When I Got Reborn, I Chose the Rich Family

"Two families are here today hoping to adopt. You can choose which one you'd like to go with."

In my previous life, I chose the Parkers, who owned a small neighborhood store.

Life wasn't particularly comfortable, but they cherished me like their own.

They fully supported my writing and helped me become a moderately successful novelist.

Meanwhile, Sean Lowe chose the affluent Bennett family. Their home was comfortable, but cold and detached.

He spent more than a decade trying to earn their affection, but never truly became part of the family.

Now that I'd been given a second chance, the moment I saw the Parkers again, I nearly called them Mom and Dad.

But Sean beat me to it.

He threw himself forward and said, "Mrs. Harper, I want to go with the family that owns the store! I love snacks the most. I'll be good and listen to everything they say!"

He buried himself in Claire Parker's arms like a kitten that had finally found its way home.

I stopped behind him and didn't move.

If my guess was right, he had been reborn too.

"Aaron, which family do you prefer?"

The orphanage director, Evelyn Harper, bent down and asked with a smile.

"I'm fine with either. Mr. Bennett and Miss Shaw are both really nice people."

Evelyn froze for a moment, probably not expecting me to be so calm about it.

I turned to look at Sean Lowe.

He was holding the Parkers' hands and swaying them gently, his words sweet as honey.

"Mr. Parker, Mrs. Parker, I really like you both. Can I start calling you Mom and Dad right now?"

Samuel Parker was caught off guard by the enthusiasm.

His eyes quickly reddened as he replied, overwhelmed.

"Claire, look at this child..."

Claire White smiled warmly. She rubbed her hands nervously against her pants before finally reaching out to pat Sean's head.

"Good boy. As long as you want us, you'll always have a home with us."

Watching the three of them together felt like someone had carved a piece out of my chest.

Yet there was no anger, only a faint bitterness.

Sean and I grew up together.

We had been inseparable best friends.

I knew he wasn't a bad person by nature.

He simply wanted a warm home that truly belonged to him.

In my previous life, the Parkers hadn't had much money, but they gave me everything they could.

They supported me in pursuing the things I loved.

That kind of family environment was exactly what Sean always longed for.

We were both orphans with no parents of our own.

I understood why he made that choice.

Even so, it still hurt.

After the adoption paperwork was completed, I followed the Bennetts toward the expensive black sedan parked outside the orphanage.

As we passed each other, Claire seemed a little guilty.

She reached into her pocket, pulled out a handful of candy, and pressed it into my hand.

It was my favorite candy in my previous life.

"Good boy, these are for you. And from today on, you'll have a family of your own.

"A family like the Bennetts is different from an ordinary one. Be on your best behavior, and don't suffer in silence if you're treated unfairly."

The candy still carried the warmth of her hand, and my eyes began to sting.

“Mom, thank you for raising me in my previous life.”

I silently thanked her.

“Sean will cherish both of you on my behalf in this lifetime.”

Hedworth Bennett courteously opened the car door for Laura Shaw.

Laura turned to me and said, "Aaron, get in. Our housekeeper, Linda, has already prepared your room at home."

Her tone was polite, as though she were welcoming a young guest.

In my previous life, Sean told me that when he first arrived at the Bennett household, everyone had been distant and difficult to get close to.

Later, after they had a child of their own, they paid even less attention to him.

He said it wasn't what he imagined a family should be.

But from this brief interaction, I found myself feeling differently.

A family willing to thoughtfully prepare everything for a child they hadn't even met yet—how could they truly be cold and indifferent?

I looked out the window at the passing streets and at Sean's family as their car drove past ours.

I understood one thing clearly: no relationship could thrive without both sides putting their heart into it.