Chapter 2
Ryan didn't expect me to fight back. His eyes widened, and he swallowed hard.
His face flushed as he struggled to find some snarky words.
"Emily, is money all you care about? You've been gone for years, and they never bothered looking for you.
"Now they throw you a bone and you're desperate to please them?
"Have you got no backbone? So shameless!"
In my past life, he always put me down, making me feel small.
I used to hang my head in shame, thinking he was right.
But I'd already lived through a lifetime of hardship.
Whenever it rained, every joint twisted by years of hard labor would ache and remind me—why should I give up a comfortable life to suffer for a loser like him?
I coldly yanked my hand free.
"Ryan, whether I'm desperate or not, the Stone family is my family.
"My family matters are none of your business. You're an outsider, so stay out of it."
I got into the car without looking back.
As Charles shot him a disapproving glance, Ryan shouted, "Emily, I'm giving you one last chance! Get out of that car right now!
"Or we're done!
"Look at yourself—no brains, no class. Who do you think you are, pretending you belong with the rich?
"When they throw you out, don't come crawling back begging me to take you!"
I rolled up the window, cutting off his tirade, and told the driver calmly, "Take me home to see my parents."
I knew the Stone family was wealthy, but seeing that mansion and those luxury cars up close still left me speechless.
Charles smirked, looking at me like I didn't belong.
He said, "This mansion was Izzy's 18th birthday present."
Isabelle got a whole mansion for turning 18, while I was scrubbing dishes in a filthy sink to pay for Charles' exam prep courses.
Charles continued, "Back then, Izzy always called herself the family's little princess, so they went all out and designed it like a castle."
Charles had a soft smile as he reminisced, but the moment his eyes landed on me, they turned cold.
"Ms. Rivers, since you decided to come back, as the heir to Stone Enterprises, I need to set some things straight."
Isabelle never had a mind for academics or business, while Charles had been working at the company since he was a kid. Nobody officially named him heir, but he'd already claimed the position.
"Yeah, you're blood-related, but maybe your boyfriend has a point—my parents probably only reached out on a whim.
"But Izzy's different. She grew up here as the family princess. She was switched at birth too, but she never knew. She's innocent—she doesn't owe you anything!"
Every arrogant word hit like a slap. I looked up at him steadily.
"Thanks."
Charles looked confused, but I walked right past him.
Thanks for the reminder. Now I knew—this should've been mine all along.
After I turned down my family in my past life, I still thought about sneaking over to the Stone Mansion just to see my parents. It wasn't about money or status—I just wanted to know where I came from.
But Charles stopped me at the door.
He said, "Ms. Rivers, you have utterly disappointed my parents by choosing some guy over your own family.
"Trying to worm your way back in now? Have you no shame?
"You blew your chance. Leave. Now.
"We don't want Isabelle upset, especially with her birthday coming up. She doesn't even know you exist. Ms. Rivers, do the right thing—don't hurt my sister."
That day, Charles had his bodyguards throw me out like a stray dog. All I could do was peer through the gate as my parents gathered around Isabelle in the garden, treating her like their precious treasure.
Back then, I didn't know Charles was just the adopted son—I thought he spoke for the whole family.
It wasn't until I was dying that I learned the truth—my parents had wanted to see me, but Charles blocked them at every turn.
He painted me as a clueless troublemaker.
He told them, "She said unless the whole Stone family dies and she's the only heir left, she won't even acknowledge you."
People have feelings.
My parents, who barely knew me, heard that and looked at the sweet, lively Isabelle, and eventually accepted it with a sigh.
In my past life, I just accepted whatever came my way, never realizing that if you weren't born with privilege, you had to fight for everything you wanted.
Whether it was money or love, you had to claw your way up.
So when I cried about how much I'd missed them, my parents' eyes filled with tears and they pulled me into a tight embrace.
"Sweetheart, you've suffered so much.
"We'll make it all up to you. We'll give you everything you missed, and more.
Through my tear-blurred vision, I spotted young Isabelle standing off to the side.