After my parents divorced, my younger brother with "supermale" syndrome found out that our dad had hooked up with a billionaire heiress in Manhattan. Wanting to become a third-generation elite, he kicked me and our mom aside, grabbing our dad's hand: "Dad, I want to go with you." I helped my mom up and stood quietly by her side. In our past life, my brother stole Mom's diary and discovered that our grandmother was the matriarch of a top-tier political family in D.C. To wield power in those circles, he insisted on staying with the mother he disliked. He didn't expect that Mom wouldn't return to her wealthy family. Instead, she worked as a cleaner by day and sold hot dogs by night, raising him alone. For the convenience of his schooling, Mom gritted her teeth and rented a terrible studio apartment for $2,000 a month, meaning he couldn't have meat every meal. He grew resentful. Meanwhile, because Dad became the famous live-in son-in-law of a wealthy Manhattan family, I lived a life of luxury. With access to top resources, I not only became the top scorer in the state for STEM but also the world's number one Go player and race car driver. My brother's jealousy twisted him. When I returned to the States for a friendly match, he took advantage of my post-race exhaustion and stabbed me seven times in public. When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn on the day our parents divorced. Seeing my brother make the opposite choice from his past life, I knew he was reborn too. A six-year-old child looked at me with smugness and malice, as if saying, In this life, I'm winning. But he didn't know he had chosen a life worse than a dog's. 1 I lowered my head to hide my hatred. I heard Ethan ask: "Liam, do you really want to go with me?" Ethan was actually more satisfied with me. Like Liam, when he pursued Mom, he coveted her status as a D.C. princess. He wanted to be a wealthy son-in-law. Unfortunately, Grandma had sharp eyes and saw his low character, forbidding Mom from marrying him. While Mom hesitated between family and love, Ethan got her pregnant and took her away, thinking Grandma would soften. But Ethan was disappointed. After confirming Grandma disowned Mom, Ethan started cheating. He pretended to be a romantic, carefree painter, hooking up with powerful heiresses everywhere. He chose to divorce this time because he hooked up with my stepmother from my past life, Victoria Sterling. As a Manhattan princess, Victoria was the center of attention and lived freely, but she couldn't escape her mission—marriage alliances. After being diagnosed with infertility, she became an outcast in her family. While being coldly treated, she seemingly played with one male model after another but actually plotted to devour the family business step by step. Now over thirty, with her power secured, she wanted to marry a man with a son. Ethan didn't hesitate to put Liam and me up for competition. After screening by Victoria's expert team, I was deemed more suitable to be her heir. In my past life, I didn't know Ethan's conspiracy and obediently went with him. Arriving at the Sterling estate, Victoria threw me directly into a crocodile pool: "Leo, if you want to be my son, you have to learn to survive. The crocodiles will be released in three hours. Get ready." "No!" I splashed in the water, screaming in fear. "Don't let the crocodiles eat me! Mmph..." The elegant lady spoke gently: "Leo, you have to survive on your own." 2 I cried for help to Ethan, who was hiding behind Victoria: "Dad! Quick, save me! I..." Ethan ignored my fear and sided with her: "Leo, Mom is right. You have to be obedient. For Dad, you have to survive the crocodiles' mouths!" I cried out: "She's not my mom!" Victoria bent down slightly, lifting my chin: "Leo Hart, if you want me to have a motherly heart for you, you must completely forget Grace. Be good. If you pass the test, you can take the surname Sterling." I didn't answer but instinctively bit her wrist hard. Ethan squatted down anxiously, trying to pry my mouth open: "Leo Hart! You little wolf cub! Let go!" Victoria remained calm: "Leo Hart, even if you bite through my hand, the crocodiles will appear behind you in 160 minutes." That sentence made me realize I was powerless to change my fate. After releasing her, I swam to the cage, enduring my fear, trying to observe the crocodiles lurking in the water and the surrounding environment. I had to survive. Fighting wits and courage with crocodiles for three days, Victoria killed them, but without giving me a chance to breathe, she locked me in a dog cage and made me eat raw meat. Her domestication of me never stopped... Growing up, I became excellent enough. Outside, she needed me to keep up appearances and would be consistently gentle. But if I underperformed and didn't meet her expectations, she would find ways to punish and torture me. Therefore, even though I was called an "all-around genius" by the outside world, my heart was deformed. If Liam hadn't killed me, sooner or later, I would have perished together with Victoria. Since I was reborn, of course, I would fulfill Liam's wish and let him go be Victoria's dog as he desired. I wanted to stay by Mom's side and heal myself. 3 Liam, afraid of missing the chance to change his fate, hugged Ethan's leg and nodded heavily: "Dad! I want to go with you! You treat me well, and I want to treat you well!" Ethan hesitated. Just then, Mom knelt on one knee, looking me in the eye, and asked gently: "Leo, what about you? Do you want to go with Mom or Dad?" I answered without hesitation: "Mom." Mom was disappointed with Liam, but my stance moved her. She hugged me, promising solemnly: "Leo, I will make sure you grow up healthy and happy." I also poured out my heart: "I will always be by Mom's side." In my past life, Mom gave Liam all her motherly love, but Liam didn't cherish it. In this life, I will cherish it properly. Ethan suddenly shouted: "Grace, I haven't agreed yet. What right do you have to decide to take Leo?" Mom ignored him, whispering to me to take Liam to our room to pack our luggage. I nodded obediently. Then, I walked to Liam, held his hand, and tried my best to mimic a seven-year-old's tone: "Liam, come upstairs with big brother." A flash of malice unsuitable for his age crossed the six-year-old's face. He thought he hid it well and nodded perfunctorily. I hid my hatred for him. While leading him up the stairs, I thought about how to escape. After a few steps, he pushed me. In a flash, I thought of a plan. So, I followed his force and fell backward, deliberately letting my forehead hit the sharp part of the railing. Unfortunately, a six-year-old body isn't as mature as my mind. After falling completely, the pain all over my body made me wail. Liam also ran to me, wiping fake tears: "Brother, how did you fall! Boohoo, I'm so scared..." Mom called 911 immediately. Ethan roared at me: "Leo Hart! How dare you fall like this! What if it leaves a scar!" Victoria was an extreme perfectionist. She treated her adopted son as a work of art to show off, so naturally, scars were not allowed. Seeing Ethan jumping anxiously, I knew I had successfully dodged a bullet. 4 Mom scolded Ethan: "Ethan, what are you yelling for! Get out! Leo stays with me, don't boss him around!" Ethan dared not state his scheme explicitly, afraid he couldn't even take Liam. He could only stall: "Since Leo is hurt, treat him first! We'll talk about splitting the kids after he's discharged." Mom was too worried about my injury to argue with him: "Fine." Ethan went out to smoke as an excuse, actually calling Victoria. Liam knew the situation was set. He tugged at Mom's sleeve, speaking with childish innocence: "Mommy, Brother was dancing around on the stairs, fell by himself, and almost tripped me. Mommy, when Brother gets better, you have to..." Mom interrupted his instigation: "Go sit over there for a while." Ethan received instructions from Victoria and changed his face immediately: "Grace, I've decided. I'll take Liam, and you raise Leo. From now on, unless necessary, let's not contact each other." Mom was decisive: "Okay." Like in the past life, Mom and Ethan decided to sell the marital house, and Mom took $80,000 cash in advance. Ethan had Victoria backing him, so he paid quickly. While I was hospitalized, Ethan couldn't wait to fly Liam to New York for Victoria to inspect. I looked forward to their fate. After I was discharged, Mom left the sad place and chose to live in Chicago. She still worked as a cleaner by day and sold hot dogs by night to support my schooling and raise me. I didn't despise her work but tried every way to share her burden. In my past life, the only benefit of Victoria's domestication was making me excellent. Mom's love healed me. From resisting memories, I started showing my IQ from the past life day by day. I became the top scorer in the high school entrance exam, and the school awarded me $10,000. Mom cried. She asked me cautiously: "Leo, is Mom's job not respectable? If you become the top scorer in the college entrance exam later, with so many reporters interviewing, will you say your mom is a cleaner?" I comforted her: "Of course! I want to tell the world that it hasn't been easy for Mom to raise me all these years. Without Mom, there would be no me." Mom choked up: "Leo, you are my pride." 5 With some savings, under my suggestion, Mom decided to open a spicy duck stew restaurant. It was summer break, so I helped in the store. For the first three days of opening, everything was 90% off, and the store was bustling. On the fourth day, the discount was canceled, and the store was much quieter. I just finished prepping ingredients when I saw Ethan and Liam walk in. Suddenly, Ethan and Liam in suits appeared in the store. I rushed over, blocking them: "What do you want?" Liam adjusted his suit, looking at me with disdain: "Leo, stop pretending to be high and mighty! Do you know that even if your mom runs this shop for a lifetime, she can't afford one of my ties!" Liam clearly adapted to and enjoyed the lavish life very much. With his IQ, even being reborn, he probably couldn't pass Victoria's nearly perverted tests. How did he do it? Just then, Ethan warned Liam in a low voice: "Don't forget the business. Don't upset your mom." He smiled at me again: "Leo, I'm Dad. Your mom opened a shop, so I brought Liam to support. We haven't seen each other for years..." I interrupted: "Mom and I are doing very well. We don't want to see you. Please leave." Liam shouted angrily: "Leo, cut the crap!" I shouted back: "Get out!" Ethan blocked between Liam and me to soothe me: "Leo, don't mind Liam. Here's the thing, your Mom Victoria invited you to our home. She likes you very much." Victoria was actually willing to tolerate the scar on my forehead to trick me into the Sterling family. How bad was Liam's aptitude! Then why did she keep him? "What are you thinking about! Leo, it's your blessing that Mom let you go home!" I was cold: "I only have one mom, her name is Grace. I don't have a dad or a brother either." Ethan said sheepishly: "Leo, reconsider? Your Mom Vic... no, Auntie, really appreciates you." I refused: "Not considering. Not going." Ethan completely broke down: "Don't think you're hot stuff just because you're the top scorer in the entrance exam! The Sterling family's wealth rivals a nation. Besides today, what chance do you have to climb up in this life!" I was unmoved: "Can't climb that high." Liam raged: "Dad, don't take Leo back! He's just a top scorer! There are plenty in the country! Mom can totally sponsor other more cooperative ones and train them well! Leo is working part-time now, can't focus on studying, and is so arrogant. Three years later, he definitely won't beat me in the college entrance exam!" Ethan spat at me: "Ungrateful wolf cub!" He turned back to Liam: "Let's ask your mom first." They left. I turned around and saw Mom sitting on a chair, dazed, tears streaming down her face. "Leo, Mom is sorry. Actually..."
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