Chapter 2

"Who dares?!"

I roared, stepping up onto the stage.

I glared down at the headmaster and the crowd. "My father didn't fund this school's new library just so I, the actual heir, could be bullied here. If anyone touches a single hair on my head today, I'll see you in court."

The moment the words left my mouth, Harrison slammed his hand on a table, scoffing loudly. "You really are delusional! Ms. Vance herself just confirmed that Christian is the heir of the Vance Group. And yet you’re still here spinning these pathetic lies? You must be desperate to play prince!"

The crowd quickly chimed in. "Seriously! Christian is so rich and yet so humble. He was nice enough to have his family sponsor Ethan, and this is how Ethan repays him? Talk about biting the hand that feeds you!"

Several students pulled out their phones, recording the drama live on Snapchat and TikTok.

Chloe raised her chin triumphantly. "Ethan, if you get on your knees right now and beg for—"

Before she could finish her sentence, I silenced her with a resounding slap across the face.

"Did you sit at our table for so long that you forgot who you really are?" I sneered.

The truth was, Chloe was adopted from an orphanage.

My mother passed away when I was very young, leaving me quite lonely. Fearing I would grow up isolated, my father adopted Chloe to be my companion and older sister.

I still remembered her back at the orphanage. She was wearing dirty, tattered clothes, clutching a stale piece of bread.

She had knelt on the floor, tugging at my sleeve, begging me, "Please let me be your sister. I promise I’ll protect you and love you forever."

It was because of those words that out of all the kids there, I chose her.

Yet in my past life, she turned on me for Christian. She forced me to sign over all my shares, locked me in a dark basement, and let me starve to death.

Chloe clutched her burning cheek, staring at me in utter disbelief. "You... you dared to hit me?"

After all, after years of her psychological manipulation, I used to do everything I could to please her. I would never have dared to raise a hand against her.

I spat on the floor. "I’m hitting an ungrateful parasite."

That slap sent shockwaves through the hall.

Headmaster Sterling rushed over to pull me back. "How could you strike Ms. Vance?! She’s the General Manager of the Vance Group!"

Christian shrank behind Chloe, shouting in powerless fury, "Ethan, you’ve gone too far! I’m calling the cops on you right now! Enjoy prison, you psycho!"

I laughed mockingly. "The only one going to prison is you, fraud. How many girls at this school did you ruin by pretending to be the Vance heir? Do you think I don't know?"

Christian had been playing Chloe for her money while simultaneously using the "billionaire heir" title to prey on vulnerable girls at school. If any girl rejected him, he’d have his gang bully them until they dropped out.

Seeing his secrets laid bare, Christian’s face went pale. He quickly turned to Chloe, stammering, "I didn't! He’s lying! He’s trying to frame me!"

Chloe patted his hand reassuringly. "Christian was raised with impeccable manners. He would never do such a thing.

But you, Ethan—you’ve become an arrogant monster. I am going to teach you a lesson today."

Chloe ordered the beefy security guards to pin me down.

Then, she snatched a leather belt from one of the guards and handed it to Christian, gently stroking his hair. "Go on. Get your revenge. Whip him until he kneels down and begs for your mercy."

"With pleasure," Christian sneered, taking the belt with a sickening grin.

Just as he raised the belt to strike, a sudden commotion rippled through the crowd near the entrance.

"Oh my god, look! It’s Mrs. Vance, the wife of the billionaire! I've seen her on the news!"