Chapter 2

Dennis came over and lowered his voice. "Toby, how about this? Let's just forget about this year's cut. After all... you didn't really help much."

He thought his clients picked him because his plant was good, and that it had nothing to do with me.

But there were plenty of good building-materials plants out there. The world didn't need his in particular.

"Not just this year's!" Jasper raised his voice. "He has to pay back everything from before, too. Every cent! If that means cutting him off, fine. We're better off without some broke relative who only knows how to bleed us dry!"

I looked up at Dennis, but he just hung his head and said nothing.

"Is that what you think too?" I asked him. "Have you forgotten what you said back then?"

Dennis swallowed hard, his voice so quiet he could barely hear it himself. "That was so long ago. Honestly, the plant was already up and running by the second year. I didn't need you after that.

"But I kept paying you anyway. Ten years. That's a lot. You didn't actually do anything, and you still pocketed over a hundred grand a year for nothing.

"As for Jasper getting into the best university in the city, I really am grateful to you for that, but..."

Before he could finish, Jasper cut him off. "Grateful for what? Like I got in because of him? I got in on my own grades. My results speak for themselves.

"Some broke relatives lose an argument and start digging up ancient history. I don't care what you say today, you're paying that money.

"And if you can't, then write an IOU!"

With that, Jasper set a pen and paper down in front of me. "We're settling this account today. My family's done being your sucker!"

Back then, Dennis and his family weren't registered residents of Vallance City, so Jasper had to go to school back in their hometown.

But the schools there were badly behind; the teachers couldn't even teach a foreign language. Dennis begged everyone he could think of, desperate to pull some strings.

Watching him grovel like that, I couldn't bear it. Besides, I wanted Jasper to get a better education too.

So I wined and dined contact after contact, spending 300,000 dollars all told. More than once, I drank until my stomach bled, popped a few painkillers, and went right back out. In the end, I got him into the best school in the city.

And now, I was the one being accused of holding it over their heads.

I asked my brother, "How exactly have I taken advantage of you?"

Dennis lowered his head without a word, his eyes darting away.

Seeing him like that, I suddenly laughed. "Fine. I'll pay. And as far as I'm concerned, I no longer have a brother!"

"That's perfect!" Jasper pulled up his payment QR code. "My dad's better off without a broke relative like you. Thanks so much!"

Dennis stepped forward to stop it, but Jasper spoke first. "Dad, people pay back what they owe. That's just how it works. We're collecting a legitimate debt. He's lucky we're not charging interest!"

When the payment app chimed with a 1.45 million-dollar transfer, nobody at the table could sit still anymore.

Jasper flashed a triumphant smile. "Always using old favors to guilt people. My dad might fall for it, but I don't.

"Us Gen-Zers believe in rules. You go by the rules and do things by the book. You took money you shouldn't have, so you give it back!"

Now that Dennis had gotten his money back, the other relatives at the table started getting ideas.

Lucy sat at the table picking at her food, clearly distracted.

I was about to speak when Jasper cut in again. "Okay, my family's account is settled. But what about my aunts?"

Lucy quickly waved her hands. "No, no, you don't have to pay back what's already done! It's just that, going forward..."

"How much do I owe you from before?" I looked at her. "Name the number. I'll settle up with you."

Lucy shook her head. "There's no need. Sure, you didn't really help much these past few years, but you've been running around a lot. That must have been tiring, right?"

"How tiring could it be?" Jasper blurted out. "Since when does flapping your lips count as hard work?

"A construction worker would have to work himself half to death to make over a million bucks. He makes it just by opening his mouth!

"Since we're airing everything out today, let's settle everyone's accounts!"

As soon as he finished, I looked around at all of them. "Anyone else want to end our partnership?"

The room went silent for a moment. Then my third and fourth sisters, Kiera Bevan and Judy Bevan, both spoke up.

"We sell furniture," Kiera said. "Our margins are thin. That ten percent of yours eats up pretty much all my profit. Maybe we should call it quits too."

Back when her furniture wasn't selling and was piling up unsold, she'd come crying to my door, begging me to help her move the stock.

I'd trudged around under the blazing sun hunting for buyers and negotiating purchase contracts until I was so exhausted I couldn't stand up straight.

In the end, I'd sold off all of her dead stock.

At the time, her face had been streaked with tears and snot. "If this doesn't sell, I can't pay back the bank. I'll have no choice but to jump off a building!"

Right after that, Judy said she wanted out too. The message was clear: she had no more use for me either.

I laughed. "So when you need me, I'm your little brother, and when you don't, I'm a freeloader?"

Kiera's eyes darted away. "We're all just small businesses. Don't hold it against me!"

Jasper piped up. "Since we're laying it all out today, let's settle the accounts too! We won't take advantage of you, and you don't take advantage of us!"

When I didn't respond, Jasper assumed I was sulking and got even cockier. "Planning to live off your four siblings for the rest of your life? How shameless can you get?"

"Jasper, that's enough!" Kiera tugged at his sleeve. "Toby's never amounted to much. He's been living off our payouts all these years. If he can't come up with the money, just let it go!"

"Why should we?" Jasper protested. "If he can't pay, he writes an IOU. How much a month, how many years, all spelled out! Plus the late-payment interest."

"We're family. There's no need to make things so ugly!" Judy grabbed Jasper too. "Let's just say those ten years of payouts went down the drain!"

Jasper snorted. "At least when you throw money down a drain, you hear a splash. You gave it to him and got nothing back. He thinks he deserves all the credit, and that his cut was too small!"

"Bank account numbers," I said coldly, looking at them. "Send them to me. I'll have my accountant transfer the money when I get back."

Kiera and Judy exchanged a look, but in the end they both sent me their account numbers.

I picked up the liquor from the table and turned to leave, but the smart lock on the door clicked shut.

Jasper smiled. "Uncle Toby, I'm afraid your accountant will have to put in some overtime. We want it now."

"There's really no rush!" Kiera forced a smile. "Tomorrow's fine too!"

I said nothing and messaged my accountant. Before long, the money landed in their accounts.

Kiera and Judy wore smiles they couldn't quite describe, as if they were both privately congratulating themselves.

"Our accounts are settled. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other," I told them flatly.

Kiera looked at me, a little uncomfortable. "Toby, why don't I send half of it back? You've been living entirely off our payouts all these years. Without them, I'm afraid you won't make it."

"So you also think I've been taking your money for nothing?" I asked her.

Kiera sighed. "I know you're proud, but I really don't need your clients. Sure, you helped us back in the day, but you can't keep bringing that up forever."

Judy chimed in right after. "Honestly, you need us now, not the other way around. Whether you want to keep calling us family from here on out is up to you.

"Things have already gotten this ugly today anyway. If you want to come around for Christmas, come. If you don't, we won't force you. We don't need you to!"

I looked at each of their faces. They acted like I'd been robbing them blind.

I didn't say another word. I just turned and walked out.

Afterward, I called my manager and canceled every deal with Lucy and the others.

My manager practically lit up. "You've finally come to your senses! Silverline Group offered seventeen percent, and you insisted on giving the deals to your family!

"Your family only gave ten percent. Even the stingiest clients give us twelve."

I hung up and looked back through the window at them drinking and singing, one big happy family. I wondered how long their good mood would last.