REBORN TO RULE

Luke clenched the crumpled paper while staring at the grand gate before the Davis family's luxurious mansion. It looked exactly the same as he remembered—grand and opulent yet cold, rigid, emotionless, and cruel—a perfect match for its residents. "The thing I missed before," Luke muttered with a bitter smile. He wouldn't make the same mistake again. This time, Luke knew exactly what kind of people he was dealing with. He wouldn't fall for their sweet words again—once was enough. Luke didn't know how or why, but his life had somehow rewound. Not long ago, he remembered sitting in his rundown apartment, shivering from the cold because he couldn't afford to pay the gas bill to heat the room. He had tried to reach for a blanket to stop his skinny, fatless body from shaking, but he couldn't even move his legs. Not because of hunger—though he hadn't eaten in two days—but because he had lost the will to live. He once believed his life would improve after marrying Emma—the daughter of the man who owned this mansion—but that was an empty dream. "I was such a fool," Luke muttered again, recalling how he had eagerly accepted Rufus's plans—Emma's father. Luke thought Rufus would appreciate his efforts if he achieved everything the man demanded. He believed Rufus would overlook his poor background from the outskirts of Lawton, especially if he did everything asked of him—even the impossible, like scoring the highest on the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination). It was a brutal challenge, and Luke remembered all too well how often he had nosebleeds from pushing himself during medical school. He skipped meals and forgot to sleep. Ultimately, he succeeded and felt more confident—hoping it would make him worthy of Emma. Naive. Rufus had treated him like a slave and discarded him the moment he failed to deliver. Luke's life fell apart in an instant. Rufus ensured no hospital would hire him, making him suffer until the end. Depression, mixed with malnutrition, took his life. The last thing Luke saw before he died was the frosted glass window of his freezing apartment. "That won't happen again," Luke hissed, then opened the gate. Every painful memory and insult still burned in his mind. He would make sure to turn every one of them around. *** Rufus Davis greeted him with a smile and led him into a large study. The scent of wood from the furniture was exactly as Luke remembered. Small details like that convinced him this was real. He wasn't dreaming or insane—he truly had relived his life. "Did the results come out? How did you do?” Rufus asked, clearly waiting for the news. "Yes." Luke stepped forward and handed him the crumpled paper. He watched Rufus's lips curl into a satisfied smile. One of his pawns had moved precisely as planned. "You must be proud," Rufus said, motioning for Luke to sit. First place. Not bad for someone from… your kind of background." Luke returned the look with a flat expression. “Thank you.” Rufus's words were identical to before, and Luke cursed himself because he ever thought his praise was genuine. It wasn't praise—it was half an insult, a reminder of his weakness and poor origins. Rufus poured himself a drink. "But achievement doesn't change bloodlines. You still remember what we said before, right? Emma was never meant to marry someone beneath her." Luke didn't react. That wasn't what Rufus had said the first time. Maybe it was because Luke hadn't smiled or looked impressed. Rufus sensed resistance and started issuing warnings. “I remember, Mr. Davis,” Luke replied. “And I agree.” He grinned. His words were still polite, his face still composed. Rufus raised an eyebrow, surprised. "What's going on with you? Are you angry at me?” "I'm not angry, Mr. Davis." Luke smiled to smooth over the tension, just as the corner of his eye caught a flash of red stiletto heels behind the living room wall. Emma's shoes. Someone was eavesdropping. Luke guessed Mrs. Davis stood beside her. They usually had tea together at this hour. "Did getting top scores make you feel smart?" Rufus snapped. “Do you think that makes you equal to us?” He scoffed, full of contempt. Luke stood up. “No. But it shows me that I am smart. I can be anything I want." Rufus stepped forward, raising his voice. "You arrogant brat. Do you think you'd be anything without my help? Did you forget where all that money came from?" Luke's expensive education hadn't come out of thin air. Though he had scholarships, he still needed extra funds—money Rufus had provided. "Don't be disrespectful. Apologize—now!” Rufus demanded. Luke stared at him coldly. "Apologize for what? I haven't done anything. I'm just enjoying the result of hard work that nearly killed me." "You think you can challenge me?!" Rufus was fuming. "That's up to how you interpret it,” Luke replied, turning to leave the study. He had only come to deliver the exam results—and to lay the first piece of his plan. He couldn't explain the miracle but would make the most of it. Once he was out of sight, Emma emerged. Her mother stood beside her, confirming Luke's suspicion. “What happened? Did you two fight?” Rufus snapped at Emma. "I don't know. Luke was fine yesterday," Emma answered, looking confused. "I haven't seen him today… but something's different." She only gets a glimpse but immediately notices the change in Luke. First, his posture. He stood straighter now. He usually slouched, making his tall frame seem shorter. Then, his tone and expression. Luke used to smile often and seemed a little timid. He would nod and smile whenever Rufus praised him—not cold like he was just now. "Yesterday, he looked calm and easy to control. That one was too arrogant,” Hilda—Mrs. Davis—added sharply. Rufus pulled out his phone in frustration. "Then I'll teach him a lesson." He wouldn't let that insolence go unpunished. “You want to challenge me? Let's see how far your perfect scores can take you." Rufus dialed a number. "Connect me to the state health department director. I want to do something about Luke Anderson.” He grinned with satisfaction when he heard the response on the other end. It was easy to pull strings—Rufus had almost unlimited connections. "I'll make you regret this. You'll crawl back to me and beg," Rufus muttered as he flung the phone aside.