Chapter 2

I was completely lost. It took me a long moment before I found my voice. "Calum, what do you mean by that?"

Calum let out a cold snort. "What do I mean? Can't you tell? Our family doesn't want a piece of trash like you around anymore."

Noticing my pained expression, Calum continued, "I know what you're thinking. You're wondering why I never said anything earlier even though I've always known you were adopted, and why I had to wait until New Year's Day to bring it up. Am I right?

"I don't need to hide anything anymore. Honestly, I thought about kicking you out from the very first day I got married. That was when Eliza told me you didn't plan to get married or have kids, and that your salary was quite high.

"That's why I played along, made you think I was your best friend, and got you to willingly hand over most of your paycheck to the family."

My heart sank as I heard those words. I couldn't help but glance at Eliza and my parents. They merely kept their heads down and remained silent. It was clear that they agreed with Calum.

When I didn't respond, Calum looked pleased with himself. "The reason I'm kicking you out now is that the house is going to be demolished for redevelopment. The compensation is based on square footage. If I don't get rid of you soon, you'll shamelessly try to take a share meant for my child."

I couldn't help repeating his words. "Demolished? This house is getting demolished?"

When Eliza heard my words, she frowned. "Stop playing dumb. Didn't you already know the house was going to be demolished?

"Out of nowhere, you said you'd take Calum and me house hunting. You insisted on buying a large unit with five bedrooms and two living rooms so the whole family could live together, saying we'd soon have money. After we questioned you repeatedly, you finally told us there was a demolition coming."

Hearing her words, I finally understood. I had actually been planning to buy Eliza a large house. To keep it a surprise, I had made up the demolition story as a throwaway excuse.

Once I figured it out, I found the whole thing laughable. I never expected Calum and Eliza to believe an excuse I made up on the spot.

I couldn't hold it in and started laughing. "Demolition? That was just something I—"

Before I could finish, Calum shouted for me to shut up. "Don't even think about it. The house belongs to Mom and Dad. It could never be yours.

"You're just a piece of trash they picked up off the street. How dare you think you deserve a share of the money? Between an adopted son and a biological grandchild, Mom and Dad know who matters more."

Only then did I realize Mom and Dad hadn't said a single word in my defense since I walked through the door.

Even though I was angry, Calum was right about one thing. Without my parents, I probably wouldn't have had the happy childhood I did. Because of that, I was still willing to give them a chance.

I turned to my parents for help. "Dad, Mom, do you really want to get rid of me?"

Their expressions were tense as well. Mom forced an awkward smile at Calum. "Calum, Jeremiah may not be my biological son, but I raised him. I still trust him. He won't ask for the compensation we're getting from the demolition."

Dad quickly agreed. "Exactly. Let's forget the agreement. Why don't we write a statement instead? Jeremiah can guarantee that he won't take any of the family's savings or the compensation money for the demolition. That should settle it."

To be honest, before today, I had never thought about taking a single cent from this family. Yet hearing those words still left a bad feeling in my gut. I wasn't sure if I was being too sensitive, but it felt as if this was all a trap.