Chapter 2 No Room for Me

"Jasper, I'll take you upstairs."

I froze and looked toward the room with the best sunlight on the first floor. Wasn't that… my room?

Besides, the man who'd bought me had hacked through my lower leg with an ax when I tried to escape and make my way home six years ago. Ever since then, climbing stairs made my lower leg ache terribly.

I tried to act spoiled like I had when I was a kid, holding on to a sliver of hope. "Dad, can I stay in my old room downstairs?"

Something flickered in Vincent's eyes, and his expression turned uneasy. "The room downstairs… We turned it into Cameron's suite. It connects to his dance room, so it's more convenient that way."

My throat tightened. "So, I don't have my own room anymore. What about my things? Did you… throw everything away?"

Vincent said nothing, while Serena awkwardly looked away.

"This is all my fault. This isn't really my home. I really shouldn't be taking up Jasper's room. Mom, Dad, I think I should just go back home."

Cameron started to sob and turned as if to leave.

Vincent panicked and immediately stopped him. "This is your home. Where else can you go? I told you that you and Jasper are both my sons."

Cameron looked at Serena with a wounded expression. "I'm just scared. I'm scared that now that Jasper's back, you won't want me anymore."

Serena's heart broke for him. She pulled Cameron into her arms. "You're my precious child."

Then, she turned to me. "Jasper, what difference does it make where you stay? Have you had it too easy all these years? How did you become so fussy?"

Alina looked at me with displeasure as well.

When I saw how fiercely they protected Cameron, I couldn't help but feel a sharp pain in my chest.

"Did you ever think I might come back someday when you remodeled the house for him? Or… did you never expect me to come home at all?"

Vincent suddenly slammed his hand against the armrest.

"Jasper, what kind of nonsense are you talking about? Show some respect! I'm the owner of this house, and Cameron is part of this family, too. We can renovate it however we want. What right do you have to question us?"

Serena hurried to get Vincent his blood pressure medication.

"You just got back, and you're already turning this house upside down. You were the one who disappeared for all those years. Cameron was the one taking care of us and being a good son. It's one thing if you're being ungrateful, but now you're even fighting him over a bedroom?

"You really know how to make trouble. If I'd known, it would've been better if you hadn't come back."

Serena muttered it under her breath, but I still heard every single word.

She was willing to say something like that to defend Cameron over nothing more than a bedroom. I nearly staggered and fell.

I looked up and stared straight at her. "Mom, did I really disappear on my own?"

Cameron had always fought with me over everything 12 years ago. Frankly, we were always at each other's throats. Vincent couldn't take it anymore and stayed away from home for days on end. Eventually, Serena started suspecting that he was cheating on her.

I overheard her secretly saying that she wished Cameron were her son. After all, he was so well-behaved and knew exactly how to please Vincent.

That day, Serena told me to wait for Vincent downstairs at his company. When I saw him, I was supposed to tell him that I missed him so much that I'd come there on my own.

She said this time she would make Vincent give in and feel guilty.

I was a little scared, but I did what she told me. I did it because I wanted Serena to know that I was no worse than Cameron. I could be a good kid too.

However, someone forcibly carried me away just as she left me alone.

"Of course, it was your own fault. How would I know why you went outside? You were always a troublemaker as a kid, running off wherever you pleased."