The morning after the Hollywood press conference, every L.A. news outlet was plastered with "Olivia's Copyright Theft".
The Los Angeles Times front page carried a photo of Ken holding up his handwritten manuscript, headline screaming: "Pop Diva's 'Original Myth' Shattered — Brother Reveals the Truth."
TMZ went even further, digging through Olivia's last five years of hits and pointing out "Ken's creative fingerprints" on all of them. They even unearthed that the "muse" Olivia had thanked in her Grammy speech turned out to be one of Ken's old professors at Boston University.
Ken sat by the floor-to-ceiling window of the master bedroom, scrolling through his phone. His thumb paused over Olivia's "statement of hiatus" post. A cold sneer tugged at his lips.
Last life, you stood on the Grammy stage with my songs. This life, I'll make sure you crash under the weight of public mockery. And this? This is just the first debt you owe me. We've got time — plenty of time — to settle the rest.
Downstairs, Elaine's shrill scream suddenly tore through the quiet, mixed with Richard's furious roar. Ken set down his phone and walked toward the stairs.
At the second-floor landing, he spotted Liam crouched on the living room rug, holding up a diamond-studded Rolex, eyes red with fake tears.
"Dad! Your watch is gone! I just saw it in Ken's closet… Did he take it?"
Ken stopped mid-step, lips curling in a cold sneer. Here it comes — the same trick. Last life, Liam stole Richard's limited Rolex and planted it in my storage room. I got punished, forced to kneel all night, and Grandpa's fountain pen was confiscated. This time, he's leveled up — daring to plant it straight in my master bedroom closet.
Sure enough, Richard blew up. He jabbed a finger at Ken, face red with rage.
"Ken! Haven't I treated you well enough? You got Grandpa's trust fund, the master bedroom — and you still steal my watch? What, the press conference went to your head and now you think you can take from your own family?"
Elaine chimed in, though not as loud as usual. She was still scared of "Howard family drama" hitting the news again.
"Ken, if you like watches, just tell Mom. I'll buy you one. Don't take your dad's… Just hand it over and let this drop."
Liam pressed his face into Richard's leg, sneaking a triumphant glance at Ken. Perfect. Just like last time — as long as I cry hard enough and the setup sticks, even if Ken denies it, he won't get out clean.
But what he didn't expect was Ken's reaction: no panic, no denial. Ken simply turned back upstairs. Two minutes later, he returned with a micro surveillance cam in hand, set it on the coffee table, and pressed play.
"Steal the watch? Watch this."
The footage rolled: 2 a.m. last night. Liam, in pajamas, crept into Richard's study, pulled the Rolex from the drawer, tiptoed to the master bedroom while the maid was cleaning, and slipped it into Ken's closet corner. Every move caught crystal clear on camera.
Ken's thoughts sharpened like a blade. I knew you'd pull this trick again. Last life's pitfall — no way I'd step in twice. That camera I planted last week? Been waiting to catch you in the act.
Richard's face went from scarlet to ashen. His fists clenched until his knuckles cracked.
"Liam! You… you dared lie? You stole my watch and tried to frame your brother?"
Liam's crocodile tears froze. The "pitiful" mask shattered. He scrambled to his feet, tried to bolt — but Richard grabbed his arm.
"Stand still! Tell me why! You think just because reporters are watching your brother, we can't touch you?"
Elaine lunged forward to shield him, grabbing Richard's arm. "Richard, he's still a kid. It must've been a moment of foolishness—"
"Kid?"
Ken cut in, voice dripping with contempt. Seventeen and still a "kid"? Last life, when he framed me for embezzlement at seventeen, did anyone call him that?
He pointed at the footage. "From stealing the watch to planting it in my closet — every step smooth, practiced. You call that 'foolishness'? That's premeditated."
Seeing there was no way out, Liam dropped to his knees, wailing, rolling on the floor.
"Dad! Mom! I didn't mean it! Olivia told me Ken ruined her, and he'd ruin me too — she said I had to strike first… I was just scared of him!"
Ken arched a brow, smirking coldly. Trying to drag Olivia down with you? Too bad she can't even keep her own phone turned on right now.
"Don't pin this on Olivia!" Richard's fury boiled over; his hand rose, ready to strike.
But Ken caught his wrist midair — not out of mercy, but to prevent Liam from later spinning it into "victim evidence."
Ken pressed Richard's hand down, eyes locked on Liam, voice calm but edged with steel.
"Two choices. One: you walk yourself into LAPD and confess to fabricating evidence. I'll let it go. Two: I hand this footage to TMZ. Let the world see how the Howard family's adopted son repeatedly frames his brother. Not only will you be a joke in Beverly Hills, Dad's company stock will nosedive again."
Liam went sheet-white. He knew TMZ's bite — if they could drag A-listers through the mud, what chance did he have? If this leaked, he'd be finished in every Beverly Hills rich-kid circle.
"I… I'll go confess." His voice shook as the words scraped out. No more fight in him.
Elaine tried one last time. "Ken, don't drag this to the police. He's still—"
"Still the adopted son, while I'm the blood one?" Ken cut her cold. Every time, the same excuse. Last life, when Liam framed me, you never said 'don't punish him.' But now? Now it's all 'no need.'
He locked his gaze on her. "At three, you lost me at Disney — didn't think 'no need.' At twenty, when I came back and Liam planted the necklace, you didn't think 'no need' while I knelt all night. And now, he plants a watch, suddenly it's 'no need'? Elaine, your 'no need' always applies to him — never me."
Elaine's face twisted, scarf clutched in her fists. Her eyes reddened, but she turned away — not from guilt, but from fear of neighbors overhearing.
Ken's phone buzzed. He stepped to the balcony to answer. It was White, Grandpa's lawyer, voice laced with cheer.
"Congrats on cleaning up the press conference, Young Master Ken. Also, about Richard Group's preferred shares — I've confirmed Mr. Howard left you five percent. I've registered it with the SEC. You're now a legal shareholder."
Relief rippled through Ken. A genuine smile broke across his face. Grandpa, thank you. This life, I won't just reclaim what's mine. I'll protect what you built.
"Appreciate it, Mr. White," Ken replied softly. "Also, prepare an investment plan for my trust fund. I want to put that two million into a Boston clean energy startup. I'll send you details later."
Back inside, Liam was still sniffling as Elaine packed his bag for the police station. Richard sat on the couch, chain-smoking, face stormy.
Ken walked up and placed a new document in front of Richard — White's just-sent proof of shareholding.
"Dad, one thing. Grandpa left me five percent of Richard Group's preferred shares. It's on record with the SEC now. From here on, I've got voting rights on major decisions — like whether Sophia still runs financing, or whether Liam gets any company position."
Richard's head snapped up, eyes fixed on the words Ken Howard stamped on the document. His fingers trembled.
"You… you knew all along?"
"Just found out." Ken lied easily, though inside he scoffed. Last life, I knew too — but you and Elaine hid it from me. Not this time.
He leaned in, voice sharp as glass. "Good thing, too. With Olivia's mess tanking stocks ten percent already, and Liam's scandal about to break, this company could crumble. Better I step in to safeguard it. Otherwise, all your years of work will be ruined by the ones you 'favor most.'"
Richard's mouth opened, but no words came. He knew Ken was right.
Liam finally dragged his suitcase to the door. His eyes burned with hatred, but his lips stayed sealed. He knew better now — Ken had Grandpa's wealth, the trust fund, and company shares. He was untouchable.
Ken watched Liam's back disappear through the door, Elaine at his side. No pity stirred in his chest.
That was your last frame-up. Every trap you laid in my past life — this life, I'll shove it back at you until you choke. You and every single one who ever crushed me will pay.
He moved to the living room's massive window. Outside, Beverly Hills glowed gold under the setting sun, the Hollywood Hills shimmering like they were dipped in false glamor.
Olivia's down. Liam's crushed. Next — Sophia, and Mom and Dad. Wall Street's financing, Grandpa's trust, the company shares… Everything that's mine, I'll reclaim. And everything that's theirs — I'll deliver the punishment they earned.
His phone buzzed again — an email from the CEO of that Boston clean energy startup, inviting him to visit the project next week. Ken typed a quick reply, fingers flying, resolve flashing in his eyes.
My revenge won't just be tearing my family apart. It'll be building something greater — standing taller than Richard, taller than every single one who ever hurt me.
That night, the Beverly Hills mansion lay silent. Richard smoked through dawn in the study. Elaine cried quietly in the guest room.
No one dared disturb Ken in the master bedroom.
And Ken? After mapping out the trust fund's investment, he finally slept soundly — knowing this new life of his was only just beginning.