Investment System: Rise to the Top

CHAPTER 001

Noah stood in the middle of the room, while Mr. Bennett stared at him with a sharp and disgusted gaze.

“Ungrateful!” he shouted as he threw the teacup in his hand. Hot tea splashed onto Noah’s body, but no one cared.

“For nineteen years we raised you, gave you everything, and this is how you repay us? Bringing shame to the Bennett family!”

Noah clenched his fists, enduring the burning sensation on his skin.

“Father, I didn’t—”

“Don’t call me father!” the man’s voice thundered, cutting him off. “Do you think I don’t know? You stole important company documents, caused chaos, and now you still dare to deny it?”

“I didn’t steal anything!” Noah’s voice trembled, but he forced himself to stand straight. “I was framed! Someone deliberately set me up—”

A hard slap struck his face, making his head jerk to the side.

“You still dare to defend yourself?” Mr. Bennett looked at him coldly. “It’s true, you are not of Bennett blood. None of us are like you, a thief, a troublemaker, full of jealousy and malice.”

Those words hurt more than the slap.

“From today on, your relationship with the Bennett family is over. You are no one anymore. All the expenses we’ve spent on you all these years, consider them a donation.”

Noah fell silent, his chest tightening. He never expected that the father who had loved him all this time would not trust him at all, and could say such words so easily, cutting their ties without hesitation.

As if his whole world had collapsed, Noah slowly fell to his knees. His gaze shifted to Mrs. Bennett.

“Mother…” his voice weakened. “I didn’t do it… please believe me. Don’t drive me away… I—I still want to stay in this house…”

The woman did not respond immediately. Her face was filled with disappointment.

“Noah,” she finally said, her voice soft but sharp, “I have always defended you. But look at what you’ve done.”

“Mother, I really—”

“Enough.” She shook her head, unwilling to hear anything more. “You cannot be compared to Brian. He was raised in hardship, yet he grew into a good child. Meanwhile, you… who were given everything, turned out like this.”

Noah’s heart felt like it was being crushed. He looked at the woman he had called mother for nineteen years.

In a low voice, he said, “Mother, Father, don’t you know me well? You raised me all this time, you know what kind of person I am, don’t you?”

In the corner of the room, Brian Bennett, who had been silent all along, finally stepped forward when he saw his parents’ expressions soften slightly.

“Father, Mother…” his voice was gentle, as if hesitant, but it caught their attention. With an understanding expression, he continued, “Maybe… we don’t have to go this far.”

“After all, Noah has lived with you for many years. He received the best education and all the finest things. He’s not like me, who is used to hardship… if he’s suddenly thrown out, it will surely be very difficult for him.”

Noah looked at him with complicated emotions. Brian’s words felt strange, as if he was being reminded that none of that comfort had ever truly belonged to him.

And as expected, Mrs. Bennett’s expression changed instantly. Her eyes softened as she looked at Brian.

“Brian, you still think about him after everything that happened? You really are a good child.”

She turned to Noah again, her expression cold once more.

“Look at yourself. You can’t even compare to half of Brian. You’ve wronged Brian again and again, yet he still cares about you.”

“Someone like you doesn’t deserve to be in this family,” Mr. Bennett added firmly before raising his hand and calling the security.

Two guards immediately entered.

“Drag him out.”

Noah froze for a moment before pleading desperately again. “Father, no, please—!”

But no one listened. His arms were seized. His knees scraped against the marble floor as he was dragged toward the door.

“Mother… please…” his voice was barely audible.

Mrs. Bennett turned her face away, unwilling to look at him even for a moment. No matter what, they had been mother and son for nineteen years, the feelings and affection were real, just like the anger and disappointment she felt now.

As his body was dragged out, Noah glanced back. Behind his parents, Brian stood with his back turned, then slightly looked over his shoulder and met his gaze. His eyes were sharp, and a provocative smile curved on his lips.

In an instant, a memory from a few months ago resurfaced. Brian’s cold voice felt close as he spoke with deep hatred, “Not only will I take back everything you have. I will also make sure you pay for it all.”

A chill ran through Noah’s body.

For the past half year since Brian returned as the true son of the Bennett family, everything had changed. Slowly but surely, Brian brought him down, making his parents turn away, making the entire family see him as a burden, and even his close friends distance themselves or turn against him.

Noah could have left. He could live without them.

But nineteen years of affection and attachment… were not so easily let go.

Noah fell in front of the grand gate of the Bennett family villa. For a few seconds, he remained still, his knees pressed against the cold ground. Behind him, the iron gate shut with a loud sound, as if completely severing everything.

Slowly, Noah stood up. His gaze fell on a worn-out backpack lying nearby, along with several pieces of clothing that had been thrown out carelessly.

He crouched down, picking them up one by one. His hands trembled slightly as he folded the wrinkled clothes and put them into the bag. There was nothing left for him in that place.

Without looking back, Noah turned around and began to walk.

The road to campus felt longer than usual. The city lights began to turn on, but Noah barely noticed. His mind was filled with memories looping endlessly.

Everything began with a mistake. When he and Brian were born, they were switched.

But fate seemed to toy with everything. Brian’s parents, who were actually Noah’s biological parents, died not long after. The baby was sent to an orphanage, growing up in hardship.

Meanwhile, Noah lived as the young master of the Bennett family for nineteen years.

Until finally, Brian entered the same university, and the truth was revealed. From that moment on, Noah’s life began to fall apart.

Without realizing it, his steps had already entered the campus area. The familiar buildings stood before him, but they felt different. He used to come here in a luxury car, now he only carried a single backpack.

Noah took a deep breath, then walked toward the dormitory.

At least he still had a place to sleep. But before he could go any further, several students stood in his way. Their gazes were full of mockery.

“Hey, look who’s here.”

One of them sneered. “Oh, aren’t you a rich Young Master? Where’s your car? Oh, oh, oh, sorry, I forgot. You’re just a fake Young Master who just got kicked out of the Bennett family?”

Laughter erupted from the others, echoing one after another.

“Wow, so now you’re a homeless guy, huh?”

“You used to be so arrogant. Look at you now, just carrying that crappy bag.”

Noah clenched his fists at his sides but said nothing.

“How does it feel to fall from the sky to the ground?” the man stepped closer, deliberately patting Noah’s shoulder. “Or maybe even lower than the ground?”

Laughter broke out again among them.