The story begins on a lonely bridge.
A young man stands at the edge, the cold wind brushing against his face. His eyes are filled with pain, confusion, and a deep sense of betrayal.
"Why is this happening to me?" he murmurs bitterly. "I never did anything wrong to anyone… so why?"
His voice trembles as memories flood his mind.
"My own brother… the one who wanted my share of the property… betrayed me. He deceived me and took everything I had. And my wife… the woman I loved more than my own life… she turned out to be nothing more than a gold digger. The moment I lost my wealth, she abandoned me and went straight to my brother."
He lets out a hollow laugh.
"Now I have nothing left. No money… no family… nothing at all."
For a moment, he looks up at the dark sky.
"Mom… Dad… why did you leave me so soon? If you were still here, maybe none of this would have happened."
A tear slips down his cheek.
"But I can't bear this anymore. Once I'm gone… everything will be fine."
He closes his eyes.
"Mom, Dad… I'm coming to you."
And with those final words, the young man steps forward and jumps off the bridge.
As his body falls through the cold air, everything around him slowly begins to blur and fade.
And then, the story of that young man finally begins.
His name is Steven Walker.
His older brother is John Walker.
Their father, Albert Walker, was the powerful owner of Walker Industries—the largest industrial empire on the Southern Continent. Under Walker Industries existed many of the continent's biggest companies.
Their mother, Jia Walker, was known as the perfect housewife. She always supported her husband and cared deeply for her family.
From the outside, the Walker family appeared perfect.
But in reality… that perfect image was nothing more than an illusion.
Steven and his brother John had never gotten along since childhood.
The reason was simple.
Steven was better than John at everything.
Whether it was academics, sports, or business talent—Steven always stood above his brother. Because of this, John constantly faced criticism and comparison. Again and again, people praised Steven while looking down on him.
Over time, jealousy began to grow inside John's heart.
It slowly turned into hatred.
Years passed, and when the time for marriage came, fate seemed to favor Steven once again. He married the most beautiful woman in the city.
That moment only made John hate his brother even more.
Five years later, Albert Walker made a shocking announcement.
Within one year, he would choose the next CEO of Walker Industries.
To decide the successor, Steven and John were both given control of two companies under Walker Industries. During that year, they would have to prove their leadership and business abilities.
Steven, being a brilliant leader and businessman, quickly turned his company into a massive success. Profits rose rapidly, and the company expanded faster than ever.
Meanwhile, John barely paid attention to his own company. Instead, he spent most of his time trying to sabotage Steven.
As a result, John's company suffered enormous losses and was on the verge of bankruptcy.
Seeing his brother succeed again and again drove John completely insane.
Consumed by greed and jealousy, he made a terrible decision.
He secretly hired assassins… and had his own parents murdered.
But that wasn't enough.
Blinded by his hunger for wealth, John also dragged Steven's wife into his scheme. Together, they plotted against Steven, stole the property that rightfully belonged to him, and abandoned him to die.
And then…
The story returns to the present.