Chapter 3

It was very quiet in the rented apartment at night.

I cooked a plate of pasta, sat at the dining table, and ate slowly. Just then, my phone lit up. Mom had sent me a message.

"Hannah has a short temper, Xavier. Don't take her words to heart. Connor kept mentioning that you weren't there with us today. He feels quite upset. Come back home tomorrow. Let's have dinner together. We shouldn't let the outsiders make fun of us."

I stared at the screen as I slowly picked out the chopped onions in my pasta.

Outsiders. I was the true outsider in my family.

"I'll pass," I replied. "I have something to do at school tomorrow."

Mom didn't reply after that.

…

The next day, I went to the train station and bought a ticket to Warreno. Warreno University's registration day was three days earlier than Borealin University's.

I didn't tell anyone about what I planned to do. I bought a sandwich from a street-side stall after buying my ticket. I had just taken a bite when I received a call from Isabelle. I answered it.

"Where are you?" Isabelle asked, sounding a little tired.

"Outside," I replied.

"I dropped by your apartment. You weren't there."

She paused for a moment, softening her voice before she continued, "I admit that I behaved out of line yesterday, Xavier, but you shouldn't have skipped your family get-together. Mr. Sayles is very angry, saying that you don't know the rules anymore."

I looked at the sandwich I was holding. "Are you done?" I asked.

Isabelle clearly hadn't expected me to act so indifferently. Her breathing turned heavy before she asked, "How much longer are you going to cause a fuss?"

"I'm not causing a fuss," I answered calmly. "I just thought that since all of you were having such a good time, there was no need for me to ruin the mood."

"All of you? What are you talking about?" Isabelle demanded, her voice turning cold. "Do you think that all of us owe you, Xavier? Mr. Sayles took Connor in because both his parents passed away. So what if we care for him a little more? You're a grown man. Are you really going to fight an orphan for our affection?"

An orphan.

Isabelle was right. Connor was an orphan. However, ever since he joined our family, I was the one who lived like an orphan even though I was Mom's and Dad's biological son.

"I'm not going to fight anymore," I said.

Isabelle was briefly stunned. "What did you say?"

"I said that I'm not going to fight anymore," I repeated before eating the last of my sandwich and patting my hands clean. "You can give Connor whatever he needs in the future, Isabelle. You don't need to use me as an excuse anymore."

"What are you talking about?" Isabelle asked, sounding a little anxious.

However, she quickly recovered her composure. Her words had taken on an arrogant edge when she spoke again.

"Don't think that you can threaten me with your words, Xavier. You better have your temper back under control when you register at Borealin University in the next few days. I don't have the time to coax you."

I laughed and said, "Fine."

I blocked Isabelle's number after I hung up. I then returned to my apartment to pack the last of my belongings.

The apartment was extremely empty, just like my life for the past four years. I placed the keys on the table. I didn't look back when I walked out of the door.

I received a message from Connor while I was on the way to the train station. A screenshot of the plane ticket was attached to the message.

"Isabelle bought a first-class plane ticket for me, Xavier. She was worried that I would tire myself out if I took the high-speed rail. Did you already buy your ticket? Why don't I ask Isabelle to upgrade your seat too?"

My heart was completely calm as I stared at the words on the screen.

"No need," I replied. "Have a safe trip."

I then blocked Connor's number too.

An announcement echoed through the air, informing the passengers that the train was pulling into the station.

I picked up my broken suitcase that was wrapped in several layers of tape and made my way toward the gate.