Chapter 3

With the crushing burden of my family finally off my shoulders, I felt an immense sense of relief.

For years, my life had revolved around nothing but work.

Mom and Dad used to tell me that since they couldn’t find Dylan, I was their only son and the only person they could rely on. Those words made me feel guilty even when I took time off during holidays. I could never truly relax.

I doubted they would ever say the same things to Dylan.

“Logan, someone’s downstairs asking for you.”

When my coworker came to tell me, she blushed and left me a breakfast she’d brought for me.

By then, two months had passed since the New Year. I’d stopped contacting my family and sending them money. With some free time and space of my own, I finally had the energy to experience my first relationship.

But the moment I went downstairs and saw Mom, Dad, and Dylan, the nightmare of my past came rushing back, leaving me struggling to breathe.

I turned to leave, but Mom hurried over and grabbed me.

“You’re still trying to avoid us? How long do you think you can keep that up?

“We begged everyone we could think of and asked anyone who might know where you were just to find your workplace. Where else do you think you can hide?

“Logan, forget about your brother for a moment. Think about your father and me. Don’t you owe your current job and everything you’ve achieved to us? If you have even the slightest bit of respect left, how can you refuse to acknowledge us?”

They were using guilt and family obligation to force me to hand over money.

I could only laugh at the absurdity of it all.

“What do you have to do with where I am today?”

If I’d had a different pair of parents, I would have been far better off!

When I was taking the entrance exam for junior high, I qualified for the advanced class. The tuition was a little higher than that of the regular classes, but the learning environment and teaching resources were much better.

My family wasn’t short of money. But to save on the extra tuition, my parents bought Dylan snacks and toys instead and made me give up my place in the advanced class for a regular one.

The two students from my town who had originally scored lower than me and entered the advanced class both eventually went to college and settled in major cities.

I worked myself to the bone to get into high school, only for Dad to force me to drop out during my sophomore year. He sent me south to work in a factory with my older cousin, Ryan Bennett.

The summer heat was unbearable, yet Ryan sent all my wages back home. While everyone else bought popsicles after work, I couldn’t even afford one.

Those memories still haunted me.

Now, I earn tens of thousands of dollars a month. I’d gotten here by refusing to accept my fate and working harder than anyone else. What did my parents have to do with any of it?

Mom seemed to remember how unfairly they’d treated me, too. She lowered her head and fell silent.

Dad pushed past her and stepped in front of me. There wasn’t a trace of guilt or hesitation in his eyes as he threatened me outright.

“Logan Whitaker, if you’re determined to be an ungrateful son, I’ll show up at your company and make sure you lose your job!

“I’m warning you. If your brother can’t have a good life, you won’t have one either!”

For a moment, I wanted to explode. I wanted to scream at him.

But I felt so powerless that I could barely open my mouth, let alone get a single word out.

Mom stood behind Dad with her head still bowed.

Dylan stood farther away, his head lowered as he played games on his phone. Suddenly, he cursed one of his teammates through gritted teeth.

I looked back at Dad.

His eyes were filled with unwavering determination to protect Dylan. If I refused to give them the money, he was willing to do anything—even destroy my career.

I let out a bitter laugh and gave in.

I took a day off work and brought them out for a meal.

Then I took out my savings card. There was $150,000 in it—every last dollar I had saved.

“Mom, Dad, most of Dylan’s debt comes from online loans. Only a small portion is owed to loan sharks.

“He’s still in one piece, with all his arms and legs intact. That tells me he’s just using the threat of debt collectors to scare you into giving him money. If you hand it over, he’ll gamble it away again. I suggest you give him one last chance. If he changes, fine. If he doesn’t and ruins his life for good, I can still make sure you have food on the table.

“But if you take this money and keep pressuring me afterward, I’ll cut ties with you for good.”

With that, I slid the card across the table, stood up, and walked away.

Mom called after me, trying to defend Dylan.

“Logan, your brother really knows he was wrong! He won’t gamble again!”

Dad slammed his utensils down, muttering under his breath, “Ungrateful brat. His own younger brother is in trouble, and he won’t even borrow a single cent to help.”

I’d said all I had to say. I kept walking, unwilling to waste another word on them.

I thought that $150,000 would at least buy me some peace for a while.

But the very next month, they came after me again.

This time, they caused a scene right at my workplace.