Chapter 5

Cole was ultimately sent to the hospital by a kind Samaritan. This was already the second time he had been injured.

The doctor couldn't help but reprimand him, demanding to know how he'd gotten hurt and whether he had any regard for his own well-being. Cole couldn't explain how his wounds had been inflicted by the two most important women in his life.

While he was at the hospital, Joseph sent him a video. The moment he played it, Joseph's pitiful voice came through. "Cole's injured too. He's getting his wound dressed in the room next door. Why don't you go check on him, Sienna, Claire? If you don't, he'll be so lonely and miserable all by himself."

Sienna, who was peeling fruit for him, responded indifferently, "You're far too kindhearted, Joseph. After what he did to you, he needs to suffer a little to learn his lesson!"

Claire gently handed him a glass of freshly poured warm water. "I don't have time to deal with him right now, Joseph."

How ironic. Cole guffawed until tears spilled from his eyes.

…

After being discharged from the hospital, Cole locked himself in his room. He only came downstairs on his birthday when Samuel and Eleanor rushed back from their business trip.

The living room was bustling with activity as everyone prepared for that evening's birthday celebration. Samuel and Eleanor smiled as they took out two watches and presented one to each of their sons.

Joseph received a newly released haute couture horlogerie masterpiece. It was a custom timepiece encrusted with diamonds and worth millions of dollars.

Cole, on the other hand, received an outdated design from several seasons ago. Their favoritism was plain as day, but they still tried to justify it by claiming that the outdated watch looked better on their biological son.

After hearing that, the housekeepers, who were cleaning the room, began to whisper among themselves.

"Is Mr. Cole really their biological son? It's his birthday today, yet Mr. and Mrs. Gray gave the expensive gift to their adopted son?"

"They can make all the excuses they want, but aren't they just afraid Mr. Cole will outshine Mr. Middleton if he dresses too well? Mr. Cole's much better-looking than Mr. Middleton, after all!"

"Mr. Cole isn't just good-looking; he's polite and kind, and he treats us housekeepers with respect. Mr. Middleton, on the other hand, is insufferably arrogant. He always punishes us, yells at us, and even hits us over the slightest thing. I can't stand him! When is he going to leave?"

"I heard it won't be long now. The Lamberts are already preparing for the wedding ceremony."

Cole listened to the housekeepers' whispers silently. Then, he picked up his watch and returned to his room.

Everyone assumed that Joseph was the one who would be joining the Lambert family. He was the only one who knew that he was joining them. After all, who could've imagined that his own biological parents would choose their adopted son over their own flesh and blood?

…

The celebration kicked off at 6:00 pm sharp.

As soon as Joseph made his entrance, everyone's eyes were magnetically drawn to him. The guests approached him, showering him with compliments and congratulations.

"Joseph, you look so dashing tonight. You're definitely the star of the show!"

"I've been trying to get my hands on this watch for ages, but to no avail. Mr. and Mrs. Gray adore you so much!"

Everyone was busy buttering him up, yet they forgot that the real birthday boy that day was Cole.

Cole sat on the couch without making a sound. He took in the enormous fruit cake beside him and the table laden with seafood.

These were all Joseph's favorites. Cole, on the other hand, was allergic to both mangoes and seafood. Consequently, he didn't eat a single thing the whole evening.

When it was time to sing the birthday song at 8:00 pm, everyone gathered around Joseph. Even the gifts were all for him.

Samuel and Eleanor generously gifted him a villa in the heart of downtown, where every inch of land was worth a fortune. Sienna transferred half of her shares in Gray Group into his name.

Claire, on the other hand, presented him with a diamond bracelet worth hundreds of millions of dollars that she had personally won at an auction just a few days ago. The moment the dazzling diamond bracelet, which symbolized true love, made its appearance, it caused quite a stir.

"Does this mean wedding bells are ringing soon? So, the person Claire wants to marry is actually Joseph!"

"I used to doubt the saying that childhood sweethearts never win, but now, I'm sold."