Chapter 2

My throat swelled from the allergy, making it impossible to swallow. So, I started vomiting uncontrollably.

At that, Dad gave me another kick. "You stupid bastard! You're trying to make us sick on purpose, aren't you?"

Mom grabbed Felix and staggered back a few steps, as if I were a plague.

I felt my vision blur as itchy red patches spread across my arms. Panic and instinct took over, and I reached out to them for help. "Mom… Help me…"

She looked at the rash covering my arms and frowned. "He's not actually allergic, is he? Should we give him some medicine?"

Felix suddenly piped up, "I know where his allergy medicine is! I'll go grab it!"

He rushed inside and came back with a pill, leaning over to give it to me. I noticed it wasn't my medicine, so I pressed my lips shut, refusing it.

He ignored me and shoved the pill into my mouth, whispering in my ear, "You brought this on yourself, Flynn. If you hadn't left the countryside to compete for their attention, none of this would've happened. Today, you'll finally regret it."

When I first started high school in the city, the difference between rural and urban education hit me hard. My grades were mediocre, and after years of working under the sun and wind back home, I looked rough and scruffy.

Due to that, my family thought I was embarrassing. They didn't want to be seen with me in public. Even at the orientation ceremony, Mom and Dad only attended Felix's.

Determined to win their attention, I threw myself into my studies day and night. By the end of my first year, I ranked first in the entire grade. The school praised me and even gave me a scholarship.

For the first time, Mom and Dad shifted their attention from Felix to me. They said, almost grudgingly, "For your next orientation, your father and I will be there."

Those few words filled me with joy.

I thought that if I kept working hard, they would one day love me as much as they loved Felix. I never wanted to compete with him. I just wanted our parents to notice me. They were my parents, after all.

Thus, I never imagined that wanting a little of their attention could make Felix so hostile.

Reluctance and hatred filled my eyes. I bit on the finger Felix was using to feed me the pill, not letting go, and he instantly screamed, "Ouch! My hand…"

At that, Mom and Dad immediately retaliated. They pried open my mouth, hitting my face, while trying to pull out Felix's finger. Seeing a fresh, red bite mark on his finger, Dad kicked me a few times without hesitation.

"You animal!" he roared. "Felix is your brother! How could you get so savage with him?"

Exactly! He was my brother, born minutes apart in the same womb! Why was he trying to harm me?

Mom anxiously held Felix's hand and began dressing his finger with alcohol pads and a bandage. Dad hurried over, fussing over him as if nothing else mattered.

The three of them huddled together, completely ignoring me on the floor while I was on the brink of death.

Felix leaned against Mom, eyes full of hurt. "Mom, I was just trying to help. Why would Flynn do this to me?"

She glared at me. "Because he's an animal! Growing up in the countryside has spoiled him to be a wild, unruly kid! I should just send him back to the fields!"

Dad agreed immediately, "Exactly. With a mind so cruel, he's nothing but trouble. It's better to leave him in the countryside for life."

He reached down and yanked me to my feet. I closed my eyes tightly, my whole body convulsing. I couldn't stand on my own, so the moment his grip loosened, I collapsed straight back down.