Chapter 1

The smile on Colby Judd's face stiffened, and the entire room fell silent.

Macy Judd, my older biological sister, was the first to stand. Her gaze fell on my gaunt shoulders, and the sight seemed to sting her a little. Her brows immediately knitted together. She took off her jacket and tossed it at me.

"Don't be so indecent. At least put this on first."

I didn't put it on.

Her jacket was a light color, and I was pretty sweaty. If I got her jacket dirty, I'd be owing the family yet another article of clothing.

Frowning, Mom summoned the butler, Gabriel Abrams. "Bring Bryan a shirt."

Then, she took Colby's hand again, her tone carrying a hint of approval as she explained her reaction to me.

"Colby has always been too softhearted. He constantly gives in to other people and lets them have what they want. It's a good thing that he's finally standing up for what's his."

I glanced down at the shirt.

"So why was I wearing it then?" I asked.

Mom paused. "You didn't have anything appropriate, so I got it from Colby's closet."

"So you knew it belonged to him?"

"It's just a shirt! Why would I read so much into it?" Mom snapped.

"You didn't, but he certainly has," I pointed out.

Mom's expression turned a little cold. "Just what are you trying to say?"

"Nothing. I just want to make it clear that I wasn't the one who took the shirt."

Colby's eyes reddened. "I really don't blame you for it, Bryan. It was just an off-hand remark."

"And I've already returned the shirt, so why are you still on the verge of tears?"

Macy threw down her cutlery and snapped, "Colby has already apologized! What more do you want?"

"I'm not trying to do anything."

Standing half-naked beneath the chandelier, I looked at them with a solemn expression. "He's the one who asked whether I owed him, so I returned his shirt to him before asking him the same question. Is that not allowed?"

"You two were switched at birth! It's not like Colby deliberately stole your place in the family!" Macy fired at me.

"And I didn't take his clothes on purpose either."

That shut her up, but Mom immediately wrapped her arms around Colby and said to me, "Bryan, we didn't bring you back to the family so that you can settle scores with Colby. He's been a part of the family for 22 years now. Even though we're not related by blood, he's still our son."

"And what about me?" I asked before regretting it.

It sounded far too much like I was demanding something from them.

However, Mom didn't take it that way. She simply rubbed her forehead and said, "You're our son too, of course. But you must realize there's an order to things. You can't force the family to prove who we love more the moment you show up."

So even I, her biological son, had to take a number and wait my turn behind the son she raised.

I nodded and stopped asking questions.

Gabriel returned with a large white shirt. It was a flimsy material, and the shoulder seams hung way past my shoulders. Even after I buttoned it up, it hung loosely on my frame.

The dinner continued.

No one bothered offering me any food, but they took turns loading up Colby's plate for him. Macy cut up some steak for him, and Dad asked him if he'd been sleeping well lately. Mom addressed the other relatives, telling them that I was just too blunt by nature and that they shouldn't care about what I said.

Not a single person checked in with me to find out more about my life at the orphanage.

After dinner, we took a family photo. The photographer asked me to stand between my parents. Colby had just taken a step to the side when Mom instinctively reached out to stop him.

"Colby, stand next to me. Bryan, stand next to your father."

Macy took her place next to Colby without even thinking.

When the shutter clicked, I looked at my reflection in the lens.

It was supposed to be a celebration of my reunion with my biological family, yet I was wearing an oversized shirt someone had hastily found for me, looking like a guest who'd been squeezed into the picture at the last minute.

In the preview, I saw Mom's hand resting on Colby's shoulder. Meanwhile, the gap between Dad and me was wide enough to fit another person.

On the way home, Dad finally said, "We turned down two dinner invitations today just to bring you home. Your mother has spent years running around looking for you, too. How can you repay us by causing a scene like that on your very first day with us?"

I got the hint. The fact that they came looking for me meant I owed them.

I got my phone out and tapped on the notes app. "How much did it cost to find me?"

Dad's expression darkened. "What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing." I created a new line on my expense ledger. "I'll repay the money you spent on me. That way, no matter what I do after that, I won't have to feel like I owe anyone."