Chapter 3

Ever since Justin moved in with us, my relationship with my parents and Tiana had worsened, but I didn't care.

I usually spent my time in the school library after school, studying middle and high school material ahead of time. With my current academic level, I could easily skip grades and go straight to high school, but I had other plans.

After Justin transferred into my class in my past life, he won award after award and became the school's most popular student. Everyone, including the teachers, loved him. My parents and Tiana treated him like a precious treasure, while I was invisible, nothing more than Justin's shadow.

Now, I would snatch every award and every first place from him and trample him under my feet!

A few months later, my birthday came around. My parents decided to throw me a big birthday party to make things less awkward between us. More than that, they wanted me to finally accept Justin.

I came home from school to find the table covered with a lavish spread. But when I looked closer, I realized it was all seafood, and the fact that I was allergic to seafood was widely known within the family.

Justin was helping around the kitchen, and when he saw me, he flashed me a provocative smile.

Mom had been looking at Justin lovingly, but when she turned to me, her gaze was no longer as tender. "You're home. Once your dad gets back with the cake, we'll celebrate your birthday together."

I glanced at the dishes on the table and sneered. "You know it's my birthday, right? Then why is every dish something I can't eat? Oh, right. Justin likes seafood."

Dad and Tiana returned at that moment. When Tiana heard what I said, she snapped, "Marco, why are you bullying Justin again? We're family. What's wrong with making a few dishes Justin likes?"

Justin's eyes instantly filled with tears. "I'm sorry. I just really envy you, Marco. Mom only made my favorite dishes because she felt bad for me. Marco, you can blame me all you want, but please don't blame Mom."

Dad slammed the cake down on the table. "It's your birthday, for goodness' sake. Do you have to ruin it for us?"

I pointed at the ill-fitting limited-edition sneakers on Justin's feet. "My birthday? Then why is the table full of dishes Justin loves? And why is he wearing my birthday present?"

Just like in my past life, Justin was wearing the sneakers my parents had bought for me. When I angrily tried to take them back, they told me to be generous.

If there was anything Justin wanted, I was expected to hand it over without a fight. I had no doubt that if he ever wanted my life, my holier-than-thou family would guilt-trip me into giving it up too.

Justin burst into tears upon hearing my words. He took off the sneakers. "I just liked them so much that I couldn't resist trying them on. Sorry. I've never seen such nice shoes before… When I was abducted, all I had were worn-out sandals…"

There were a few red cuts on Justin's feet, but they looked far too fresh to be old injuries. How could they possibly have been left over from years ago?

But when my family saw his battered feet, they each pulled Justin into a hug and burst into tears.

Justin broke free from their embrace and ran toward me. He crouched down at my feet, putting on a pitiful act. "Please forgive me, Marco. I'll give you the shoes back."

He had his back to my family, stomping on my foot as he spoke.

A sharp pain shot through it.

I instinctively wanted to push him away, but the moment I touched his shoulder, Justin yelled as if shocked. "I was wrong! Marco, please don't hit me!"

My family hadn't seen what happened. They just heard Justin scream and thought I was picking on him again.

"Marco, you're hopeless!" Dad shoved me away.

I was slammed against the table, and the simmering soup spilled all over me. A whole cluster of blisters immediately formed on my exposed arms.

The pain left my mind blank. Before I could even react, I heard Tiana's piercing scream. "Justin! Justin, are you okay?"

Justin had fainted in Mom's arms. No matter how much they called out to him, he wouldn't wake up. Dad immediately decided to take him to the hospital.

Dad hurried to the garage to get the car, while Mom chased after him, carrying Justin in her arms with tears in her eyes. Tiana, who was the last to leave, glared at me resentfully. "Are you happy now?"

With that, she hurried after them and got into the car.

Nobody cared that I should have been the center of attention today, that I hadn't even laid a finger on Justin, or that I was the one who should've been rushed to the hospital.

They left without a second thought, and no one looked back at me despite my injuries.

I sank to the floor and sat there in a daze for a long time before remembering that I needed to cool my skin down.

When I reached the local clinic near my home, the doctor, John Walker, was shocked by the severity of my burns. He asked, "Kiddo, why are you here alone? Where's your family?"

I lowered my head, not wanting him to see the sadness in my eyes. "They don't care about me. They only care about my adopted brother."