Chapter 3

After packing everything, I carried my suitcase back downstairs.

The people in the hall hadn't dispersed yet. Annie looked at my suitcase and let out a cold laugh.

"Carter, stop playing hard to get. Let me tell you, don't even think about any more schemes. I won't let you manipulate me like you did bef—like you used to!"

"Once you walk out that door, you'll never get a single cent from the Brandi family!"

I stopped. "Annie, don't worry."

"The Brandi family's money doesn't interest me."

"But before I leave, there are some things that belong to me that I need to take."

I pulled out a document I'd prepared earlier from my bag.

"Mr. Brandi, these are the core patent rights to the Andrews family technology that my birth parents left behind."

"Since I'll have nothing to do with the Brandi family from now on, please sign this document and return these patents to me."

Old Mr. Brandi's expression shifted.

Lace immediately sneered from the side. "Carter, have you lost your mind?"

"Those Andrews family patents are completely outdated. What use are they to you? You think you're going to get rich off that junk?"

Annie's face was full of contempt. "Dad, give them to him! Since he insists on being so petty about it, return those useless papers to him. That way he can't go around saying the Brandi family coveted the Andrews family's assets!"

Old Mr. Brandi hesitated.

Years ago, my parents had died in a car accident while saving the Brandi couple. To silence public gossip, the Brandi family had adopted both Lace and me.

Naturally, the Andrews family's business and patents came under Brandi family "management."

Over the years, the Brandi family had already sucked dry all the Andrews family assets they could liquidate, leaving only these foundational technology patents they considered obsolete.

"Carter, why put yourself through this? You're a grown man—what use are these to you?" Old Mr. Brandi said with false concern.

"This is the only memento my parents left me. Sign it." My tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

The intermittent glances from surrounding guests put pressure on both Old Mr. Brandi and Mrs. Brandi. With a flourish, Old Mr. Brandi signed the transfer agreement and stamped it with the Brandi family seal.

I carefully checked the documents, confirmed everything was in order, and put them in my bag.

They had no idea that these seemingly outdated foundational patents would become the most critical breakthrough in the new energy technology sector over the next three years.

In my previous life, Annie had used these patents—which I'd given away for nothing—to propel the Brandi family to become the wealthiest in the West.

In this life, I would never again hand them the knife handle.

"Mr. Brandi, Mrs. Brandi, the debt of raising me is greater than heaven itself, but my parents already repaid that debt with their two lives."

"From today on, I, Carter, and the Brandi family are even. All ties are severed. We owe each other nothing."

Annie stared at the suitcase in my hand, sneering. "Nice act. Just don't come crawling back the moment you step out that door."

I glanced back at her.

"Annie, I wish you and Lace a lifetime of happiness."

"Whatever you do, don't regret this."

With that, I walked out of the Brandi family mansion without looking back.

The night wind felt cool against my face.

But I felt that this was the freest day of both my lives combined.

Less than half an hour after leaving the Brandi family, a torrential rain hit the West.

Wild wind whipped sheets of rain against the taxi's windshield.

I sat in the back seat, quietly watching the blurred nightscape outside.

The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror. "Sir, heading to the airport in this weather? Catching a flight?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Going East."

"This rain is crazy. There's been a bad accident on the overpass up ahead. Road's closed. We'll have to detour."

The driver muttered as he turned the wheel.

Hearing the words "car accident," my eyes flickered.

Calculating the time—yes, it would be right about now.

I pulled out my phone and opened the local Western news feed.