Chapter 2Punk Prince of the Sterling Empire

I decided to strike first, pulling a crumpled paper from my pocket and slapping it on Sarah's chest.

"I'm not a scammer!"

Sarah forgot to pick up her beads. Seeing the paternity test, her face changed.

It clearly showed a 99.9% probability of paternity between me and Mr. Sterling.

I didn't know when my adoptive mom did this behind my back, only shoving it to me before sending me out.

I crossed my arms.

"How about you give me a sum of money? Buy out this relationship, and I promise never to appear in front of you again! My lips are sealed!"

Sarah looked like she'd been punched. She slowly folded the report, her voice low.

"No."

I froze.

What no? No money?

So stingy?

Isn't the Sterling family rich?

A little leak from their fingernails would be enough to pay off my adoptive parents' debts.

"A son of the Sterling family cannot be left wandering outside."

"You were deliberately taken and abandoned by a nanny sent by a rival."

"Dad got into a car accident looking for you and recuperated for half a year. Mom almost committed suicide. The family company nearly collapsed."

Sarah said word by word, her eyes reddening.

They didn't throw me away?

The rival was so toxic, going straight for the heart by dumping a child?!

Sarah not only refused to let me go but also called the Sterling couple who were traveling abroad.

She asked the butler to take me to my room to drop off my luggage first.

I wanted to refuse, but couldn't think of a reason.

The second-floor hallway was long, rooms on both sides.

The butler stopped at the door at the very end.

"This is your room, Second Young Master."

I pushed the door open and widened my eyes.

This isn't a room; it's a prince's palace!

The whole room was decorated luxuriously and exquisitely.

The corner was piled with gift boxes.

Big and small, colorful, stacked from floor to ceiling.

My tattered backpack looked out of place in such a room.

"Is this... a mistake?"

My throat tightened.

"Madam personally arranged this for you, redecorating it every year according to your age."

Every year?

I was shaken.

So, even though I wasn't here, they remembered me?

Zack stood behind me at some point, holding an Ultraman toy.

He pointed to the gift boxes in the corner.

"Mom celebrates Second Brother's birthday every year, buying lots and lots of gifts. Even though you weren't here, I helped blow out the candles!"

"You... you mean these are all for me?"

"Yup!"

He nodded vigorously.

"Mom said Second Brother would come home one day, so she wanted to make up for all the birthday gifts!"

My chest felt tight, like I'd been punched hard.

Did they really look for me for so many years?

"Zack. Tell me honestly, is there... an adopted brother in the house? Older than you?"

Zack blinked his big eyes.

"Adopted brother?"

"Like..."

I chose my words carefully.

"While I was gone, did Mom and Dad adopt another boy to replace me?"

Zack looked confused.

"Mom and Dad do charity, but why would they raise someone else as a son?"

I was stunned.

No one?

How can there be no fake son?

Then who is my enemy?

Isn't that how novels are written?

Real son returns, fake son sets traps.