Chapter 2

Henry's POV

I couldn't help but want to shrink back when I recalled the conversation I had overheard earlier.

Queenie noticed my reaction, her expression instantly hardening. "Are you still holding a grudge against me, Henry? Why do you always look at me like that? You always ruin the mood whenever I try to patch things up with you!"

I didn't dare go against Queenie, so I merely lowered my head and asked, "Where's Mom?"

"Mom is away on a business trip and won't be back for another week. She told me to look after you. Do you want to go outside for a bit? You must be bored out of your mind after being stuck at home for months.

"It's been quite some time since the two of us went out together as well. I know I was the one at fault back then. So why don't you give me a chance to make it up to you, Henry?"

Queenie gently placed the robot action figure in my arms. Her eyes were filled with a sincerity that seemed almost overwhelming.

I was born premature, and Mom used to tell me how Queenie would come to the NICU every day after school to stay with me. In kindergarten, when I refused to eat, she was the only one who patiently fed me one spoonful at a time and carried me outside to play.

But after the fire, all of Queenie's affection was transferred to Nathan. I had watched her gently stroke his hair, spend hours playing ball with him in the yard, and drive him across town to watch the sunset. I saw it all from behind the curtains, spying at a happiness that didn't belong to me.

Seeing that I was wavering, Queenie pulled me into a gentle embrace. It was something I hadn't felt in over a decade.

"You're my only brother, Henry," she said. "Please grant me this request, alright?"

When she felt the infection under my bandages, she became furious. She immediately lashed out at my caregiver. "Is this how you take care of Henry? Get down on your knees and apologize to him! You're not leaving the Zeller residence until he forgives you!"

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I watched Queenie stand up for me. I ended up agreeing to her request, nodding almost instinctively.

Because of my extensive burns, I couldn't be in direct sunlight. Queenie wrapped me up in a blanket and carefully lifted me into the car.

Even though she had caused me so much pain and taken so much from me over the years, I still didn't hate her.

I even felt a strange sense of expectation. After all, it was the first time anyone had ever brought me out of the tiny room I'd been stuck in for over a decade.

That feeling lasted until the car pulled up to the hospital.

"Didn't you say you were taking me out to have fun, Queenie?" I asked hoarsely. My vocal cords had been damaged in the fire, so every time I spoke, I would feel a stabbing pain in my throat.

Queenie's voice took on an impatient edge as she replied, "We are going out, but Nathan is sick, so we're getting you tested for a donor match first.

"Don't be so selfish, Henry. You must have suffered a lot because of your burns, but Nathan is the true heir of the Zeller family. If you do this for him, the Zeller family will appreciate you even more. Do you understand?"

I widened my eyes in surprise. I couldn't help but wonder what could be considered not being selfish. I was obviously Mom and Dad's biological son, and the burns I suffered weren't my fault to begin with, yet I was the one being reprimanded here.

For the first time in my life, I told a lie and stood up against her. "Mom said I wasn't allowed to do it, Queenie…"

She snapped and bellowed, "Mom is just acting out of guilt toward you! She doesn't know better, but you should! It's really not that big of a deal! If you still hate me, come at me. Don't take it out on Nathan!"

I was held down and forced through the matching process. The results came out soon after, but Queenie was disappointed.

I wasn't a match.

I was aware that the odds of a match between people who weren't related by blood were slim to begin with. I couldn't help but ask, "Is Nathan really related to the Zellers? It seems like no one in the family is a match for him, Queenie."

Queenie slapped me hard across the face, nearly knocking me out of my wheelchair. She stared at me with bloodshot eyes, looking utterly incensed.

"How can you be so despicable, Henry? Do you actually enjoy this? Do you secretly hope that Nathan isn't really a Zeller so that you can keep exploiting everyone's guilt?"