Yet the look she gave me was cold and distant, her voice like frost.

“Since the Cole Family sent you here, you are mine now. You follow my rules.”

Floating comments popped up:

【OMG?! The yandere CEO is THIS gorgeous??】

【That voice?? I don’t care if she’s a maniac—step on me, queen!】

She looked serene, emotionless—

but I caught the curiosity glimmering deep in her eyes.

If she truly had extreme control issues and a fragile sense of security…

then step one was earning her trust.

With reddened eyes, I lowered my head and clutched my shirt nervously.

“As long as I follow your rules… you won’t throw me out, right?”

Vivian blinked—clearly not expecting that.

“You want to stay here that badly?”

My voice trembled as tears dripped onto the floor.

“Yes. If they could send me away so easily… it means they never loved me. I just want someone who actually cares, who watches me, who needs me. Someone who becomes my whole world.”

The air shifted instantly.

Vivian stepped closer, slender white fingers lifting my chin.

“Good. Remember that. From this moment on… you belong to me.”

The floating comments erupted:

【Oh god—they’re diagnosing each other with LOVE?!】

【Little brother hit her weak spot dead-on—she loves being someone’s entire universe!】

And thus began my dream life.

Vivian personally measured my size and summoned designers to tailor outfits—to her taste.

Nutritionists planned every meal based on my health reports.

She even gave me a phone with full location tracking.

Commenters scoffed:

【Isn’t this just keeping a pet??? Her control issues are insane.】

But I lowered my head, eyes turning wet.

Vivian panicked.

“You… don’t like it?”

I shook my head—and pulled her into my arms.

“No… I’m just… overwhelmed. No one has ever treated me this well.”

Eighteen years of hunger and cold—

how could I not be moved?

She exhaled in relief, curling into me.

“Then… never leave me. Ever.”

I choked up and hugged her tighter.

Vivian noticed I loved staying home—so she transferred the entire villa and estate into my name.

She built a swing set.

Bought small animals for me to play with.

During the day, she went to Lowell Enterprises.

I stayed home—eating well, relaxing, and making little things to gift her:

Ugly homemade cakes.

Flowers I picked from the yard.

Every day, I would call her and report everything I did.

Always ending with a soft “I miss you.”

She grew more addicted to me by the second.

At night, I clung to her greedily.

Even in my sleep, I had to hold her—like a lonely puppy desperate for affection.

On stormy nights, I whispered shakily:

“Viv… hold me tighter… I’m scared.”

Comment feed exploded:

【Master level manipulation!! He knows exactly how to melt a yandere’s heart!】

Every midnight, I felt her burning gaze on my skin.

Her hand would brush my cheek as she murmured:

“I think… I can’t live without you anymore.”

She fell deeper and deeper for me—

so far that she openly acknowledged Evan Cole as her boyfriend.

Within just a year, she couldn’t wait to get engaged.

When Richard Cole and Kathy Cole heard the news,

they completely lost it.

They never expected their useless younger son

to win the twisted affection of Vivian Lowell—

the notoriously unstable heiress of Lowell Enterprises.

They rushed from the Cole Household to New York City that very night,

carefully choosing a private restaurant for the meeting.

I didn’t want to go.

They threatened me over the phone:

“What do you think Vivian Lowell will do

when she discovers you’re a fraud?”

Their words pierced right into the darkest corner of my fear.

Because over this past year…

my manipulation and schemes had slowly melted into sincerity.

I had witnessed her vulnerability,

the way she took off her armor only in front of me.

She treated me like her only source of light.

If she ever learned the truth—

she would shatter.

So I went.

Inside the private booth, Kathy crossed her arms and sneered:

“Climbing high and pretending you don’t know us anymore?

Without us dragging you home, you’d still be a pathetic nobody!”

“Now that you’ve made it big, you want to cut us off?

Absolutely not!”

I held back my anger.

“We agreed when I left the Cole Household—

all ties severed.

I’m not legally part of your family anymore.”

She scoffed.

“Really?

You’re impersonating your brother Aiden Cole.

How can you NOT bring benefits back to the Cole family?”

“Or do you want Vivian to learn that you’re just an impostor

leeching off her?”

I lowered my voice.

“The Cole family has already taken a lot from Lowell Holdings this year.

You’ve revived your failing company.

And she still hasn’t reclaimed that debt.

What more do you want?”

Richard slid a contract toward me, shamelessly proud.

“Get her signature.

A $500 million deal—should be easy for you.”

“Secure this project and we promise you:

You’ll live above everyone else for the rest of your life.

Aiden will never set foot back in the States.”

I glanced through the contract and laughed.

“Ninety percent profit to the Cole family,

risks all on Lowell Holdings?

Dream on.”

“I won’t be your pawn anymore.

Come after me again—bear the consequences.”

I stood and left them screaming behind a slammed door.

That night, Vivian wrapped her arms around me.

“Didn’t you say you cut ties with them?

Why meet them?”

I forced a calm tone.

“They heard about the engagement. Came to stir things up.”

Vivian nodded, though disgusted by their actions.

She believed she should thank them—

for sending me into her life.

“If you don’t like them,

I can make sure they disappear.

Permanently.”

I shook my head.

“They’re still my parents in the end.”

The hovering live comments reacted:

【Sigh! He’s still too soft-hearted. The Cole family won’t stop here!】

But I thought silently:

Then I’ll never give them another chance.

For the next three months,

I drowned in engagement preparations and bliss.

Calls from the Coles went unanswered.

They didn’t dare step foot into the Lowell Estate,

so the turbulence quieted.

Until the day before the engagement.

Vivian, who should’ve gone with me to try on the suit,

was suddenly pulled back to Lowell Enterprises for urgent matters.

Just as she arranged a driver to take me home—

I ran straight into Richard and Kathy.

Right into their trap.

“Ms. Lowell, we’ll take our son to try his suit.

We can’t delay tomorrow’s engagement, right?”

I tried to refuse,

but Vivian gave them a polite nod.

“Alright.

I’ll join you once I’m done.

Please take good care of him.”

The moment she left,

they dragged me into their car by force.

Then horror struck—

Aiden Cole was inside.

The brother who had been sent abroad

to stay out of trouble.

His eyes burned with hatred.

“Evan Cole, you’ve stolen my life for a year.

It’s time to give everything back.”

I tried to escape,

but they pinned me down.

Aiden pried my jaw open and forced a liquid down my throat.

My vision spun wildly.

The live comments exploded:

【Knew it! They were too quiet lately!】

【Stay awake, Evan!】

My phone rang—

Vivian.

Kathy clamped a hand over my mouth.

Aiden took the call.

“Don’t ruin this.

Stick to the plan.”

Aiden cleared his throat.

Vivian’s sweet voice sounded:

“Baby, are you at the boutique?

I can’t wait to see you in the suit.”

“Almost there, Vivian.

I’ll send you photos soon, okay?”

【Sh*t! He sounds just like Evan! It’s over!】

As he prepared to hang up,

I mustered the last of my strength

and bit Kathy’s hand.

“Ah!”

I tried to scream:

“Vivian! Help—!”

But my voice broke, hoarse and useless.

“Who yelled?” Vivian asked, suspicion rising.

“Nothing.

Mom slammed the car door on her fingers…”

“Oh.”

Call ended.

Hope gone.

Kathy slapped me so hard black spots swarmed my sight.

“Ungrateful brat!

If you marry Vivian Lowell,

we’ll mean nothing to you!”

Aiden laughed.

“Relax, Mom.

Vivian’s fiancé can only be me.”

Darkness consumed me.

…

When consciousness returned,

I was tied up on the cold marble floor

of the Cole family villa.

Aiden wore the custom luxury suit meant for me,

basking in our parents’ praise.

From their conversation,

the awful truth became clear:

When he heard about our engagement,

he regretted letting me take his identity.

So they planned for months—

preparing to switch us back

at the last moment.

Once I moved, Aiden crouched beside me,

patting my face mockingly.

“You thief.

You’ve enjoyed my life long enough.”

I rasped:

“You forced me into this—”

SLAP!

“Still acting like a victim?

Everything you have belongs to me!”

He stripped my watch and necklace—

the gifts Vivian gave me.

“She should’ve given these to me!”

“I should be her fiancé.

I’m the one who’ll stand beside her tomorrow!”

Richard and Kathy echoed coldly:

“Give up your place quietly

and we’ll keep feeding you.”

“But that face has to be dealt with—

we can’t let you threaten your brother again.”

I laughed weakly, skin burning.

“You really think I got here

just because of a face

and a borrowed name?”