Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Man Who Took His Place: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

At my words, my brother, Thayer Ashford’s brows drew together, and he spoke with clear displeasure, “Didn’t I say in advance that I was coming home? Didn’t you tell Isolde I’d be back?”I calmly took a sip of the tea in my hand.Years had tempered me and I was no longer the invisible younger brother living in his shadow.My silence completely infuriated Thayer.He shot to his feet, his voice sharp as it rang out.“What do you mean by that, Caspian? Don’t forget that the one engaged to the Fairchilds was me. “Now that I’m back, do you really think you can keep sitting in the position of their son-in-law?”I glanced at him and smiled.“I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Isolde and I have a very good relationship.”Over the years, I accompanied Isolde to countless charity galas and social engagements.Our reputation as a loving couple had spread throughout our circle.With the image of a harmonious family, Isolde had earned the favor of many business partners.Perh

I sat in my office, my thoughts drifting far away.Back in elementary school, every winter and summer break, Thayer loved to grab a basketball and run wild. By the time school started again, his homework remained untouched.Afraid the teacher would scold him, he would try to pass off the work I had done as his own.My parents had a convenient excuse: my grades were excellent. Even if I didn’t turn in my homework, the teacher would never blame me.Thayer was different. If he didn’t do his homework, the teacher would certainly reprimand him in front of the whole class.For a boy, that would be utterly humiliating.To protect Thayer’s reputation, I redoubled my effort.From then on, every holiday, I sensibly prepared two sets of homework.In high school, Thayer started dating early. He pursued the campus beauty with dramatic flair, got into fights, and kept on the good side of every teacher.Although his grades were poor, his outgoing personality naturally drew many friends

The clamor in the banquet hall seemed to have frozen, as if someone had pressed pause.Every conversation, every clink of glasses, abruptly stopped.Countless eyes fell on me like spotlights.I caught glimpses of familiar business partners, their expressions flickering between shock and doubt, and overheard murmurs from my company subordinates.Worse, the reporters covering the investor event had already pointed their cameras in my direction. Every microexpression on my face would be scrutinized and dissected endlessly.I felt blood rush to my head, then in the next moment, chill through every limb.Thayer stood beside Isolde, his brows furrowed as if the weight of the world pressed down on him.His fingers gripped Isolde’s arm tightly, his voice ringing clearly across the room.“Tell everyone, Isolde! Tell them! We are the ones who truly loved each other! “Back then, I was foolish and not ready for marriage—but that’s no reason for Caspian to take you for himself!”The wh

On the screen, Seraphina had been sitting obediently on the sofa, waiting for me. Suddenly, the lounge door swung open. She stepped out, seemingly drawn by something she saw.“It’s Thayer!” I almost shouted, my nails digging painfully into my palms. “He must have taken advantage of everyone being in the main hall and had someone take Sera away!”Isolde’s face darkened to an almost terrifying degree, but she remained calm enough to reassure me, “Don’t worry. Thayer won’t dare to do anything.”Without hesitation, she dialed a number, her tone icy and commanding.“Corvin, go to the Ashfords' residence. I need to know exactly where Thayer is right now!”The sudden crisis threw the entire investor event into chaos.Yet Isolde quickly deployed a plan. Some people stayed behind to maintain order, publicly claiming Seraphina had been taken to the hospital for a sudden illness. Meanwhile, we gathered a team and drove straight to the Cheng family home.In the car, my breathing was

It all began when Thayer provoked the daughter of a local gang leader abroad.Once she realized Thayer’s intentions, her love turned to hate. Silently, she set a trap for him, and he fell into gambling. Nights in the bar turned into nights at the casino. Every machine, every win and loss, had been rigged in the hands of her people.When she wanted him to win, Thayer could rake in millions in a single night, shouting with exhilaration across the casino floor. When she wanted him to lose, he could be stripped of everything in an instant. Under these extreme, shifting tides of fortune, he sank deeper into ruin.By the time he sobered up even slightly, he had already amassed debts of 28 million dollars.He could never pay it back. Helpless, he slunk back to Aurelion, only to see Isolde and me, flaunting our lives on television. Jealousy took root. In his mind, I had stolen the life that belonged to him.That was how the subsequent events unfolded. I suspected Thayer ha