Chapter 1

Most of the comments were filled with shock, outrage, and criticism. People were condemning the parents for their cruelty and the audacity of the original poster.

Yet, when faced with the internet's fury, the poster not only didn't feel ashamed, but even doubled down.

"Go ahead and keep cussing. The angrier you all get, the more it proves how much my parents love me. To make sure I'd be set for life, they practically raised a human ATM for me.

"It's hilarious! He actually believes that I'm dead. Every year on my so-called death anniversary, he lays fresh flowers in front of my empty urn. Little does he know I'm throwing yacht parties overseas in Valrya.

"I heard he was just hospitalized yesterday after working himself to the point of bleeding from a stomach ulcer. And today, my parents handed him the invoice for my new car. Not only did he not complain, but he apologized to them with a face full of guilt, saying he hadn't taken good enough care of them.

"Okay, gotta run now. I'm picking up my new ride today. Time to take her for a spin!"

I stared intently at those comments as an icy chill spread from the pit of my stomach.

Just this morning, my parents—Simon Patterson and Krystal Granger—had walked into my hospital room and thrown that invoice on my bed.

"Asher Patterson! Your brother came to me in a dream last night. He says he wants this car!" my adoptive mother snapped, looking down her nose at me. "You murderer! If it weren't for saving you, Caleb wouldn't have died. Even giving your life in exchange for his wouldn't be enough!"

I'd clutched my stomach with one hand as it twisted agonizingly, while my other hand dug tightly into the sheets.

Without a word, I immediately transferred the 450,000 dollars in corporate dividends, along with the remaining ten-something thousand dollars in my personal savings, straight to my adoptive father's account.

Back in the present, I ripped the IV out of the back of my hand. I walked into the bathroom and splashed cold water over my face. It felt like that was the only way to wake myself up from this absurd nightmare.

For as long as I could remember, I knew I was adopted by the Patterson family.

When I was 18, I had accidentally fallen into a river. My younger brother, Caleb Patterson—born just one day after me—had jumped in to rescue me.

I survived, but he never made it back to shore. His body was never even found.

From that day on, my life became hell.

Whenever my parents were upset about anything, they would beat and kick me, calling me a jinx and saying I brought them nothing but bad luck.

When it came time to apply for college, they forced me to give up on the medical school I had dreamed of attending and choose finance instead, all just because it would let me earn money sooner.

Once I started working, they took control of my paycheck, too.

I never resented them, because, all these years, I believed that I owed Caleb my life.

But now…

I followed the account that posted the thread and sent Dad a message.

"Dad, did you get the money for the watch? Is it enough? If it's not, I'll find a way to borrow some more."

His reply came quickly, as cold and indifferent as ever.

"Received. At least you still have a little conscience. Your mother and I are going to perform some rites for your brother these next few days. We don't have time to look after you. If you're feeling well enough, go get yourself discharged."

After hesitating for a moment, I asked a friend who worked at a bank to check the recent transactions and related activity on Dad's account.

For all these years, I'd been fully devoted to them without once questioning them. But that thread made it impossible to ignore the doubts gnawing at me.

A quick check would be able to determine whether it was real or not.

30 minutes later, my friend sent me a screenshot, along with a voice message.

"Asher, your dad's card was used this morning for a limited-edition luxury watch, paid in full. The registered recipient's name is Caleb Patterson."

Hearing those words, my mind went completely blank.

Caleb was indeed alive!