Chapter 1Heir to Nothing, Master of Everything

Four years ago, my birth parents, in their misguided devotion to the boy they believed was their true son, cast me out of the Sterling Manor. After leaving, I moved abroad, where I painstakingly built my own empire from the ground up.

Just this year, I sold my company for a staggering sum—billions in assets—and returned to Coastal City, settling back into my adoptive parents’ old house. As I was making plans to renovate the aging property, the very 'son' who had replaced me, Miles Sterling, tracked me down.

“Do you honestly think I’d be here if Mom and Dad didn’t want to see you?” he scoffed, his voice laced with disdain. “You should be begging me. Without my permission, you’ll never set foot back in the Sterling family again! Now, I’m giving you a chance: come back with me.”

* * *

I looked at Miles Sterling, his head held high in haughty arrogance, and simply shook my head. “No, thank you. I’m doing quite well on my own,” I replied, my voice even. When it came to Miles, I honestly couldn't be bothered to argue. As for the Sterling family, I had even less interest. Everything they had, everything they represented, held no appeal for me anymore.

“Ethan, I’m giving you an opportunity here!” Miles retorted, his tone chilling. “Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in this backwater forever, tilling the soil for the rest of your life!” He saw my lack of reaction and simply reiterated, cold as ice, “Ethan, this is your chance! Just get down on your knees and beg me, and you can come back to the Sterling family!”

I merely shook my head, my gaze unwavering. “Miles, I have no interest in the Sterling family. You can leave now.” My voice was flat, devoid of emotion. The Sterling family, in my eyes, was nothing. Yet, these people persisted in holding their heads so absurdly high.

Miles, hearing my blunt refusal, exploded. “Ethan, I’m giving you a chance! Don’t you realize that ever since you left, our family’s business has boomed? The company is practically ready to go public!” He gloated, a triumphant smirk on his face. “If it weren’t for me, how could the Sterlings have grown so big? I’m here out of pity, giving you a lifeline. Don’t be ungrateful!”

He prattled on, his words grating on my nerves. I found Miles utterly insufferable. With a decisive push, I ushered him out of my house. “Miles, I’m not interested in the Sterling family. Please, leave.”

My words undoubtedly stung him. He spun around, his face flushed. “Ethan, Mom and Dad want to see you! Come with me, now!”

I didn’t answer. Instead, I simply closed the door on him. I was long past caring about the Sterling family. So, I ignored Miles entirely.

But I hadn't anticipated that my refusal would lead to Richard and Eleanor Sterling themselves showing up at my doorstep. Eleanor, my birth mother, wept dramatically when she saw me.

“My child, you’ve suffered so much these past years,” she sobbed, reaching for my hand. “Come home with Mom.”

I gently pulled my hand away, shaking my head. "Mrs. Sterling, have you forgotten? It was you and Mr. Sterling who threw me out of this family, all those years ago."

My words caused both Richard and Eleanor to flinch, an awkward silence descending upon them. Richard, my birth father, glared at me, indignant. “We took you in back then, but you were so wayward, always clashing with Miles! Why else would we have sent you away?”

I listened to Richard’s self-righteous tone and shook my head. They would never, ever believe they were in the wrong. And besides, when had I ever truly clashed with Miles?