Reborn Heir Taking Back My Empire

My mother was in a coma after a violent car accident. Yet, while hosting our corporate annual gala, my sister publicly declared that the boy she took in years ago was her real brother and the true heir to the corporation. Stunned, I stood up to stop her. She shoved me off the stage without a second thought. "If my brother hadn’t taken pity on you and paid for your tuition back then, you wouldn’t even have the right to breathe the air in a place this nice." Lucas looked at me with faux concern, pretending to steady me, but whispered a chilling threat directly into my ear: "Listen to me, Kieran. Don't cause a scene. Get out right now. If you piss off Jessica, you know damn well what will happen." In my past life, I obeyed Jessica blindly. I gave in to every demand. What did I get in return? Not praise, but cut brake lines and a speeding truck. Now, reborn into this life, I would never give them another chance to destroy me. Looking at Lucas’s smug, arrogant face, I didn't hesitate. I kicked him hard, sending him flying backward across the floor. "Who the hell do you think you are? You're an ungrateful piece of trash. You aren't even worthy of shining my shoes." The entire banquet hall instantly froze, every eye snapping toward me. "Who is this guy? Did he seriously just lay hands on the Sterling family's heir?" "What an ungrateful bastard. Someone like that deserves to starve on the streets." "Everyone knows Jessica dotes on Lucas more than anyone. If he dares to touch Lucas, he’s dead. Word is the last guy who crossed Lucas vanished from the city overnight." Murmurs of disgust aimed at me, mingled with cheap flattery for Lucas, flooded the air like a tidal wave. Seeing Lucas on the ground, Jessica rushed forward and shoved me hard. "What kind of garbage are you to put your hands on my brother?" She helped Lucas up, checking him over frantically even though he didn't have a single scratch. "Are you hurt? Does anything ache?" Lucas shook his head, playing the noble saint. "Jessica, don't be too hard on Kieran. He has no family, no roots. It's only natural he’s jealous seeing how much you love and protect me." It was the most transparent, manipulative performance, yet Jessica swallowed it whole, her heart breaking for him. She whipped around, glaring at me with venom. "Get over here and get on your knees! Apologize to Lucas right now!" Lucas stood behind her, smirking mockingly at me. In my previous life, I foolishly believed that if I swallowed every humiliation and obeyed her every whim, she would eventually treat me like real family. In the end, reality delivered a brutal slap across my face. I stood there calmly, watching their pathetic little display. "What a touching show of sibling love. If you want to act, get on a theater stage. This is the annual gala of the Sterling Group. Irrelevant outsiders need to see themselves out." With that, I made a polite "after you" gesture toward the exit. Seeing that I dared to talk back, Jessica turned red with fury. She lunged forward and kicked at me. "The Sterlings put food on your plate and paid to educate you! We never expected gratitude, but who knew you'd be greedy enough to covet my family's company?" "Your family's company?" I scoffed coldly. "I call you my sister, and you really think you're the master of Apex Horizon? One word from me, and your cozy little executive title is gone." Seeing how unyielding and sharp I was, the guests in the crowd began to whisper in doubt. "His clothes look pretty ordinary, but nobody talks like that on Sterling home turf without serious backing, right?" Yet the moment anyone voiced rational doubt, the sycophants immediately pounced. "If you ask me, the Sterlings just spoiled a stray dog, and now he thinks he can bite the hand that fed him." "Everyone knows Jessica has hosted the annual gala for years. That’s official Sterling endorsement right there." "This guy is delusional. He actually thinks he's the young master." "Look at him, gaunt and scruffy. He doesn’t even have a fraction of Lucas's class." Jessica and Lucas saw the crowd siding entirely with them, their smirks widening. Lucas stepped forward, mimicking the demeanor of a high-society prince. He snapped his fingers at the security guards. "Throw this disruptor out into the cold." Without flinching, my gaze turned icy as I swept my eyes over the approaching guards. "You’d better remember who signs your paychecks. Open your damn eyes and look at who's standing right in front of you!"My sheer presence forced the charging guards to a dead halt. They glanced at each other, hesitation flickering across their faces. Jessica slammed her hand on the table. "What the hell are you doing? Are you deaf? I am the one who authorizes payroll! You really want to get fired right before the holidays?" Finding work wasn't easy these days. Spurred by her threat, the guards took tentative steps toward me again. I looked at Jessica, disappointment heavy in my chest. I was her real brother. Why did she always side with an outsider to crush her own blood? "Jessica, we lived under the same roof for so many years. Are you really going to do this?" We had been siblings for over a decade. I wanted to give her one final chance. Hearing my words, a faint glimmer of hesitation flashed in her eyes. Lucas noticed it instantly. He quickly stepped between us, faking warmth as he patted my shoulder. "Kieran, we're all family. How could I ever hold a grudge against you? My home is your home." Disgusted, I slapped his hand away. "Get your filthy paws off me." Jessica’s expression turned instantly dark. "Lucas was trying to bail you out, and this is how you repay him? You ungrateful parasite! When you were sick, Mom spent hundreds of thousands of dollars saving your useless life. If Lucas hadn’t taken pity on you and donated his bone marrow, you’d be rotting in the dirt right now!" One of Lucas’s lackeys in the crowd spat onto the floor. "I always knew Lucas was loyal to his friends, but I never knew he risked his life to save an orphan." "I heard Kieran was an abandoned street kid. The Sterlings took him in out of pity because he got along with Lucas. To think he turned out to be such an ungrateful dog. I bet they regret ever picking him up." "People like that should've died years ago instead of sticking around to leech off others." Vicious rumors and lies swirled around me like poison. I tried to speak, but my voice was drowned out by merciless jeers. The scene dragged me straight back into the nightmare of my past life—powerless, humiliated, crushed beneath their feet. Back then, whenever rumors spread about my origins, Jessica never defended me. Instead, to elevate Lucas's social standing, she dropped subtle hints that made people look down on me even more. I grew so insecure that I didn't dare show my face in public. Things only escalated. At school, I became an outcast. With Lucas’s quiet approval, his clique treated me like their personal plaything. They knocked my lunch tray to the floor, forcing me onto my knees to eat off the dirty tiles. When I showered in the locker room, they stole my clothes, snapped degrading photos, and threatened to ruin me if I didn't act like their obedient dog. I broke down and begged Jessica for help. She didn't lift a finger. Instead, she blamed me: It takes two to tango. If you weren't so flawed, people wouldn't be teaching you a lesson. Go look in the mirror and fix yourself. I used to be an honor student, but because of their cruelty, my grades collapsed. In this life, I would never let history repeat itself. Jessica raised her hand, signaling the crowd to quiet down, before locking eyes with me. "People see the truth. If Lucas hadn't stopped me over and over, I would've kicked you out the very day Mom had her accident. You don't belong in the Sterling household. You pollute our air." She turned back to the security team. "If you throw him out into the snow tonight, I will pay every single one of you five times your monthly salary as a bonus." At the mention of such a massive payout, the guards lunged at me like a pack of rabid hounds. I dodged with a clean sidestep, slipped behind Lucas, and kicked him square in the spine, launching him directly into the mob of guards. "Touch me, and you'll ruin your own lives!" I met Jessica's stunned gaze. "I gave you a chance, Jessica. Since you love this fake brother so much, you can pack your bags and get the hell out of my company with him."Seeing Lucas hit the floor, Jessica didn't care about her designer gown. She sprinted over to shield him, then spun around and slapped me across the face. "Who the hell do you think you are? Where do you get the guts to bark at me? Take a good look at who holds the reins around here!" She scanned the grand ballroom with razor-sharp arrogance. "I, Jessica Sterling, have bled for this company for over ten years! And today, someone dares to question my authority? Is there anyone here who can tell this clown exactly who I am?" Executives from several departments stepped forward in unison. One of them declared loudly, "Why even waste your breath on a stray, Vice President Sterling? We follow your lead, always. Without you, this company would never have reached these heights!" I snapped my head toward the speaker. "Vice President Miller. You're a company veteran. You've been here since the founding days, and my mother always respected you. You'd better think carefully before you run your mouth." Vice President Miller spat on the floor. "You think you have the right to call her your mother? If Mrs. Sterling weren't so soft-hearted, you wouldn't even be standing in this room, let alone trying to steal what belongs to others." I frowned, staring at him. He knew better than anyone who the true heir of Apex Horizon was. Yet here he was, gambling everything to prop up Lucas, an obvious fraud. "Have you really made up your mind about whose side you're on, Miller? Do you have any idea what happens when you pick the wrong horse?" Out of respect for his years of service to my mother, I was offering him one last chance to pull back from the edge. Miller sneered and casually walked over to stand right beside Jessica and Lucas. "My loyalty lies with young Mr. and Ms. Sterling, naturally." Jessica nodded with smug satisfaction. "Mr. Miller truly embodies the backbone of this company. Completely unfazed by cheap threats." With Miller leading the charge, more than half of the senior executive team stepped forward, declaring their unwavering loyalty and lining up behind Jessica. I looked at every single one of them, carving their faces into my memory. "Good. Very good. I was wondering how I was going to clean house and purge the dead weight. Thank you for making it so remarkably easy for me." Lucas looked at Jessica with tearful, sorrowful eyes. "Jessica, please don't let things get ugly on my account. If my leaving will make Kieran happy, I'll go right now." Jessica frowned with tender concern, tapping his forehead gently. "You're just too gentle. That's why Kieran always walked all over you. I'm your sister. If I don't protect you, who will?" "Besides, the heirs to the Sterling empire are you and me. What does an outsider have to do with anything?" Faced with Jessica's ringing proclamation, I merely picked up a glass of water from a nearby tray and watched their sickening act unfold. "Running the same pathetic script three times gets boring. Since none of you want to remain at Apex Horizon, I won't hold you back. The gala is over for you. Get out. Right now." Jessica pointed a manicured finger at me, bursting into mocking laughter. "Look at him! The sun hasn't even gone down, and he's already sleepwalking! The only person getting thrown out tonight is you!" Lucas stood beside her, pointing toward the heavy exit doors. "You mad dog! Get the hell out of our house!" "A mad dog?" I dragged my tongue across my back teeth, letting out a dark chuckle. Stepping forward, I cracked a vicious backhand across his cheek. "Let me show you what real madness looks like." The sharp, echoing crack made the entire room gasp in horror. "Did he just hit the heir?" "Does Kieran want to die?" "He's lost his mind. He's completely unhinged!" Lucas opened his mouth to wail, but catching the protective fury in Jessica’s eyes, he bit his lip, choking down his tears to maximize the pity. "Jessica, I'm okay... Kieran's just angry. He didn't mean it..." He pretended to defend me, but every single word twisted the knife deeper, painting me as a vicious bully. I crossed my arms, looking down at him like dirt. "So what if I hit you? I beat the hell out of abusive, manipulative scum." Suddenly, a booming, authoritative voice echoed from the main doors. "Who dares lay a finger on a Sterling?!"Every head whipped toward the entrance. It was my disabled father. He wheeled his chair forward with astonishing speed, moving as smoothly as if he were walking on flat ground. Rushing straight up to me, he kicked out with his foot, knocking me down. I stared at his perfectly mobile leg, a cold realization settling in my mind. "Who gave you permission to lay a hand on my son? Lucas is going to inherit this entire company! If he gets so much as a scratch, your worthless life won't be enough to pay for it!" A hollow laugh escaped my lips, filled with pure bitterness. My dear father. From beginning to end, his love was never meant for me. In my past life, I couldn't accept losing everything to an impostor. I went out and got a DNA test, proving with absolute scientific certainty that I was their biological flesh and blood. Yet even when faced with irrefutable proof, my father still sided with Lucas. To clear the path for Lucas to inherit the entire fortune, he conspired with Jessica to tamper with my car. On the day I went to visit my mother in the hospital, my brakes failed. I slammed head-on into a massive tractor-trailer. After I died, the media blamed my driving, saying I had it coming. When my mother learned of my death, her fragile condition worsened, and within three days, she breathed her last breath. Lying on the floor, I pointed at Lucas, my voice shaking. "Dad, I am your biological son! I share your blood! The person who was supposed to take care of you when you're old is me, not him!" My father stared at me as if I had told the funniest joke in the world, his whole body shaking with ridicule. "If you're suffering from delusions, I can refer you to a good psychiatrist. Don't go around calling every powerful man you meet your father." He leaned forward, looking me dead in the eye, spitting out each word: "I have only two children. One is Jessica Sterling, and the other is Lucas Sterling. You don't even carry the Sterling name! Don't you dare daydream about worming your way into my family. You aren't even worthy of being a dog at our doorstep." His words struck a chord with the crowd. "Right! This is the Sterling family. Why would an outsider with a completely different last name inherit anything?" Vice President Miller chimed in with venomous speculation: "He keeps claiming to be a Sterling, but his last name is Vance! Could it be that Mrs. Sterling was seeing someone else behind the Chairman's back?" I could endure their insults against me, but I would never let anyone drag my mother's honor through the mud. I grabbed Miller by his collar and yanked his heavy frame straight up off the ground. "Miller, back when you were delivering takeout in the freezing rain with a sick toddler strapped to your chest, my mother took pity on you and gave you a respectable, stable career! Is this how you repay her?" Miller shoved my hands away, completely devoid of shame. "This company belongs to Chairman Sterling! The Chairman only gave Mrs. Sterling a few token shares because he loved her. Who knew she'd let her bleeding heart get the better of her and take in a parasite like you?" My father slammed his hand onto his armrest. "You unfilial trash! Even if we didn't birth you, we raised you! And now you dare turn my company's gala into a circus? You insult our senior executives, and you slander the legitimacy of my own children!" "Get down on your knees right now. Beg Jessica and Lucas for forgiveness! Otherwise, I'll make sure you understand the full weight of the Sterling family's power!" I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth, giving my father one last long, piercing look. "Even a beast doesn't devour its own young. Are you truly choosing a thief over your own blood?" "You're the only thief here! Whoever strips this mad dog bare and tosses him onto the street gets a hundred-thousand-dollar cash bonus!" As the guards brandished their batons, closing in on me from all sides, I swallowed the pain and yelled at the top of my lungs: "My father was nothing but a penniless deadbeat who married into my mother's fortune! And I am the sole, legitimate heir of Apex Horizon!" Having his decades-old secret exposed in broad daylight turned my father's eyes blood-red with hatred. "Beat this lying dog to death! A million dollars to whoever finishes him!" Just as the mob was about to tear me apart, a clear, commanding voice sliced through the hall from the grand entrance. "Stop right there! The Sterling Group was never yours to command, outsider."