"The orphanage superintendent must have already filled you in on everything, right?" the man remarked, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.
"Yes," Zak replied calmly, keeping his gaze fixed on the table.
It turns out the man Zak just spotted is actually his family's butler, or you could say, a member of his newly discovered family. He has been sent to find Zak and bring him back to his family.
Handing the documents to Zak, he simply said, "Take it."
Zak swiftly scanned through the few pages. The contents clearly detailed his birth, how he was taken away by a stranger, and later left at the orphanage after the kidnapper's death.
As the butler observed him, he grew increasingly uneasy with each passing moment.
The butler was well aware of Zak's parents' attitude towards him, and as a result, his own demeanor towards Zak lacked hint of respect.
In that moment, Zak felt like an object on display, casually scrutinized by the man.
Methodically organizing the papers, Zak locked eyes with him, his silence conveying a wealth of meaning.
"Have you finished?" the butler inquired, raising an eyebrow.
There seemed to be an impatience, as though the butler couldn't wait to dispose of him immediately. To the esteemed Vanderose family, having a child from an orphanage suddenly integrated into their ranks felt more like an unwanted blemish.
Zak sensed the tension in the air and nodded in response, keeping his emotions in check.
"If everything's settled, let's get going," the man stood up, "You wouldn't want to stay here, would you?"
Zak fell briefly silent before speaking up, "I need to go back and gather a few belongings."
"What belongings?" His tone turned cold. "Time is limited. You'll find everything you need once we arrive. Don't waste any more time."
Hesitating for a moment, Zak realized his patience was wearing thin. He chose to stay silent and simply climbed into the opulent car.
At the door, the orphanage director stood, surrounded by a group of envious children, their eyes fixed on Zak.
With a smile and a wave of his hand, Zak bid them farewell.
Beside him, the butler urged him on, and Zak obediently withdrew his hand.
Without hesitation, the car drove away.
From that moment on, his sense of belonging shifted – he was no longer confined to the orphanage.
One hour later, the car came to a stop.
"Your room is ready for you on the left side of the second floor. Don't go to the right side, that's Juelz's room. He doesn't like anyone going in without permission. Understood?"
"Understood," Zak replied softly.
"Mrs. Sears," The butler called out and pointed at Zak, "You come to arrange things."
Without waiting for anyone to respond, he turned around and left.
The immense mansion suddenly felt eerily empty. Zak took a quick look around before diverting his gaze.
The orphanage superintendent had told him that he must return to the Vanderose family; otherwise, both he and the orphanage would suffer the consequences. Although he was a biological child, he hadn't been raised by his parents, resulting in a lack of emotional connection. Moreover, with a son who was far more exceptional than him, his parents naturally had no reason to pay attention to him.
As Zak recalled the painful memory of his confession and subsequent rejection, he began to see leaving this town as a welcomed change.
After a few seconds, a woman wearing an apron came out of the kitchen. She smiled kindly at Zak and said, "You must be the second young master. Please come with me, I'll take you to your room and give you a tour of the mansion."There was no sign of looking down on him or making things difficult, and Zak returned her smile.
Mrs. Sears introduced, "That room is the eldest young master's bedroom, and the next one is his study. Second young master, this is your room, and it's already arranged for you."
The door opened, revealing a simple black and white-themed decor. It looked casually done, but Zak quite liked it.
"Thank you," he said with a faint grin, expressing his gratitude.
"Second young master, feel free to explore your room and let me know if you need anything. I'll head downstairs to prepare lunch," Mrs. Sears kindly instructed.
"Master and Madam has been busy with work, and the eldest young master is away for a competition, so he won't be back for lunch. It's just you dining today, second young master," Mrs. Sears clarified.
With a nod, Zak proceeded to his bedroom and gently closed the door behind him.
The closet was filled with unfamiliar brands, showcasing an array of flamboyant colors and designs. Zak organized the white and black outfits to the front, pushing the others to the back. After selecting his attire, he headed to the bathroom for a refreshing shower before changing into fresh clothes and making his way downstairs.
Zak's long eyelashes drooped slightly as he settled into his seat. Just as he reached for his meal, footsteps echoed from the doorway, followed by a cheerful voice.
"Mom, I'm back, I'm the first one. Why didn't you come to see me today?"
Zak followed the sound and found himself face to face with someone who looked exactly like him.
Encountering someone with such an uncanny resemblance would make anyone uncomfortable, and Zak was no exception. However, unlike Juelz Vanderose's aversion, Zak remained calm, shifting his gaze away as he began to eat. "Who might you be?" Juelz loosened his tie and casually tossed it onto the sofa. He then stood beside Zak, gazing down at him, scrutinizing him for a moment before bursting into a disdainful chuckle. "Did you get your face done to look like me? How much did it cost?" Juelz was dressed in a sleek black suit, his hair perfectly styled, a smile gracing his refined face, though there was a hint of arrogance in his brows and eyes. He proudly held a golden trophy in his hand. Zak finished chewing his food and replied, "This is my natural face." His nonchalant attitude and their striking resemblance led Juelz to speculate, and his expression turned cold. "While I can still keep my composure, get out immediately." Zak calmly finished the rest of his meal, then turned a
As the soft glow of light gently cast shadows on Zak's fair face, he looked somewhat melancholic. Putting his book aside, he gracefully stood up and opened the door, his expression becoming serene, hiding any visible emotions.Unaware that Benton Vanderose had arranged Zak's living quarters, Samantha Elliott presumed it was Zak's own choice. She disapproved and said, "There's a bigger room upstairs, yet you insist on staying in this small one. You have to get rid of undesirable habits you've picked up outside, do you understand?"With lowered eyes and a gentle tone, Zak replied, "I understand, Mom."Samantha Elliott gently ruffled Juelz's hair and reminded him, "Remember to go to school tomorrow. At school, don't cause any trouble for Juelz. Juelz is different from you. Don't exploit your resemblance to him for anything else.""I've transferred your living expenses to your card. Mrs. Sears, give it to him."As Samantha Elliott spoke, Zak listened in silence, accepting the bank card ha
Zak hesitated slightly, then softly replied after a while, "C." She sneered, "I know you were the top student in another school, but you're too arrogant. How could you choose option C for this question? Sit down." Mocking laughter filled the classroom. Zak sat down, rotated the pen in his hand, and looked at the answer B on his notebook. He started calculating the next question expressionlessly. "Juelz, you tell us, which option do you choose?" The teacher asked. The question was difficult, and Juelz couldn't find the answer among the given options. However, Zak had already ruled out option C for him. Though uncertain, Juelz smiled and took a guess, "B." "Very good, indeed the top of the grade. Sit down." She praised Juelz and then pointed at Zak, "Look at Juelz, the top student, and then look at you." Her words were filled with disdain. Zak heard the footsteps approaching him and decided to alter his course. When the teacher came closer and looked at his notebook, her express
The man's expression turned rigid, and all his concern vanished. He lingered momentarily before delivering a cold directive, "There's a first aid kit in the living room. Don't let others think we mistreat you." Unconcerned about the origin of his injuries, he made his way up the stairs. "I'm sorry." Benton Vanderose paused in his steps, turning to look back. His brows furrowed as he observed the delicate, somewhat pitiable figure, his lips maintaining a forced smile. Facing the refrigerator, the young man's gaze dropped, his lips still carrying a strained smile. The distinct marks of five fingers were imprinted on his cheek, clearly the aftermath of a powerful blow. A sense of unease welled up within Benton Vanderose, perhaps a mixture of regret and the familiar resemblance between the young man's face and Juelz's - a sight that tugged at his heart. He proceeded up the staircase with a stern expression, entering Juelz's room. Amidst the cacophony of crashing items from the upsta
Carlos Downs stood there, rooted in place, glancing at the umbrella in his hand and then at Zak in the rain, slowly coming to a realization. Was this guy deliberately avoiding sharing the umbrella? For the first time in his many years, Carlos, the young heir, felt a growing sense of irritation. He briefly contemplated reclaiming his umbrella but ultimately decided to enter the school with it still in hand.As he hurried into the educational building, Zak flicked off the rainwater from his clothing, removed his hat, and elegantly tossed back his hair...."In the afternoon, what's your plan for the parent-teacher meeting?" Terrence patted Juelz on the shoulder and winked. "Don't you want to make your little brother's day unforgettable?"Juelz, still nursing some lingering irritation, shot Terrence a sidelong glance. "Got any great ideas?""I've got plenty of them. It all depends on whether you'd like to witness him getting embarrassed or simply enduring a bit of discomfort," Terrence
The two of them arrived at the playground, and Zak took a seat on the steps in front of Juelz.Coming to a stop, Juelz lowered his gaze and began, "You know, I don't actually dislike you that much. It's just that you resemble me so closely that being around you feels like encountering a mirror image."Zak was taken aback by this sudden turn towards emotion. He stood up and met Juelz's gaze, saying, "I understand."Raising his hand, he slowly moved it closer to Juelz's face.This sudden gesture made Juelz furrow his brow, his eyes showing resistance. As he instinctively tried to step back, Zak interrupted, "Wait a second, big brother, there's a bug on your face."Juelz, who had an intense fear of insects, instantly froze, his eyes wide open as he watched Zak's finger make contact with his face, gently flicking something away."My mistake; it was just a mosquito," Zak retracted his hand, chuckling softly. "But don't worry, I've already taken care of it."Seeing the smile on Zak's lips,
After a fierce struggle, he finally saw an opportunity. He gripped Matthias's arm, his eyes ablaze with determination as he declared, "I'm Juelz, really. How did Terrence describe me?"The scorn in Matthias's eyes triggered a wry smile as he abruptly released Juelz's arm, grabbed his hair, and pulled it back forcefully, delivering a resounding slap to his face. "Do you really think I'm that gullible?"Upon arrival, he had received a clear warning, and coupled with the mole beneath his eye, Matthias had no doubts about Juelz's identity. He simply believed that he was being stubborn. "Blame yourself for getting involved with the wrong group." He pulled out his phone and started taking pictures of Juelz.Huddled on the ground, with disheveled hair, Juelz looked utterly pitiful. When he saw Matthias still taking photos, he instinctively shielded his face."Please, no more photos, don't capture my face!""I've been insisting I'm Juelz, Juelz. Why won't you believe me?""Persist, and I'll
Juelz's body bore a mosaic of bruises, with some areas displaying painful shades of purple and blue. Mrs. Samantha found the sight increasingly distressing. What intensified her anguish was the grotesque swelling that contorted Juelz's face, making him nearly unrecognizable. Her emotions veered wildly between anger and concern as she turned abruptly, demanding answers with fiery determination, "What's going on at this school? How did my son get hurt?" Juelz, trembling and fragile, addressed the assembled crowd, his voice strained, "I'm not Zak; I'm Juelz. It's all Zak's doing. He's the one who orchestrated this attack on me." This revelation sent shockwaves through the crowd, inciting a cacophony of voices. "Juelz?" At that moment, Zak emerged from the throng, his face etched with worry. He gazed at Juelz and admitted, "Someone intended to ambush and harm me, but I overheard their plan. Fear overwhelmed me, and I sought refuge in hiding. They must have mistaken my brother for me,