Chapter 1

My secretary was out there playing the trust-fund billionaire. He had even become a massive influencer, with millions of followers fawning over him.

He built his fame by streaming lies about me, claiming I was involved with illegal substances just to get views.

When my father tried to clear my name, the guy twisted the narrative. He made it look like we were using old money and power to sweep things under the rug, triggering a wave of online harassment.

The resulting hate campaign destroyed my family.

He grew fat and rich by feasting on the ruins of my life.

But then, I opened my eyes and I was back.

I looked at my secretary, who was currently holding my black card and shouting, "Everything is on me tonight!"

I immediately froze the account, turned off my phone, and walked out of the club.

1

"Everyone, enjoy yourselves! Everything is on my tab tonight!"

The loud declaration cut through the thumping bass of the club. I snapped my eyes open to see Lance Lockwood standing under the neon lights, looking like he owned the world.

"Lance is the man!" The crowd roared. I looked up, seeing him bask in the spotlight like he was some chosen prince.

Lance noticed my stare and waved me over. "Hey, let me introduce you. This is my wingman."

A girl followed his gaze and looked me up and down. Seeing my plain hoodie, she let out a scoff.

"Lance, your little friend doesn't look nearly as generous as you. You're buying the whole house drinks, and he hasn't even offered a glass of water."

"Lance, you are literally a god!" another girl squealed, pressing against him. "I have to post this on my story. My friends are going to die of jealousy!"

Before I could even process what was happening, someone shoved me into the corner of the velvet sofa. A girl in a micro-skirt squeezed in, whispering to her friends.

"This guy is just taking up space. Get him out of here so he doesn't kill the vibe for Lance."

Lance stood in the center of the girls, shooting me a playful, mocking wink. His eyes said it all: "I'm giving you a chance to be part of my world, and you're wasting it."

The girl in the micro-skirt clung to Lance's arm, giggling. "Lance, don't mind him. He's just sitting there drinking alone. He'll probably bore himself to death."

Lance turned back to her and grinned. "Forget about him. Let's keep the party going."

He raised his glass. "Cheers, everyone!"

I sat there dazed, feeling like I was in a dream, but a cold fire started burning in my chest. I had really come back.

In my past life, it was exactly like this. I had just returned from studying abroad and had no real social circle.

Lance, who had just become my secretary, volunteered to help me network. He used my card every single day to throw these massive parties.

He invited all sorts of lowlifes to leech off my wealth, and everyone thought he was the one paying. They worshipped him while I was pushed into the shadows.

If that had been the end of it, maybe I wouldn't be so bitter.

But then I remembered the feeling of cold steel sliding into my ribs, over and over again. I looked at Lance, who was currently flirting with three girls at once.

I made a silent vow: Last time, I was blind. This time, everything changes. You owe me, Lance. And I'm going to collect every cent.

While no one was looking, I pulled out my phone. I opened my banking app and froze every single card associated with that account.

Then, I powered down the phone, stood up, and walked out without looking back.

In my previous life, I hadn't even driven through the mansion gates before Lance came rushing out. His eyes were full of desperation, his face a mask of pure agony.

"Save me! I'll do anything!" His voice was trembling, sounding like he was on the verge of a total breakdown.

I had stopped the car, looking at his miserable state with a flicker of sympathy. After all, I couldn't forget that his father, Arthur Lockwood, had saved my father's life years ago.

"What's going on?" I had asked him.

"Kian, please! My dad racked up three million in gambling debts. They're going to take my organs to pay it off! Please, have mercy on me!" He had sobbed at my feet.

I took a deep breath, my heart heavy. Arthur had ended up with a permanent limp while saving my father. I couldn't ignore that debt of honor.

I paid off his gambling debts and hired Lance as my personal assistant. Later, he became my secretary.

I trusted him just as my father trusted Arthur. I had no idea that trust would be my downfall.

Once the debts were cleared, Arthur came back to work as our estate manager. Lance moved into the guest wing of the mansion, claiming he needed to be on call 24/7.

One day, Lance suddenly said to me, "Kian, you just got back. Let me introduce you to some real friends."

I nodded, not thinking much of it. I really did need to build a social life in the city.

I never imagined he would exploit my trust. He used my cards for his social climbing and started live-streaming to attract fans, branding himself as a billionaire heir.

When I confronted him about it, he had an excuse ready. "Kian, I'm doing this for you! I'm out there building a network so your business can thrive."

"I use your money to get things done for you. I've never spent a dime on myself. I'm so grateful for everything, I'd never betray you."

When I asked why he hid my true identity, he looked concerned. "I'm thinking about your safety. What if people find out how rich you are and try to kidnap you again?"

I thought about my father's past kidnapping and felt a chill. I thought he made sense.

But when my company finally started to take off, Lance went on his live stream and framed me for using illegal substances.

When my dad released a statement to clear me, Lance twisted it. He convinced the public it was just a rich family using their influence to wash away a crime.