heart is full of malice. It's no wonder neither the Campbell family nor Ms. Cooper can stand him." "Frederick, you're too kind. Someone like Jonathan doesn't deserve even a shred of your sympathy." Listening to the all-too-familiar insults, Jonathan suddenly realized—he had been reborn. He was back to the year he turned 18. In his previous life, Jonathan had grown up in an orphanage. At 15, he was brought back to the Campbell family when it was discovered he had been swapped at birth with another baby. He wasn't a parentless orphan after all—he had a family. Desperate for love and approval, Jonathan had bent over backward to please his newfound parents and three older sisters. But Frederick, the adopted son, framed him at every turn. This made Jonathan's family disappointed in him, and the disappointment later turned into disdain. Ultimately, he was cast out of the family. He hadn't even had the chance to take his college entrance exams. Forced to work in a factory to survive, he spent ten grueling years screwing bolts onto machines until he worked himself to death. After getting his thoughts together, Jonathan's gaze darkened. In this life, he would focus on his studies, get into a top college, and take control of his destiny. He wouldn't repeat the tragic fate of his previous life, where he worked himself to death tightening screws. "Jonathan! Are you deaf? Get on your knees and apologize to Frederick!" The sharp command jolted him back to the present, and his cold eyes fell on the figures before him—a young man and a young woman. The young woman was Stella Cooper, the heiress of the Cooper family. She had stunning features, her attitude cold and arrogant. However, her face was now contorted with anger. Standing behind her was Frederick, his eyes red-rimmed and his head hung low—the very picture of pitiful innocence. Around the fountain, members of Satbury's high society had gathered. Their expressions were a mix of surprise and anticipation, and murmurs rippled through the crowd. "Is Jonathan really not going to apologize?" "I guess so. Look at him. He doesn't seem the least bit sorry. What a disgrace." "Poor Frederick. Jonathan keeps using his status as the real son to torment him. At school, he's a troublemaker. At home, he's a nightmare. What a piece of work." Jonathan's parents, Gregory Campbell and Eleanor Warren, arrived in a hurry, flanked by his three older sisters. Frederick was soaked to the skin, his face pale and weak, and he was coughing violently into his hand. When they saw this, they exploded in anger. Frederick looked pitiful, his voice trembling as he tried to defend Jonathan. "It's my fault for upsetting Jonathan. Please don't blame him. He just acted impulsively and pushed me into the water. He didn't mean it." Gregory jabbed a finger at Jonathan's face, his anger barely contained. "Apologize right now, and we'll pretend none of this ever happened." It was Frederick's birthday party, after all. With so many wealthy elites watching, Gregory didn't want his family's reputation to be tarnished by making a big deal of the incident. Eleanor fussed over her beloved son, comforting Frederick with gentle words. Meanwhile, Jonathan's older sisters—Winona Campbell, Isabella Campbell, and Stephanie Campbell—stood nearby. Their faces twisted with disdain as they glared at Jonathan. Jonathan folded his arms across his chest, his expression icy and detached. In contrast to his isolation and helplessness, they were a family of six who loved each other. It looked as if he were a complete outsider. In his past life, he had genuinely believed they cared about him. He thought their coldness was just because they were unfamiliar with him. He thought that if he worked hard to change his habits and truly devoted his time and energy to them, they would eventually see his worth and accept him as family. But it had all been wishful thinking. They never truly saw him as part of the family. They trusted Frederick unconditionally and always blamed Jonathan. Every time he tried to explain himself, they sided with Frederick without hesitation. The thought made Jonathan laugh suddenly. He turned his indifferent gaze to Stella, who was still fuming with anger. His tone was cutting and cold as he said, "If there's something wrong with your brain, go see a doctor. Someone like you? Definitely not my type. Don't flatter yourself. You're not the center of the universe." "What?" Stella's eyes widened in shock, her expression crumbling. "Jonathan Campbell! You made a mistake, yet you're acting so arrogant?" Her face flushed crimson as she snapped, "You pushed Frederick into the water! Isn't it right for you to get on your knees and apologize?" "Is that so? And did you see me push him into the water?" Stella was momentarily stunned. She gritted her teeth and hissed, "When I got here, Frederick was in the fountain, soaking wet. You were standing right next to it! There was no one else here! Also, Frederick said it himself that you were the one who pushed him in!" Stella clenched her fists tightly. When she recalled Jonathan's earlier insult about how she shouldn't flatter herself, it only fueled her anger. "Jonathan, the way you're acting now is disgraceful! This isn't how a young man from a wealthy family should act!" Jonathan shot back bluntly, "That's up to me to decide. However, you're acting beyond your actual status, pretending to be a big deal. Such nerve—where do you get the confidence?" Stella's face was filled with disbelief, and her expression changed rapidly. Gregory and Eleanor were stunned by Jonathan's venomous words. Stella wasn't just any young woman—she was the heiress of the Cooper family, hailed as Satbury's most beautiful woman. Suitors from wealthy families lined up for her, and the line stretched from one end of the city to the other. If the Campbell family could secure a marriage alliance with the Cooper family, they would gain immeasurable power and status. This would elevate them to the same level as the Johnston family, Satbury's most elite powerhouse. If not for Robert Campbell, the Campbell family's patriarch, saving the Cooper family's patriarch years ago and arranging a marriage between their grandchildren, there was no way a prestigious match would have been given to Jonathan. It was only after discovering that Frederick wasn't their biological son that the Campbell family brought Jonathan, their real son, back from the orphanage. Their intent was clear. They wanted to nurture feelings between Jonathan and Stella, then let the two marry to solidify the Campbell family's position among Satbury's elites when the time came. But after three years, the plan had backfired spectacularly. Instead of warming up to Jonathan, Stella grew to despise him, often siding with Frederick at his expense. Gregory's frustration boiled over. "You made a mistake, refused to apologize, and now you dare talk to your fiancée like that?" Jonathan narrowed his eyes. "Mr. Campbell, from the way you're speaking, it sounds like you've already decided I pushed Frederick into the fountain. Do you have any proof?" Gregory thought that Jonathan was unnecessarily making trouble, and he frowned. "Proof? Isn't it obvious enough? Do you still need proof?" Frederick stepped forward, trembling. With tears in his eyes, he said, "Jonathan, is it because our family didn't get you a birthday gift? Is that why you pushed me into the water? I know you don't like me. I'm sorry. I should've been the one to live those hard days in the orphanage. "Our parents gave me a Rolls-Royce for my 18th birthday. Since we were born on the same day, I-I can give it to you if you want it. As long as you're happy, I'm happy too. Even if you want me to leave the Campbell family, I'll do it. I just want you to listen to them and stop making them worry, o-okay?" Frederick's voice cracked with a sob as he began to cough, his pale face making him look even more pitiful. "I-I'm sorry, Jonathan. It's my fault for taking the life that should've been yours." "Enough!" Winona, their eldest sister, grabbed Frederick's arm and pulled him protectively behind her. She angrily said, "Jonathan, you're his older brother! Can't you show him some compassion? Look at what you've done to him!" Jonathan's second sister, Isabella, glared at him with open hostility. "Jonathan, are you proud of yourself for ruining your brother's birthday?" Jonathan's third sister, Stephanie, disdainfully said, "We only have one brother, and that's Frederick. No matter how much you kick up a fuss to get our attention, it's not going to work." Eleanor sighed, her expression conflicted. "Jon, just apologize and let it go. Why must you be so stubborn?" Jonathan's sharp gaze caught the fleeting flash of malice in Frederick's eyes from where he was standing behind them. In the past, when Jonathan saw his entire family stand behind Frederick like this, blaming and berating him without question, it would have crushed him. But now, only one thought rang clear in his mind. None of them were worth a damn. Jonathan looked up lazily, his tone dripping with nonchalance. "Were you all hiding when humanity evolved?" The words hung in the air, silencing not only the Campbells but also the crowd. For a solid 30 seconds, no one reacted, until the meaning of Jonathan's words sunk in. He had just called the Campbell family and Stella stupid! The Campbells and Stella's faces flushed with humiliation and fury. Frederick bit his lip, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. He reached out and tried to grab Jonathan's hand. "Jonathan, please stop making trouble, okay?"