Chapter 4 The Truth They Never Expected

I never sent them the documents.

That evening, both families showed up at the apartment where I was renting.

Elise knocked on my door for more than ten minutes. "Lachlan, open up. We'll grab a few things and leave."

Standing outside were my biological parents, my adoptive parents, Lillian, and Dominic. All six of them. Anyone who didn't know better might have thought they couldn't bear to leave me.

Corbin stepped inside and looked around. "You live in a place like this? This has to be two grand a month, right? You're not going to be here much longer anyway. Why waste money on a place this expensive?"

Elise shot him a look before turning to me, her voice softening. "Lachlan, give me your ID. The insurance company needs us to provide proof of our family relationship again."

"Why does Dominic's insurance need my ID?"

No one answered.

Finally, Rafael spoke. "Aren't you about to die? Once you're gone, your estate could become a mess. We should get everything sorted out while we still can. It'll be better for everyone."

They didn't just want my bankbook. They wanted to divide up everything I'd leave behind after I died, too.

Maxwell came out of the bedroom and propped his phone up on the table. "Go ahead. I'm recording."

Corbin's expression changed. "What business is this of yours? You're an outsider. Why are you sticking your nose into our family affairs?"

Maxwell gave a cold laugh. "Yesterday, when the six of you pressured him to give up treatment, why didn't you consider him family?"

Elise hurried to stop Corbin. "Lachlan, if you cooperate, you'll still get the $30,000. Consider it the last thing we can do for you."

The last thing they could do for me. It was barely enough to buy a plot in a cemetery.

I took out my ID but didn't hand it over. "Whatever you need to do, let Maxwell see the paperwork first."

Lillian was getting impatient. "Do you really have to make such a big deal out of this? You're practically dying. What good are your things going to do you? Better to give them to Dominic than let some outsider get them."

"When you were sixteen and had your appendix removed, who took three days off work to stay with you?"

She looked away. "Why do you keep bringing up the past? You're my brother. Wasn't taking care of me what you were supposed to do?"

"He's your brother, too." I pointed at Dominic. "Why am I always the one who has to do everything I'm supposed to, while he gets everything?"

Dominic's eyes immediately turned red. "Lachlan, don't blame Lillian. If you can't bear to give it up, then I don't want it."

He said he didn't want it, but he never stepped out from behind our parents. And none of them actually asked him to give anything back.

Sylvia pulled him into her arms. "Don't mind him. He's bitter and angry at everyone."

Rafael's expression darkened. "You're dying already. Don't make things unpleasant for everyone."

I put my ID away. "Then, all of you can leave."

Corbin suddenly swept the medicine boxes off the table. "What kind of attitude is that? We came here out of the goodness of our hearts, and you're acting like this?"

The fever medicine rolled to Dominic's feet. He bent down to pick it up, and all the color drained from his face.

Sylvia immediately caught him. "Are you dizzy again?"

"Maybe it's because I haven't been sleeping well lately."

Elise hurried them along. "Let's go. We can't let Dominic be around someone who's sick."

The six of them crowded around him as they left. Not one of them asked whether I was dizzy or whether I'd taken my medicine.

…

Ten minutes later, my landlord sent me a message.

My adoptive parents had ended my lease for me. They told him I was seriously ill and might die in the apartment, which could make it harder for him to rent it out later. He gave me three days to move out.

Furious, Maxwell called Corbin. "He's sick, and you kicked him out. Where is he supposed to go?"

Corbin answered as if it were obvious, "There are hospital rooms. We already signed the agreement. Where he lives has nothing to do with us."

I took the phone from Maxwell. "That's right. From now on, where you live has nothing to do with me, either."

Corbin gave a cold laugh. "We have a son and a daughter. We'll never have to come begging to you."

The call was still connected. Then, Dominic's weak voice suddenly came from inside the car. "Dad, I'm so cold."

All four parents immediately panicked.

Someone told the driver to turn around, while another took off their coat. All this while, a person kept reassuring him.

Maxwell looked at me. "Should I hang up?"

I was just about to end the call when a doctor's urgent voice came through the phone. "Are all four of Dominic's family members there?"

All four answered at once, "We're here."

The doctor paused. "There was a mix-up with the labels on the two blood samples we sent for testing. We've confirmed both identities."

The car fell completely silent.

Elise asked in a trembling voice, "What does that mean?"

"Lachlan does not have leukemia. It's Dominic."