I was the real son of the Lane family, lost and left outside for 27 years.

A year after I was brought back, I helped the Lane family’s company break into overseas markets, tripling its annual sales. However, at the end of the year, even the outsourced janitors got a 13th-month bonus, while the fake heir gave me just 250 dollars.

“The company made money, sure, but there are expenses everywhere. You’re just a low-level salesperson. All you do is talk. You should be grateful you got that much.”

I could not swallow it, so I went to argue with my biological sister, the general manager. She did not even look up. “Clive didn’t do anything wrong. You don’t have much education and no core skills. You were never qualified for management bonuses.”

My parents did not care either. They were too busy planning which country to take the fake heir to for the holidays.

I did not argue or make a scene. I just turned around and called Lane Corporation’s biggest rival.

“A salesperson who brought in 30 million dollars in the last year is looking to jump ship. Interested? I don’t have any other demands. I just want to see Lewis Corporation go under as soon as possible!”

“Lance, are you serious?”

On the other end of the line, Serena Gray’s voice carried both excitement and disbelief. “Last year, I offered a million dollars to poach you, and you said you’d finally found your family and couldn’t bear to leave them. What did the Lewis family do to push you this far?”

I did not feel like explaining. “If you don’t think you can take the Lewis family down within a year, I’ll go somewhere else. No point wasting each other’s time.”

“No, no, if you join us, I can definitely make it happen!” Serena quickly replied. There was a hint of eager amusement in her laughter, like she was enjoying the spectacle.

“The Lewis family doesn’t still think you’re just some ordinary salesperson, do they? If they do, they deserve to go under. They’re unbelievably stupid!”

After hanging up, I sent my resignation email to HR and started packing up my desk.

Before long, Clive, dressed in a flashy designer suit, strode over, flanked by a few junior managers. “Lance, I know you think the year-end bonus was too small, so I got you some extra benefits.”

He tilted his head toward a supervisor. The supervisor set down a bag of cheap rice and a barrel of unbranded cooking oil beside my desk, lifting his chin arrogantly.

“These are special care packages personally arranged by Mr. Clive. He knows you grew up in an orphanage and never had good rice or oil, so this is to broaden your horizons. You’d better learn some gratitude. Don't be so ungrateful!”

More than 20 years ago, my biological parents and Clive’s parents accidentally swapped their children because of a fire.

After that, Clive grew up as a wealthy young heir in Shoal Bay. My adoptive parents, however, were severely injured in the fire and passed away not long after. I was sent to a local orphanage and only left when I came of age.

Anyone else could mock my poor background, but Clive, the one who took everything from me, had no right to do so!

My expression turned cold, though I put on a mocking smile.

“If Mr. Clive thinks this rice and oil are so great, you should keep them for yourself. Or better yet, take them home and give them to his parents. After all, it’s such a rare luxury. Someone like you, a fake heir with no blood ties who’s taken someone else’s place, ought to treat your parents better than most.”

Clive’s expression instantly darkened. “Lance, what nonsense are you talking about?!”

People around us exchanged looks. Their expressions were full of intrigue.

Even though I had been taken back by the Lewis family for two years, they had never made my identity public to protect Clive’s pride. As a result, many in the company thought I was just some poor relative leeching off them, mocking me both openly and behind my back.

Back then, I thought the Lewis family did not love me yet and just needed time to adjust. That was why I let it go.

However, now that I had decided to cut ties with them, I had no interest in keeping up appearances with Clive. I might as well make everything clear.

“Whether it’s nonsense or not, you know better than anyone. You can play pretend all you want, but it'll never work!”

I let out a cold laugh and turned to leave, only to be blocked by Joanna Lewis, who had rushed over after hearing the commotion.

“Lance, have you lost your mind? Who gave you the nerve to talk to Clive like that?!” Right in front of everyone, she raised her hand and slapped me across the face.

“No matter the past or the future, Clive is my brother. That’s not going to change!” Joanna was so furious that her usual icy composure completely fell apart, and her face flushed red.

“If you still want to stay in the Lewis family, apologize to Clive now!”

My cheek burned, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my chest. "Apologize to him? Not a chance! Joanna, even setting personal feelings aside, are you being fair as a leader?

“For the past two years, I haven’t slept more than four hours a day just to close deals. I’ve been running between clients and production lines nonstop. The second an overseas client wasn’t satisfied, I’d get up in the middle of the night to revise proposals. Almost every month, I drank so much at business dinners that I ended up with stomach bleeding. I’ve had three critical condition notices issued.

“And by the end of the year, I brought in 30 million in sales, yet my bonus was only 250 dollars. Meanwhile, Clive sits in his office all day, enjoying the AC and sipping coffee, and his year-end bonus is 800,000 dollars.

“And you still want me to apologize to him? Tell me, on what grounds?!”

Joanna froze for a second, then grew even more embarrassed and angry. “Figures. You’re straight-up broke, and all you ever talk about is money. No class at all. Fine, I’ll pay you out of my own pocket. I’ll give you a 3,000-dollar bonus. That should satisfy you, right?!”

She spoke as though she were doing me a huge favor. I found it amusing.

“No need, Ms. Lewis. You should keep that three thousand and save it for the next sucker you hire. I quit!”

I picked up the box of files on my desk and was about to leave when Clive stepped in front of me.

“Lance, I know you’ve never liked me, but you shouldn’t let your emotions affect your work or lash out at my sister like that.

“Besides… Well, there’s something I didn’t want to bring up. I lost a Richard Mille watch today, and it just so happens that you were the only one who went into my office around that time…” he trailed off, looking hesitant and wronged.

“I know you’re unhappy with your bonus, so maybe you thought you’d help yourself to something from me. If it were any other watch, I’d let it go. But that one was a coming-of-age gift from my sister. It means a lot to me. I’ve always taken great care of it.

“I can give you money of equal value. I’m just asking you to return it, okay?”

He looked humble, but the way he smeared me was anything but subtle.

Watching him put on that act made me sick. “I was in your office for less than five minutes. I didn’t take anything. If you’re going to make things up, at least have some limits. Otherwise, I’ll sue you for defamation!”

Clive turned to Joanna. His eyes reddened, and his voice trembled. “Joanna, I’d like to believe Lance didn’t take it, but the security footage on my side shows evidence…”

“I said I didn’t—” Before I could finish, Joanna cut me off sharply.

“Enough! Guards! Search through his things!”

Before I could even say a word in my defense, I was pinned to the ground by four or five burly security guards. The box I had just packed up was overturned, and all my belongings spilled across the floor.

After carefully searching everything, the guards found nothing unusual and shook their heads at Joanna.

Joanna’s expression eased slightly, but before she could speak, Clive let out a soft sigh. “Looks like Lance is pretty professional about this. He knew something like that shouldn’t be hidden anywhere else. It’s safest on his person. But there are so many people here. I can’t bear to have them search you.

“Joanna, maybe we should just let it go? Even though that watch is my favorite, I’ll just go home and cry for a couple of days. It’s not worth humiliating Lance over this…”

As soon as he said that, the last trace of hesitation in Joanna’s eyes disappeared. “The Lewis family has strict morals. We have zero tolerance for thieves! Don’t hold back. Keep searching. Strip him!”

Right there in front of everyone, I was pinned down like a dog. My jacket and shirt were torn off one after another, revealing my upper body—tight, defined muscles and several hideous old scars across my back.

Joanna frowned and asked subconsciously, “How did you get those scars?”

Back when I was in military school, I had been injured saving three classmates who fell off a cliff during a training exercise.

I paid a price for it, but I saved three lives and earned a personal second-class merit award.

Before I could speak, Clive cut in with a sigh, “Joanna, it’d be better not to ask.

“Lance spent years out there, growing up in an orphanage. It’s not surprising he picked up some bad habits and got beaten up after getting caught stealing.

“He’s so proud. He probably doesn’t want to talk about it in front of everyone.”

Before I could even refute it, Clive used the excuse of leaning in to look at my scars and pressed his knee against the back of my neck.

A wave of suffocation hit me instantly. I could not speak, and could barely breathe. Yet Joanna believed him completely. The disgust in her eyes deepened. “No wonder he stole Clive’s watch. He’s got a history! It must still be on him. Keep searching!”

The guards had no choice but to obey and started moving toward my pants. Female employees had already turned red and looked away, while a few curious male coworkers leaned in, pointing and whispering.

“ I didn’t expect it. Lance looks so decent, but he’s actually got a pretty solid build!”

“Heh, no wonder he closed so many deals. Bet he slept his way through rich women. Probably sold his body.”

Joanna did not defend me at all when she heard the mockery. Instead, she looked at me like I had embarrassed her.

“You’re a disgrace, an utter shame! The Lewis family will never shield someone like you. Once the watch is found, I’ll send you straight to the police, and you’ll pay for this!”

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the guards reached for me. At that moment, a stern voice came from the elevator entrance. “What the hell are you doing in broad daylight? Don’t you people have any shame?!”