Early the next morning, I was awakened by a noisy commotion. It seemed that my eldest sister had returned.

In the Lynn family, I had three sisters. My eldest sister was the most business-savvy among them and currently served as the president of a branch company under the Lynn family's name.

I checked the time, tidied myself up, and decided to visit my foster parents first. However, as I stepped out of my room, I saw that the family was already seated around the table, having breakfast. The butler, Mr. Lee, stood silently beside them. As expected, they hadn't called me to join them—after all, I was never truly considered one of them.

I walked past the dining table indifferently, only to be halted by a cold, stern voice.

"Lin Mo, you didn't even greet us when you saw us?"

The voice belonged to my eldest sister, Lin Xia. She was dressed in formal business attire, her long legs wrapped in black silk stockings. With her striking features and commanding presence, she was the epitome of a strong-willed businesswoman.

I lifted my head and met her gaze with an emotionless stare. Lin Xia's eyes flickered with surprise. In her memory, I had always been respectful—submissive, even. But now, standing before her was someone different. Someone whose eyes carried a piercing coldness she had never seen before.

After a long silence, I let out a small, mocking chuckle.

"Oh? Why should I greet you?"

"Bastard!"

A loud voice erupted from behind. Lin Andong, my so-called elder brother, slammed his hand against the table and stood up. Without hesitation, he swung his palm toward me, intending to slap me across the face.

But this time, his hand never made contact.

I caught his wrist mid-air, gripping it tightly. His expression twisted in shock.

"You insolent brat! Are you rebelling now?" he barked.

I met his glare with an icy calmness and asked, "What right do you have to hit me? Tell me, what exactly have I done wrong?"

"I'm your father! I can beat you however I see fit! Otherwise, you'll forget your place!" Lin Andong shouted, trying to regain control of the situation.

I scoffed. "Father? Do you really think you deserve that title? Did you raise me as a child? Did you ever take care of me after bringing me back to this house? What have you ever done for me, besides hitting me? Tell me, do you truly believe you are worthy of being my father?"

My words sent a shockwave through the room. Lin Andong froze, his face turning red with suppressed rage.

"Hmph! You're just a troublemaker! I haven't even settled the matter of you stealing my emerald bracelet!" Lin Xia suddenly interjected, using the old accusation against me in an attempt to reassert her dominance.

I released Lin Andong's wrist and turned toward her with an amused expression. "I stole your bracelet? Do you have proof?"

Lin Xia folded her arms, her eyes filled with disdain. "You're the only one here from the slums. If you didn't steal it, then who else could it be?"

"And what if it was your precious Lin Cohen?" I asked, my voice laced with sarcasm.

"How dare you accuse Lin Cohen?" Lin Xia snapped, not even considering the possibility. "He's always been an obedient and kind-hearted younger brother. He even saved my life once! How could someone like him steal? Besides, even though he's adopted, we've always treated him as a true member of the family. He has no reason to steal."

I chuckled darkly. "Oh? And I do?"

Before Lin Xia could respond, a hesitant voice spoke up.

"Brother Lin Mo, I believe you didn't steal it... but I didn't take it either..." Lin Cohen's voice trembled slightly as he tried to maintain his innocent facade.

My gaze sharpened.

At that moment, Lin Cohen's heart pounded. He hadn't expected the suspicion to shift toward him so soon. The truth was, he had stolen the bracelet.

A while back, when he went out drinking with his so-called friends, he had recklessly spent money to impress them, choosing the most expensive items on the menu. When it came time to pay, he realized they were short on cash. In desperation, he used Lin Xia's emerald bracelet as collateral, selling it on the black market for over a million dollars. The money didn't last long, though—it was quickly squandered.

When Lin Xia first noticed the bracelet missing, Lin Cohen had feigned innocence, casually mentioning that he had seen me walking past her room that day. That one careless remark was enough for Lin Xia to assume I was the culprit. She never once doubted him.

And now, he had to make sure that the blame stayed on me. If the truth were to come out, it would ruin his carefully crafted image. If his status in the Lynn family crumbled, then his dream of inheriting their fortune would be shattered forever.

I clenched my fists, suppressing the anger boiling inside me.

In my past life, I would have meekly accepted the blame, allowing them to trample over me yet again. But this time?

Not a chance.

To be continue.