<h4>Chapter 277: Reversed Identities Over the Years</h4>


    "That girl... she really makes me want to fly back to Country S right away... But I did find out something that will be very beneficial to you!" Eric chuckled softly as he kissed the note, his eyes filled with tenderness.


    Though his body was in Country W, his heart had already flown back to Country S!


    ...


    It was lunchtime, and E was grabbing a meal at the school cafeteria with Lauren. Just as they sat down, someone immediately took a seat across from them.


    "E!"


    E, who had been quietly eating, felt her expression turn cold the moment she heard that familiar, eerie voice.


    It was Brandon again!


    She pressed her lips together in disgust, refusing to even look up at him.


    "E, I went through so much trouble toe see you... Can’t you at least talk to me?" Brandon’s voice was low, but loud enough for the nearby students to overhear.


    Several boys around them nced up, thinking about how many admirers E seemed to have.


    Lauren cleared her throat, "Look, sir, E’s not into you. Stop bothering her, alright?"


    "I just... I just want to talk to her!" Brandon’s eyes shed with both desperation and longing.


    The cafeteria buzzed with noise, but Brandon’s voice was the only thing that stood out, catching the attention of a few onlookers.


    E finally raised her head, staring at Brandon with an expressionless face.


    It had been a long time since she’dst seen him. He looked thinner, but his gaze was even more intense and obsessive.


    "Brandon, there’s nothing for us to talk about. To me, you’re nothing but a nuisance. Please stop bothering me." E’s words were sharp and final.


    Brandon was truly shameless.


    "I... I just wanted to see you," Brandon said sadly, clutching his utensils, his appetitepletely gone.


    E, having lost her own appetite after seeing his face, stood up without hesitation and walked away.


    Lauren panicked, "E, you haven’t even eaten yet!"


    Brandon watched E’s retreating figure, his face flushing with embarrassment and anger. He gripped his utensils tightly, so frustrated he could scream.


    Only he knew the kind of pain he had been enduring for over a year.


    For someone as obsessive as Brandon, losing love was like losing his life.


    That’s why so many people in the world end up taking drastic measures, losing their sense of self-worth.


    To Brandon, E was the first woman he had truly loved. His rtionship with Hannah now seemed like nothing more than a matter of physical need.


    "E, I won’t give up on you. I won’t! Because I refuse to let go! I’m living for the sole purpose of being with you!" A deep madness shed in Brandon’s eyes.


    Lauren felt a chill run down her spine. She had been watching Brandon closely, not missing a single one of his expressions.


    Such a handsome man, but with emotions that swung wildly. If pushed too far, there was no telling what he might do. No wonder E didn’t like him.


    Lauren had lost her own appetite watching Brandon, so she hurriedly packed up both her and E’s meals to take back to the dorm.


    ...


    "Mr. Nelson, here are your confidential files."


    The assistant walked in and ced tworge, sealed envelopes in front of James.


    James’ expression darkened, a wave of inexplicable tension settling over him.


    He knew exactly what was in the envelopes. One was the DNA report for him and Henry, and the other was a ten-year-old DNA report for Eric and himself, which Professor Lee had dug up at James’ urgent request.


    Which one should he open first?


    For the first time, James sat there realizing just how painful and difficult making a choice could be.


    He feared that the son he had doted on for over twenty years might not even be his biological child.


    James sat frozen for several minutes, before closing his eyes and randomly grabbing one of the envelopes. When he opened them again, he slowly began to tear open the envelope.


    This one was the DNA report for Eric and himself. As expected, the results confirmed they were father and son.


    He still clearly remembered Professor Lee’s signature on the document.


    A flood of emotions washed over James. He had treated Eric so poorly back then, never once concerned about why people had tried to assassinate him.


    James had practically left Eric to fend for himself.


    His heart ached, and memories of histe wife, who had leaped to her death from the fourth floor, brought a tightness to his chest, his eyes turning slightly red.


    With trembling hands, James reached for the second DNA report and slowly tore it open.


    Grace had imed she had nothing to do with Donald. Now, what he most wanted to know was whether Henry was truly his son.


    Finally, the envelope was open. James’ shaking eyes scanned thest line.


    "Henry... really isn’t my son! He’s not my son..."


    James’ hands went limp, and the report fell to the floor.


    His eyes widened as a sharp, stabbing pain took hold of his heart.


    Grace! That venomous woman had truly betrayed him years ago, putting a "green hat" on him without him knowing!


    For more than twenty years, he had doted on Henry, yet his real son had been forced to wander abroad, enduring constant hardship.


    "God... why? Is this my punishment? My retribution? Hahaha... I’ve loved a son for over twenty years who isn’t even my own... while the son I thought wasn’t mine, Eric, was actually my flesh and blood..."


    James beganughing hysterically, but tears started streaming down his face.


    He bent down, picked up the DNA report, and in a fit of madness, shredded it into tiny pieces, scattering them across the floor.


    "Grace! You vile woman, you nearly killed my real son! Henry... he’s not mine. How am I supposed to believe this? How am I supposed to face this?"


    James lost control, throwing everything off his desk in a frenzy.


    Theputer was smashed, papers were scattered everywhere, and the ss cup shattered on the floor, creating a piercing tter.


    "Why? Why did this happen to me? The only woman who truly loved me... I drove her to her death. I, James, am the most wicked man in the world. Hahaha..."


    It seemed as though James had truly lost his mind. The secretary outside, though hearing themotion, didn’t dare knock or enter for a long time.


    Eventually, with a grim face, James instructed the secretary toe in and call Wilson, his attorney.


    A cleaningdy entered nervously and carefully tidied up the chaos in the office.


    By the time Wilson arrived, the office had been restored to its former neatness.


    "Mr. Nelson, is there something you need from me? Is it about the will fromst time...?" Wilson asked as he stepped into the room.


    James, exhausted, sat slumped on the couch. "Yes, the will fromst time needs to be changed."


    Wilson wasn’t surprised. He retrieved the previous will from his briefcase. "Mr. Nelson, how would you like to amend it?"


    James thought about Henry’s face, and his heart twisted with pain.


    All this time, he had shown such favor to Henry, but...