Chapter 1

Chapter 1

My brother drove a blade into my heart. As I lay dying, my family stood over me, hurling insults instead of calling for help.

My mother hissed, "Jaxon, stop acting like a victim. Do you enjoy picking on your brother that much?!"

My father added, "You animal! What did you do to terrify him like this?!"

My sister, Sienna, held him tight, sobbing, "Just leave! You're not welcome here. Caden has suffered enough because of you. Do you even have a soul?"

I bled out on the floor. Caden's voice whispered in my ear just before the darkness took me, "How could a peasant like you become a billionaire? You don't deserve a better life than me."

In that moment, every ounce of love I had for them vanished.

I finally saw the truth. No matter how much I sacrificed, their love was reserved for Caden, the boy who wasn't even their blood.

If I could start over, I would never love them again.

I opened my eyes.

I was back. It was the day I was brought back to my biological parents' house.

Twelve years ago, a hospital error in a small rural town swapped me and Caden. We lived lives meant for the other.

A blood test a few months ago revealed the mistake. Now, I was home.

Caden stood at the front door, his eyes full of malice. Suddenly, he threw himself into my mother's arms, wailing.

"Mom, Dad, please don't throw me away! I'll be good, I promise!"

His face was covered in tears. My parents' hearts instantly melted.

"Of course not, sweetheart," they cooed. "This boy is just staying for a few days. He'll be gone soon."

I watched them coldly. No emotion. No pain.

I knew exactly what came next.

Caden glanced at me, his sobbing growing louder. "You're lying! He just glared at me! He hates me! I won't have a home anymore!"

My father's face darkened. He stepped forward and delivered a stinging slap across my cheek.

"Don't think we owe you anything just because you were gone for twelve years!" he barked.

"If you ever give Caden a hard time, I'll kick you out of this house myself!"

I stumbled back, clutching my red, swollen face. This time, I didn't argue.

"He's mistaken," I said quietly. "I didn't do anything."

My father snorted in disbelief. "Mistaken? Caden doesn't lie!"

Sienna came down the stairs, adding fuel to the fire. "Honestly, kids from the sticks have no class. He isn't fit to tie Caden's shoes."

She picked Caden up and kissed his forehead. "Don't be scared. You're the only brother I care about. If he touches you, I'll throw him out."

She looked at me with pure disgust.

My fists clenched under my sleeves. Even though I expected this, the sting was still there.

But the difference was simple: I didn't love them anymore.

I stayed silent. I let them mock me.

I knew explaining was useless. They would always choose the boy they raised over the son they shared blood with.

My father glared at me. My lack of a reaction seemed to irritate him.

"Go sleep in the basement storage room," he snapped. "We haven't prepared a room for you."

I nodded and took my small bag downstairs.

It wasn't that they hadn't prepared a room. They simply never intended for me to stay.

I barely put my bag down when Caden followed me in. He grabbed my belongings and stomped them into the dusty floor.

Gone was the crying child. He sneered, "You really think you belong here, you piece of trash? Mom and Dad said you're just a burden. I'm their only son. If you're smart, you'll run back to your farm."

I smirked. "If you want my spot so bad, just say so. Why act like a desperate rat?"

That hit his pride. He snarled, grabbed a broken ceramic shard from the floor, and sliced his own arm.

"Mom! Dad! Help!" he screamed. "Jaxon tried to hurt me! I'm sorry, I'll leave! I don't want him to hate me!"

My parents rushed in. Seeing the blood and the mess, my father didn't hesitate. He backhanded me again.

"You monster! You just got here and you're already attacking him?!"

My mother cradled Caden, her eyes red. "It's such a deep cut! What if it leaves a scar?"

My sister stood at the door, crossing her arms. "I told you not to bring him back. Rural kids are malicious. Who knows what kind of diseases he's carrying?"

In my past life, this moment broke me. I became the villain in their play.

But not this time. I had no expectations left to shatter.