Chapter 1: No Longer Part of the Quixall Family

For twenty years, Caleb Jenkins was the beloved heir of the Quixall family. On his birthday, everything changed. He was declared an imposter; the real heir had returned. His formerly doting parents instantly transferred their affections to their rightful son. His sister, whom he'd always protected, pushed him into the sea to defend the new heir. Even his fiancée repeatedly abandoned him for the real heir. Following a tragic car accident, Caleb became the scapegoat, serving a five-year prison sentence for a crime he didn't commit. They never once reached out.

Five years later, on his release, his now-formidable sister, Yelena, stood before him, her voice trembling. "Caleb, I'm sorry. I couldn't protect you. Let's go home." His parents arrived, pleading for forgiveness. His fiancée, now a dazzling CEO, threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down her face. "Caleb, I finally understand—you're the one I love. Will you still cherish me?" But Caleb's heart, withered by nearly two thousand nights in a cold cell, remained untouched by their pleas. Their warmth, once freely given, was irretrievably lost. They could only wait outside his door, hoping for a single glance.

"0278, hurry up. Ms. Quixall is here," barked a prison guard. Caleb's hand trembled, spilling his thermos. For twenty years, he'd had everything; now, everything had changed five years ago, on his birthday. A frail young man arrived, clutching a DNA test report. That day, Caleb's birthday became a tearful reunion for George Quixall, Deborah Irwin, and their true son, Jesse. Relatives wept with joy, showering Jesse with attention. Caleb, the birthday boy, stood alone, watching the celebration unfold in the distance.

This was only the beginning. Jesse, frail and sickly, needed their care. While his parents insisted on loving both sons, their guilt favored Jesse, leaving Caleb with nothing. Even Yelena and his fiancée believed he'd stolen Jesse's birthright, believing he owed Jesse a debt that could only be repaid by stepping aside. But despite Caleb's concessions, Jesse was far from harmless. Before Caleb's imprisonment, he'd already fallen victim to Jesse's manipulations. Jesse played the innocent victim perfectly, while Caleb was painted as the jealous imposter. When Jesse fell ill after being caught in the rain, Yelena, believing Caleb responsible, shoved him into the sea. His fiancée repeatedly chose Jesse over him. The final betrayal came with Jesse's drunk-driving accident. His parents, tear-streaked, pleaded, "Jesse just returned—we can't lose him again. Caleb, please help him." Caleb, seeing their expectation, felt only injustice. Jesse caused the accident; why was he going to jail?

He finally understood: because he was the fake heir, he was disposable, a sacrifice for the real son. Only when his sister and fiancée fabricated evidence and ensured his imprisonment did Caleb realize he was no longer part of the Quixall family. From Jesse's return, he had been an outsider.

"What are you standing around for?" the guard barked. Caleb moved forward.

Creak! The iron gate swung open. After five years, he stepped into the blinding sunlight. A sleek red Porsche and Yelena came into view. "Caleb," she said, her presence even more striking than before. Five years had passed, yet a familiar gaze ignited a tightening in his chest. The grievances of five silent years surfaced. Yelena saw her brother, and a complex mix of guilt, regret, and sorrow overwhelmed her, condensing into a whispered, "You've had it tough."