Chapter 1

The day my father brought his illegitimate son home, I was signing a billion-dollar contract.

My assistant, Chris, called, his voice shaking. "Mr. Lane, Mr. Richard Lane... He..."

"Speak," I ordered, my pen never lifting from the document.

"He brought back a young man, and he says... he's your younger brother," Chris replied.

My pen skidded across the signature line, leaving a long, ragged streak of ink.

I set the pen down and looked out at the gray, overcast sky.

Just as I thought, this was bound to happen.

"Got it," I responded.

After I hung up the phone, I handed the signed contract to the client.

"Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Lewis," I said.

He grinned. "Mr. Lane, you're really something. Lane Corporation's future is sky-high with you leading the way."

I forced a smile, but inwardly, I disagreed with his comment.

Back at the office, the executive suite upstairs had an odd vibe.

Everyone was keeping their heads down, pretending to be busy.

But I bet they were pricking up their ears.

I pushed open the door to my dad's office.

Inside, a young man was seated.

He looked just past twenty years old, and his facial features resembled my dad's quite a bit.

Dressed in casual attire discolored from excessive washing, he seemed timid, yet his eyes flickered with a gleam of wolfish ambition.

I had to say he was a walking contradiction.

"You're here, Edward," my dad, Richard Lane, greeted me.

His tone was flat, giving nothing away.

"His name is Andrew Lane," he continued.

I didn't glance at Andrew.

Instead, I just stared at my dad.

"So?" I said, my tone cool.

My dad furrowed his brows.

"He's your younger brother now, and he'll be joining the company to help you out," he said.

Help me? That was an interesting choice of words.

"Which department is he joining?" I asked.

"For now, he'll follow you and work as your right-hand man," my dad replied.

I almost burst out laughing.

So a bastard came out of nowhere and was immediately appointed to be my right-hand man?

My dad really did pamper him.

Andrew stood up and called out to me kind of awkwardly, "Edward."

I ignored him.

All I did was walk up to my dad's desk and grab his personal stamp.

I said, "Dad, I've worked for this company for ten years.

"I started sitting in on board meetings at sixteen, and now, at twenty-six, I'm the one in charge.

"I've never taken a single vacation day, never so much as dated anyone, never done a thing except exactly what you wanted me to do."

My voice was steady.

It was so level that it sounded almost like I was reciting tomorrow's weather.

"Now, I feel a little tired," I added and gently placed the stamp down in front of him.

I announced, "This seat should go to whoever's got what it takes. If you think he's up to the job, then let him take a shot."

My dad's expression finally shifted.

"Edward, what do you mean by that?" he demanded.

I replied, "It means..."

Then, I turned around and stared at Andrew, who was dumbstruck.

"I quit," I continued.

After I said that, pin-drop silence descended over the room.

For the first time ever, cracks appeared on my dad's usual mask of a composed businessman.

He must've thought I'd lose my cool, yell at him, or start grilling him for answers, just like in all those soap operas.

Too bad that script was played out.

The market needed something new and exciting.

"Say that again?" My dad's voice was dangerously low, with a hint of menace.

"I said—I quit," I repeated and placed my six-figure pen on my dad's desk.

"Starting now, I'll let your favorite son handle everything—the CEO position, as well as every project I'm in charge of," I added, pointing right at Andrew.

Andrew's expression morphed from total shock to ecstasy, but he quickly suppressed his joy and slapped on a fake mask of concern.

He had some acting chops, but he was still lacking a little.

Andrew uttered, "Edward, don't do this... I didn't mean it that way—"

I cut him off. "It doesn't matter what you mean. What matters is, I'm letting things go, and the real question is, can you handle them?"

My dad slammed his hand hard on the desk.

"You brat! Are you trying to threaten me?" he snapped, his tone sharp as knives.

"Dad, you've got this all wrong," I said calmly and smiled at him.

I added, "I'm not threatening you. I'm just helping you get exactly what you want.

"Don't you always feel guilty about him?

"Now you can give him the entire Lane Corporation. That should make up for everything.

"Isn't that just perfect?"

With those words, I turned and walked out.

"Stop right there!" my dad shouted after me.

However, I didn't stop.

I walked to the door and pulled it open.

Outside, Chris and a few other secretaries had their necks lowered.

"Chris," I called out.

"Yes, Mr. Lane..." Chris stammered.

"From now on, Andrew is your new CEO," I said, my tone cool.

Tapping Chris on the shoulder, I added, "Make sure you take good care of him."

Chris' face went ghostly pale.

I didn't bother with them anymore, heading straight for the elevator.

Behind me, my dad was hollering in rage while Andrew was busy putting up a false show of concern for him.

That sure was a good show.

The elevator doors slid open, and I stepped inside.

My reflection stared back at me from the stainless-steel elevator doors.

I wore a pricey tailored suit, and my hair was slicked back with not a single strand out of place, but my eyes were empty and lifeless.

Starting from today, everything changed.

The elevator arrived on the first floor, and I walked out of Lane Corporation.

It was a bright, sunny day outside.

I pulled out my phone and made a call.

"Hey, Harry," I said.

"Ed! I wasn't expecting your call. What's up?" Harry replied, genuinely surprised.

"Drive out in your flashiest Ferrari," I said.

"For what?" Harry asked curiously.

"We're going clubbing," I answered.

After hanging up, I undid my tie and chucked it into the nearest trash can.

An unprecedented sense of ease enveloped me.

Lane Corporation? The heir?

To hell with that.

Today, I planned to do everything I missed in the last ten years. Every damn thing.

The next act was to live life while I could.