Chapter 1

I opened my eyes, feeling as though I had just woken up from a long, drawn-out dream. I tried to move my fingers, which were completely numb, and made an effort to sit up.

It was then that a nurse walked in to check on my vitals. As soon as she saw that I was awake, she turned on her heel and dashed out.

It wasn't long before my loved ones came rushing into the ward.

Regina Livingston gently wrapped her arms around me, her voice trembling with emotion as she exclaimed, "Oh, thank goodness! You're finally awake, Matthew!"

Mom and Dad were standing silently to the side, tears streaming down their faces.

Lydia Smith, my mother-in-law, held my hand, her face etched with worry as she said, "It's truly a miracle. The doctors were even certain that you'd never come out of it."

I was barely able to process the sudden warmth when the door to the hospital room flew open. It was then that a young boy—around four to five years old—ran in, with a fistful of pebbles in his hand. He hurled them at me, yelling, "You phony! Stay away from Mommy—"

He didn't even get to finish his sentence, as a man suddenly burst into the hospital room and clamped his hand over the boy's mouth.

I noticed that the boy was the spitting image of Regina. I then got a good look at that man's face, and I was stunned to see that his features were very similar to mine.

I was completely dumbfounded, my mind momentarily going blank. I couldn't help but wonder who those two people were while a sudden wave of dread washed over me.

I cautiously loosened my grip on Regina and looked at her nervously, hoping for some kind of explanation.

She wouldn't look at me, though. She furrowed her brow and yelled at the man instead, "Richard Sutherland! Get Franklin out of here right now!"

What were the odds that the man actually bore the same last name as me?

Mom and Dad remained silent, while Lydia shot a disapproving look at Regina. "What's with the attitude?"

I understood immediately that Regina's anger was a front for her guilt. She was putting on a fierce act, but deep inside, she was actually terrified.

I glanced at the others in the room and figured that they all knew about Richard and Franklin. I was the only one in the dark about them.

Richard scowled, clearly reluctant to go. He eventually took Franklin and walked toward the door. He, however, didn't see the wet patch on the floor, causing both of them to slip and fall.

Franklin burst out crying, and Lydia was the first to rush forward, scooping him up and comforting him. Mom and Dad hurried to check on Richard. Meanwhile, Regina, who had been holding me, let go and rushed to his side the moment she saw the blood on his palm.

I leaned back against the headboard, watching the scene unfold. My heart felt as if it were being torn apart, the pain so intense that I could hardly breathe.

Richard, with everyone gathered around him, looked up and met my gaze. He flashed a mocking smile at me.

My heart sank as I looked at his face, which was so similar to my own, and I was filled with an indescribable feeling of emptiness and loss.

…

I was all alone when I was discharged from the hospital, as no one came to pick me up.

I lugged my heavy luggage all the way home, but I couldn't get in. When I pressed my finger on the biometric fingerprint door lock, a notification popped up—"Access Denied".

A wave of sadness washed over me upon seeing that.

I then heard a soft click as the door opened. Dad stood there, his expression flickering with surprise. It was as though he hadn't expected me to return home.

Inside, I noticed a group of people gathered around the table, gleefully sharing a cake. There was a beautifully decorated two-tier cake on the table with several lit candles flickering faintly on it. Elegantly wrapped presents were piled high around it.