A Second Chance at Life

I caught Rebecca off guard with my words, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond.

Suddenly, Sebastian Robinett, the orphanage's director, spoke up from the side.

"Tyler, this is where you're wrong," he said, his voice heavy with disapproval.

Sebastian wasn't just the honorary director of the orphanage, but also our college dean, earning a hefty salary in the millions. My company, Hale Group, funded both institutions. But now, here he was, lecturing me like I had done something wrong.

"The paperwork was all done, and now you're backing out? Have you thought about the trouble this has caused others? You're not a kid anymore, yet you're acting like one! Is this what you're taught at school?" he asked, shaking his head. "Get rid of that snobbish attitude and go home with Rebecca and Freddie. Stop causing trouble."

I couldn't help but feel a sense of mockery bubble up in me. When my father, George Hale, passed away, I was just a teenager, and for all these years, Sebastian had somehow crowned himself as a father figure in my life. Over time, it seemed he'd really come to believe he could boss me around.

I looked at him, his solemn face only making me want to laugh. I scoffed loudly.

"Mr. Robinett, you shouldn't bite the hand that feeds you. Is your million-dollar paycheck coming from Rebecca, or is it Freddie who's footing the bill? No. I'm the one who's paying your salary."

In my past life, I'd been a people-pleaser; I was constantly trying to appease people like Rebecca, stepping back and letting them walk all over me. But now? No more. I would show them I was done with that.

"Mr. Robinett," I said, my tone icy, "if you can't seem to know your place and think I wasted your time with the procedures and everything, then you can either resign or I'll let you go."

Without waiting for his stunned reply, I slammed the door and got into the car, instructing the driver to start the engine.

As the car pulled away and I watched the trees along the roadside blurring into streaks of green, the anger that had been building in me began to simmer down. I thought of my late father, of the empire he'd built with his own two hands, and I couldn't help but slap myself mentally. In my past life, I'd been blinded by love, and I owed my father an apology.

This time, I wouldn't make the same mistakes. Never again.

But when I got home after handling a few errands, I was stunned to find Rebecca, Freddie, and my mother, Christina Brewer, sitting on the couch together, all smiles, as if they were one big happy family.

Before I could even say a word, my mother got up and slapped me hard across the face.

"How dare you pick on your peers and disrespect your elders!" she shouted. "Tyler, you've dishonored your father! You're bullying people, thinking you're some big shot, huh? As long as I'm alive, don't think you can keep doing this! First, apologize to Rebecca and Freddie. Then go to Mr. Robinett's office and apologize."

My cheek stung, already starting to swell, as I glanced at Rebecca, who shot me a look of disgust, and Freddie, whose expression was full of challenge.

I ran my tongue over the spot where she'd slapped me and, with a chill in my voice, turned to my mother.

"I'm bullying people, thinking I'm some bigshot? I am the legitimate heir to Hale Group. I AM a big shot," I said, my voice cutting. "But you? You don't even ask for the truth, and you're here defending a bunch of strangers, hitting your own son."

I shook my head, disbelief rising in my chest.

"What kind of mother are you? I'm not apologizing to anyone. Have them leave my house now."

The orphanage had always been my father's way of giving back and building some good karma. As a child, I enjoyed volunteering there, chasing after Rebecca, while my mother took a liking to Freddie. I remembered her even suggesting once that we adopt Freddie, but my father immediately rejected the idea, holding me close and saying, "I already have a good son—why do we need another?"

My mother was always my father's pet, afraid to oppose him. So, when they did visit the orphanage, she'd go out of her way to bring extra gifts for Freddie.

The luxury items in Freddie's suitcase were all gifts from Christina.

In my past life, I'd suggested adopting Freddie just to please Rebecca, and that was the first time I'd ever seen her smile so warmly at me. But not this time. This time, I wouldn't let these parasites soil my home.

I told them to leave, but Freddie only smiled in silent disdain and stood up, casually wrapping his arm around my mother's. "Don't mind him, Mom," he said, his tone mockingly sweet. "He's just used to that self-important attitude. Don't let him get to you. I'll give you a shoulder rub; you look stressed out."