Chapter 4

Mom's face darkened as she scolded me, "Colin, that's not the attitude you should have when talking to me. Do you know how much I've sacrificed to raise you all these years? You're Chris' brother. Shouldn't you help him out a little, even if it means making some sacrifices?"

I looked at the woman I used to call my mother, my eyes turning cold. She couldn't see how hard I worked or how much I suffered. All she could see was the scar on my face and how perfect Chris was.

I inhaled deeply, trying to suppress my anger.

"Okay."

I turned around, wanting to leave.

Mom asked, "Where are you going?"

"To the school."

I strode away without looking back.

That day, I stayed up all night in my dormitory. I gathered all the notebooks where I'd compiled my mistakes and their corrections, packed them up, and sent them to Chris.

…

For the next three years, I was forced to stay at school and rarely went back home.

Then came the day the college entrance exam results were released.

I had achieved the highest score in mathematics on the college entrance exams. To capitalize on the publicity, the school arranged an exclusive interview with a local TV network and arranged a celebratory banquet at a downtown hotel.

The principal insisted that I accept the interview, noting that the school intended to award me a special bonus of 300 thousand dollars.

The moment the news reached home, Mom, who had rarely contacted me over the past three years, immediately called me.

"Colin, you've finally made me proud! That money will be perfect as travel funds for Chris to go abroad. What time does the event start? Gavin, Chris, and I will go pick out our outfits now!"

Chris kept interrupting over the phone, his voice full of smug pride. "Colin, Sarah will be coming with me. When the time comes, we'll take a family photo in front of the media."

An hour later, the banquet officially began. The reporters were already stationed at the hotel entrance, their cameras set up and ready.

Mom, dressed to the nines, arrived with Chris and Gavin, but the security guards immediately stopped them.

"I'm sorry, but you're not on the guest list. Unauthorized personnel aren't allowed inside."

Stunned, Mom paused briefly before replying in an agitated tone. "Are you blind? The top scorer is my son!"

Inside the banquet hall, the exclusive live interview began. "Colin, today is undoubtedly one of the proudest moments of your life. Who would you like to thank the most?"

Hearing this question, Mom immediately lifted her chin in anticipation. She even boasted to the security guard. "Did you hear that? That's my son. He's about to invite me on stage. Hurry up and open the door!"

Chris also straightened his jacket, preparing to bask in the spotlight that would be upon him soon.

Meanwhile, I stood on stage, looking directly into the camera. "I would like to thank… my homeroom teacher, Ms. Lane."

As the words landed, the cameras panned to the audience.

Outside, Mom's smug expression froze on her face.