I Returned as the True Heir

Ryan had died once.

At least, he was pretty sure he had.

There weren’t many other explanations for falling asleep in a cheap apartment after working fourteen hours straight and waking up as a seventeen-year-old boy bleeding beside an unfamiliar highway.

That had been three years ago.

Now, at twenty, Ryan stood in front of a pair of massive black gates and stared at the mansion beyond them.

He had imagined many endings for his second life.

This wasn’t one of them.

“Mr. Harrington and his family are waiting inside, Young Master.”

Ryan glanced at the middle-aged man standing beside him.

Young Master.

He still wasn’t used to that.

Three days ago, he had been Ryan Cole, a young man living alone and trying to figure out why he had been thrown into a world that felt strangely familiar.

Then two men in expensive suits had appeared at his workplace.

There had been DNA tests.

Questions.

More tests.

And finally, an answer.

Ryan wasn’t Ryan Cole.

Or at least, this body hadn’t been born with that name.

He was Ryan Harrington, the biological son of Richard and Catherine Harrington, who had disappeared when he was five years old.

The only son of one of the wealthiest families in the country.

And, technically, the true heir to everything they owned.

Ryan slipped his hands into his pockets.

What a joke.

The butler beside him didn’t react.

Ryan stared through the gates.

There was something else he hadn’t told anyone.

He knew the Harrington family.

Not personally.

He had read about them.

In his previous life.

In a novel.

Unfortunately, Ryan had never been a particularly dedicated reader. He had started the novel because a friend wouldn’t stop talking about it.

He read the beginning.

Skipped a few boring chapters.

Read some interesting scenes.

Then abandoned it halfway through.

He couldn’t even remember the title anymore.

But he remembered the Harringtons.

Especially their missing biological son.

Because that character had been unbelievably unlucky.

Imagine disappearing as a kid, finally finding your rich family, and still getting treated like an outsider.

Ryan almost laughed.

And now I’m that idiot.

The gates slowly opened.

A black car carried him along the long driveway.

Ryan leaned against the seat and looked at the enormous mansion getting closer.

His memory of the novel wasn’t clear.

But he remembered one important character.

Ethan Harrington.

After Ryan disappeared, Richard and Catherine eventually adopted another boy.

Ethan.

Handsome.

Polite.

Intelligent.

Loved by everyone.

By the time the real Ryan returned, Ethan had already spent years becoming the perfect Harrington son.

And if Ryan remembered correctly…

Things hadn’t ended particularly well for the biological heir.

“Wonderful.”

The car stopped.

The butler opened his door.

“Young Master?”

“Nothing.”

Ryan stepped out.

He looked up at the mansion.

I’m not fighting anyone for an inheritance.

He had already died once.

Money was useful.

Luxury was nice.

But fighting some adopted brother over who got to sit in Daddy’s chair?

No thanks.

If they eventually want Ethan as their heir, they can keep him.

Ryan walked toward the entrance.

I’ll stay long enough to figure out what happened to this body’s original owner. After that, I’ll leave.

The front doors opened.

Ryan took one step inside.

Then stopped.

Six people were waiting for him.

A tall middle-aged man stood at the center.

Richard Harrington.

Even without an introduction, Ryan recognized him. His expression was controlled, but his hands were clenched tightly at his sides.

Beside him stood Catherine.

Her eyes were already red.

Three young women stood nearby.

His sisters.

And slightly behind them stood a young man around Ryan’s age.

Ethan.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Catherine stared at Ryan as if she was afraid he might disappear if she blinked.

Then she whispered,

“Ryan?”

Something strange happened.

Ryan’s chest tightened.

It wasn’t his emotion.

Or maybe it was.

This body still carried fragments sometimes. Feelings without memories.

Fear.

Longing.

A strange warmth.

Ryan pushed it down.

“Yes.”

Catherine covered her mouth.

Her tears fell instantly.

She moved toward him, then stopped halfway.

As if she didn’t know whether she had the right to hug him.

Ryan noticed.

She’s scared I’ll reject her.

Catherine froze.

Her eyes widened.

Ryan didn’t notice.

He was looking around the room.

Richard’s head had snapped toward him.

So had all three sisters’.

Ryan frowned slightly.

Why were they looking at him like that?

“Welcome home,” Richard finally said.

His voice was rougher than expected.

Ryan nodded.

“Thank you.”

Home is a strong word, though.

Richard’s expression changed.

Catherine stared at him.

The eldest sister inhaled sharply.

Ryan’s eyes narrowed.

Weird family.

Very weird family.

Catherine finally stepped closer.

“Can I…?”

Ryan knew what she meant.

He gave a small nod.

She hugged him.

Her arms trembled.

Ryan stiffened.

He wasn’t good at this.

In his previous life, he hadn’t exactly grown up surrounded by affection.

After a moment, he awkwardly lifted one hand and patted her back.

Okay. This is uncomfortable.

Catherine almost laughed through her tears.

Ryan blinked.

Had he done something funny?

Before he could ask, she pulled away.

Richard introduced the sisters.

The eldest was Victoria.

Then Sophia.

And the youngest was Emma.

Ryan greeted each politely.

Victoria looked composed, almost cold.

Sophia seemed curious.

Emma openly stared at his face.

Then came Ethan.

He stepped forward with a warm smile.

“So you’re Ryan.”

Ryan looked at him.

There he was.

The adopted son.

The character everyone loved.

Ethan looked exactly like the type of person readers would trust immediately.

Clean smile.

Gentle eyes.

Perfect posture.

Ryan suddenly remembered something from the novel.

Not the exact chapter.

Just a scene.

Ethan standing in this same house, looking devastated.

A suitcase beside him.

Oh.

Ryan almost smiled.

Empty Suitcase Guy.

Emma suddenly coughed.

Sophia turned her face away.

Victoria’s lips twitched.

Ethan looked confused.

Ryan stared at them.

What was wrong with these people?

Ethan extended his hand.

“I’ve wanted to meet you ever since Mom and Dad told us they found you.”

Ryan shook it.

“Same.”

That was a lie.

He hadn’t wanted to meet anyone.

Ethan smiled.

“I know this must be difficult for you. But I hope you won’t feel uncomfortable because of me.”

Ryan paused.

That line…

He remembered it.

Right. He says something like this first.

Five people suddenly became very still.

Ryan continued looking at Ethan.

Then sometime soon he tries to leave the house with an empty suitcase so everyone will stop him.

Catherine’s eyes widened.

Richard slowly looked at Ethan.

What happened after that?

Ryan tried to remember.

Nothing.

Damn it. Why did I skim this novel?

Sophia lowered her head, shoulders shaking slightly.

Ryan glanced at her.

Was she laughing?

Ethan noticed the strange atmosphere too.

“Is something wrong?”

“No,” Richard answered quickly.

Ryan shrugged.

Definitely weird.

A maid arrived and announced that lunch was ready.

Catherine immediately wanted Ryan to sit beside her.

Ryan followed everyone toward the dining room.

The table looked ridiculous.

It could probably seat twenty people.

Ryan sat down.

Ethan took the chair across from him.

For the first few minutes, conversation was painfully polite.

Catherine asked what food he liked.

Richard asked about his education.

Emma asked whether he had a girlfriend.

“Emma,” Victoria warned.

“What? I’m curious.”

Ryan took a sip of water.

“No.”

Emma smiled.

“Why not?”

“Didn’t find anyone.”

Also, I was busy trying not to starve.

Catherine’s fork stopped halfway to her mouth.

Ryan didn’t notice.

Richard did.

His jaw tightened.

Sophia’s smile disappeared.

Ryan continued eating.

Then Ethan spoke.

“Dad, there’s something I’ve been thinking about.”

Richard looked at him.

“What is it?”

Ethan hesitated.

Perfectly.

Ryan recognized good acting when he saw it.

“Now that Ryan is home, I think we should discuss my position in the family.”

Silence.

Catherine frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Ethan lowered his gaze.

“For years, everyone assumed Ryan might never return. You raised me as your son. You gave me the Harrington name.”

His voice became quieter.

“But Ryan is back now.”

Ryan kept eating.

Here we go.

Five pairs of eyes immediately moved toward him.

Ryan didn’t notice because he was focused on his steak.

Ethan continued.

“I don’t want Ryan to ever feel that I’ve taken something that belongs to him.”

Ryan finally looked up.

Ethan’s eyes were slightly red.

Impressive.

Seriously impressive.

“So,” Ethan said, “maybe I should leave.”

Catherine gasped.

Emma looked toward Ryan.

Ryan slowly put down his fork.

Wait.

His memory suddenly clicked.

Is this the suitcase scene? Already?

Richard’s expression hardened.

Ethan misunderstood his silence.

“I’ve already made my decision.”

He stood.

“I packed this morning.”

Ryan stared at him.

Yep.

Definitely Empty Suitcase Guy.

Sophia bit her lip so hard it nearly turned white.

Ryan looked toward the doorway.

Right on cue, a servant appeared carrying a large black suitcase.

Ryan’s eyebrows rose.

Wow. The novel really wasn’t subtle.

Ethan walked toward the suitcase.

Catherine instinctively started to rise.

“Ethan—”

Ryan watched him grab the handle.

His eyes dropped to Ethan’s wrist.

Then to the suitcase wheels.

The way it tilted.

The lack of weight.

Ryan had spent years doing manual jobs in his previous life.

He knew what a packed suitcase looked like.

That thing was almost weightless.

It’s actually empty.

Catherine stopped.

Richard slowly leaned back in his chair.

Victoria stared at the suitcase.

Emma’s mouth fell open.

Sophia looked dangerously close to laughing again.

Ryan, meanwhile, was impressed.

Brother, at least put two bricks inside.

Sophia made a choking sound.

“Are you okay?” Ethan asked.

She grabbed her glass.

“Perfect.”

Ethan turned back toward the family.

“I’ll always be grateful for everything you’ve done for me.”

Ryan rested his chin against his hand.

The memories were returning now.

Fragments.

Mom stops him first.

Catherine’s fingers tightened.

Dad tells him blood doesn’t matter.

Richard’s eyebrow twitched.

One sister cries.

Emma immediately touched her eyes, then seemed offended with herself.

Ryan nearly smiled.

And then…

His smile faded.

There was something else.

Something about this scene.

Something involving him.

Ryan tried harder to remember.

Then it came.

Not everything.

Just one sentence from the novel.

The biological son had been blamed for forcing Ethan away.

That was the beginning.

The first crack between him and the Harrington family.

Ryan looked around the table.

Ah.

This is where you people start hating me.

The room went completely silent.

Catherine slowly turned toward him.

Ryan didn’t notice the pain that flashed across her face.

He simply leaned back in his chair.

Fine.

Let’s see how closely this world follows the novel.

Ethan reached for the suitcase.

And for the first time since Ryan entered the mansion, Richard Harrington smiled.

Not warmly.

“Ethan.”

Ethan stopped.

“Put the suitcase down.”

Hope flashed through Ethan’s eyes.

Ryan watched calmly.

Here comes the speech.

But Richard’s next words were nothing like the ones Ryan remembered.

“If you’ve truly decided to leave,” Richard said, “then open your suitcase first.”

Ethan’s smile disappeared.

Ryan blinked.

…What?

Every member of the Harrington family stared at Ethan.

And Ryan suddenly had a very uncomfortable feeling.

That wasn’t in the novel.