Chapter 2Reborn with a Cold Heart: Goodbye, Toxic Family

Julian was the same age as me—fifteen.

But he was much more mature, not innocent and naive like I was.

Seeing me in his seat, his lips twitched slightly. Then, he forced a bright, easy smile. "I heard Logan was back, so I finished my tutoring session early. Logan, do you like this seat? Please, take it."

After saying that, he bit his lower lip and looked away, looking incredibly hurt.

My parents caught every single detail of his act.

Eleanor quickly rushed over and pulled my arm. "Logan, let’s sit over here instead. This seat... Julian is used to it. You might not feel comfortable here."

"Why wouldn't I be comfortable?"

I had been so confused.

I had also felt the weird, suffocating tension in the room.

But back then, how could a naive boy like me understand what was actually going on?

My parents had cried for me. They said they missed me.

Julian had offered the seat himself.

I was their biological son. Was I not even allowed to choose a seat I liked?

So, I had looked at them with a face full of questions.

Eleanor’s expression soured. She swallowed her words.

Arthur’s face grew stern, and he remained silent.

Julian walked over and pulled out the chair next to mine. "Logan, just sit here. This house belongs to you anyway. You can sit wherever you want."

I eventually sat down.

On the foster farm, I only knew how to handle dirty pots, pans, and mud. In this high-society mansion, I knew nothing.

I knew absolutely nothing about rich-family dining etiquette.

So, I genuinely didn't understand what I had done wrong.

Just as I picked up my fork, my hand was slammed down by Victoria, who had just rushed home.

She looked exhausted from work, but the moment she walked in, she glared at me. "Who allowed you to sit there?" she snapped. "That is Julian’s seat. Do you have no manners at all?"

I froze, completely shocked. Not just because it was my first time meeting my older sister.

But because... why was I the one with no manners? Didn't Julian tell me to sit here?

Terrified, I looked at my parents.

My parents looked uncomfortable. Victoria spoke first. "Mom, Dad, what were you thinking? This is Julian’s seat. If you keep spoiling Logan like this, you're going to break Julian's heart!"

"Well..." My parents looked extremely conflicted, not knowing what to say.

But I was sharp enough to catch the flash of disgust in Eleanor’s eyes.

She was looking at me.

I froze. I knew that look too well. My abusive foster father used to look at me the exact same way.

My mother was angry at me.

It turned out that I really was the bad guy—the rude intruder who stole other people’s things.