Broken Ties, Sweet Revenge

Out of nowhere, I received a mysterious call. “I’m at the café on the second corner of Willow Crescent, waiting for you. I’m sure you want to meet me.”

Who could this be?

I was puzzled. I didn’t know this person.

But my curiosity got the better of me, so I went to the café.

Inside, there was only one person sitting quietly, looking like a character straight out of a high-end portrait.

He struck me as oddly unpleasant, though he seemed vaguely familiar.

“Hi, Irene. I’m your so-called older brother, Kevin.”

I grabbed my bag and turned to leave, but Kevin gestured sharply. “Stop her.”

Suddenly, a group of bodyguards in black appeared from every direction, blocking the café entrance.

The café owner had locked the door.

A wave of fear washed over me.

I slammed my bag on the table. “What’s going on? I haven’t done anything to you! I only sent your parents to jail because they tried to kill me, and that wasn’t my intention!”

“You had your parents throw me out of their home. That’s more than enough reason for me to be angry,” he said.

I could hardly believe my ears. “That was just setting things right. Kicking you out was what you deserved.”

I sneered and continued, “It’s just a return to the way things should be. Why are you so upset?”

He stayed calm. “It doesn’t matter. What I really want is for your parents to rot in prison.”

I was stunned. “What? They’re your real parents!”

He paused, giving me a cold smirk. “Does it matter if they’re my biological parents? What matters is that they couldn’t give me a better life. And do you know why your parents didn’t bring you back but just sent you money?

“You’re eighteen now and have been raised poorly. Only I can become the heir to your real parents' wealthy family and make it thrive. You, on the other hand, are just a worthless waste.

“If you behave, I might support you for the rest of your life.”

I walked over and cupped his chin, leaning in so my red lips brushed his ear. “But you’re not my parents’ real son, you know? Bloodline is what really matters in a family. I could easily marry someone powerful and have children who would be raised by my parents.

“They’re still young enough to see their grandchild.”

Kevin’s calm facade cracked. “What! What are you saying?”

I smirked. “You know exactly what I mean. Whether you’re a man or a woman doesn’t make you more important. Don’t think your gender makes you superior.”

I grabbed my bag and pushed past the crowd at the café entrance. “Get out of my way!”

Outside, I saw that so-called “brother” slouched dismally on the sofa.

I put on my sunglasses and booked a flight from Mapleton Heights to the capital city on my phone.

No special reason, really. I needed to solidify my position in the family.

From my chat with that so-called brother, it was clear that my biological parents must have painted me as useless.

But I wouldn’t let that stand.

What’s mine is mine, and I’m not letting go, no matter what it takes.

On the plane, everything was eerily quiet.

It was my first time flying. My family had always been poor, classified as impoverished every year, living on government aid.

So, I had never been on a plane before.

I was a bit taken aback, then I clutched my chest.

From now on, I won’t deny myself anything.

At the airport, my biological parents were waiting for me.

I greeted them with a wide smile. “Mom, Dad!”

Then, in a quieter area, I let a few fake tears slip. I announced loudly, “This is the first time I’m meeting my real parents.”

Next, I “accidentally” revealed my leg, wrapped in white bandages.

My mom’s face went pale with concern. “What happened, Irene? How did you get hurt?”

I forced a smile. “It’s nothing, Mom. I’m used to it.”

Mom gave Dad, who was on the phone, a sharp jab. “Look at our child with those bandages! How can you say it’s nothing? It’s breaking my heart!”

I quickly interjected, “Mom, let’s not focus on that right now. My brother...”

They exchanged glances, and Mom gently dismissed my earlier suggestion to kick him out. “Your brother is working on a big project right now, and he’s done an excellent job. It wouldn’t be right to send him away, don’t you think?”

I burst into tears, my voice trembling. “Mom! My wound hurts so much. Can you check if it’s infected?”

Infected!

The word made everything seem far more serious.

Mom rushed to examine my leg, and sure enough, there was a yellow and red stain seeping through the bandages.

I sobbed, “Mom, those people who raised me did this. They were trying to kill me!”

My biological parents were in a state of shock. “They tried to kill you? So they knew all along that the kids were swapped!”

I dabbed at my tears and replied, “Not just that—my so-called brother knew too and even came to threaten me. He’s still at Mapleton Heights.”

“Darling, we can’t let him stay! He’s been trouble from the start, and he knew about this all along without telling us!” My mom, Ivy, was glaring angrily, while my dad, Benjamin, was frowning deeply.

“I understand. Once we’re done here, I’ll make sure he leaves. The sooner he’s out, the sooner we can relax,” Benjamin assured me.

A secret thrill of satisfaction bubbled up inside me. All the pain from yesterday seemed worth it if it meant getting rid of that so-called brother.

Still, I knew better than to relax just yet—things could shift in an instant.

Ivy and Benjamin took me back to the old house. My grandmother was there, sitting regally in the center of the room with a warm smile. “You’re back! It’s so wonderful to see you!”

I gave a faint smile and signaled to Ivy. Ivy introduced, “This is your grandmother, my mother.”

After meeting my grandmother, I was officially settled into the old house.

But just when things seemed to calm down, Robert and Shelly showed up at the door, waving a paternity test.

“Irene is our child! You’ve got it all wrong! Give my child back, and we’ll return your biological son, Kevin, to you,” Shelly demanded, hands on her hips, shouting from the entrance.

Why didn’t she come in? Because the security guards were heavily armed. Crossing the threshold meant risking their lives.

Shelly was visibly scared.

Kevin, however, stayed calm. This was his old home, after all.

To my shock, the housekeeper, Susan, was already tossing my belongings out. She even shot knowing glances at the other staff, saying, “With the paternity test proving it, it’s unclear if Ms. Irene really belongs here. Hurry up and get her out! Really lacking in common sense!”

I tried to intervene, but Susan slapped my hand away. With my bruised wrist and weakened legs, I was helpless.

They were going to throw me out too!

With Benjamin and Ivy away on a business trip and my grandmother at an evening event, the estate was deserted except for me.

It was getting dark, and if they threw me out, Kevin’s people would surely make sure I didn’t survive the night!

I attempted to call the police and my grandmother, but my usually reliable signal kept cutting out.

I was breaking into a cold sweat.

What can I do to save myself?