Chapter 4

"That son-in-law of mine is so ungrateful. We've supported him all these years, and all he cares about is getting his PhD and finding his biological parents so he can take care of them!" Paula added.

A wave of bitterness swept through me.

I'd spent those years trying to apply for Westbridge's PhD program, but that didn't mean I was living off Sharon's family.

I helped with research for my department and squeezed in whatever time I could to take care of the paralyzed Paula. I helped turn her over, massaged her shoulders, prepared nutritious meals for her, and put up with her unpredictable moods.

Sharon never paid for any of the household expenses. I had always used my own salary to cover them.

It turned out that the sweet, gentle mother-in-law I knew only saw me as a convenient caregiver and had plenty of complaints about me.

Surprisingly, Sharon cut Paula off, "Mom, drop it. If Kyle hears you, he'll throw another fit."

She turned and went to find the housekeeper, telling her to prepare the guest room for David.

Meanwhile, David strode straight into our master bedroom like he owned the place. He plopped down on our bed, his eyes gleaming with triumph.

When he saw our wedding photo on the nightstand, he scoffed under his breath. "Kyle, you're dead. How could you possibly compete with me now?"

A chill ran through me. I'd already sensed something was wrong when he defended the Behavioral Reform Center at dinner. Could there have been more to my death than I'd thought?

David began rummaging through everything in the bedroom, leaving the place a complete mess. Then, he suddenly stopped.

I walked over and froze when I saw him holding the unfinished dissertation I'd been working on.

His eyes lit up. He whipped out his phone, snapped pictures of every single page, and then ripped the research I'd poured my heart into to shreds.

Not long after, footsteps sounded behind him. Sharon walked in and stared at the mess.

David immediately threw himself into her arms, putting on a remorseful look.

"Sharon, I'm so sorry! I was feeling so weak that I stumbled and ruined Kyle's paper. I'll tape it back together right now. He won't be mad at me, will he?"

Sharon frowned slightly, but she was more concerned about David's health. "Don't say that. You wouldn't be in such poor health if you hadn't donated a kidney to me."

She glanced at the torn pages and said, "He spends every day in the lab and ignores this family. I was already sick of him writing this junk anyway. If it's ruined, then so be it."

I reached for the torn pieces of my dissertation in the trash, but my hand passed right through them again and again.

My heart ached.

I'd spent countless sleepless nights working on it. It was the work I'd poured my heart and soul into, the career I'd dreamed of building.

David, now emboldened by Sharon's support, pulled a small gold pendant from his pocket. He must have found it in my suitcase at some point. It was the only keepsake I had from before I went missing as a child.

Taking advantage of Sharon's affection for him, he said, "Sharon, I really like this. Can I have it?"

In the past, Sharon would have blindly agreed to anything he asked for. But this time, she frowned and instinctively snatched the gold pendant back, putting it in a drawer.

Seeing David staring at her in shock, Sharon quickly collected herself. "This is the only thing Kyle's parents left him. He treasures it and is always polishing it. If he realizes I've touched it, he'll make a huge fuss."

Just then, Paula came up in her wheelchair, looking strangely uneasy. "Sharon, there's a couple downstairs who say they're here to find their son."

My heart jolted. Could it be...

Sharon led David downstairs.

In the living room, an elegant, distinguished-looking couple sat on the couch. My heart raced as fragments of my foggy memories began to click into place.

The woman was dabbing her tears away with a handkerchief while saying, "My son and I were separated on the streets of Jasdon when he was five years old. We've spent 25 years searching for him. We finally found him here. Please, let us see him."