Chapter 3

I took a taxi to the bank and, with Professor Lindell's help, withdrew the 50,000-dollar scholarship.

When I got back to the dorm, I turned on my computer and was just about to start filling out my study-abroad application when my roommate from next door knocked on the door.

"Miles, your advisor wants to see you in the office."

I was a little confused, but I went anyway.

When I pushed open the door, my advisor was sitting behind his desk with a complicated expression on his face. He slid a file toward me.

"Miles, someone filed a formal complaint against you. They claim you have questionable personal conduct and have been associating too closely with people outside the university, making you unfit for the study abroad program."

I looked down at the document. A photo was attached to it.

In the picture, I was stepping out of a black luxury sedan, holding a thick, bulging envelope in my hand. The name of the person who filed the complaint was listed as Sam Martinez.

My own brother.

A rush of anger shot through me. I turned around and headed straight for my brother's dorm, texting him to come downstairs immediately.

Less than two minutes later, Sam sauntered out of the building, still wearing that Rolex on his wrist.

Seeing me standing there, he sneered. "Oh, you got here pretty fast. Feeling guilty?"

My eyes burned with anger. "You reported me?"

He lowered his arm and looked me up and down.

"What? You're not ashamed of taking money from sugar mommies, so why are you worried about getting reported? Looks like you've really taken our family rules to heart, Miles. If you want something, you trade something for it. Except you've started trading your body now? What are you going to trade next?"

I knew there was no reasoning with him. "Come to the office with me and withdraw the complaint!"

He scoffed. "Why should I?"

I reached out, grabbed his arm, and dragged him toward the main gate. During the struggle, Sam swung his hand back and slapped me hard across the face.

I froze for a split second, but fury quickly took over. Within seconds, we were locked in a physical brawl, drawing a huge crowd of onlookers.

Someone called the professors. They eventually managed to pull us apart and contacted our parents.

…

Sam and I stood side by side in the office. Both our clothes were rumpled, and our faces were red and already starting to bruise.

Dad arrived quickly, looking frantic.

The moment I looked up and saw his familiar face, my eyes immediately filled with tears. "Dad…"

But to my shock, he charged forward in a huff, raised his hand, and slapped me hard across the face.

The blow landed with a crisp smack, snapping my head to the side and making my ears ring.

The advisor hurried to his feet. "Mr. Martinez, please, no hitting!"

Dad ignored him. He jabbed his finger at me as he yelled, "How can you be so disgusting? How can you stoop to such lows? Has this family not provided for you? You're actually hooking up with rich women for cash? You may have no shame, but I still have a reputation to protect!"

Mom walked in right behind him. She grabbed his arm, then turned to me.

"Miles, tell us yourself—why did you get into a fight with your brother? And where did that money come from?"

I stood there, my left cheek swollen and burning. But not one of them asked me if I was in pain.

I fought back tears, my voice trembling. "Sam was the one who falsely accused me and reported me first. The 50,000 dollars I withdrew yesterday was a scholarship. I have the official approval documents right here. You can pull them up and check for yourselves!"

Sam snorted.

"Who'd believe that? A scholarship? You were photographed stepping out of an old woman's luxury car!"

Furious, I stepped forward to argue with him, but Mom shoved me back.

"Enough!" she barked. "Are you really going to make such a huge fuss over something so trivial? Even if your brother misunderstood the situation, it's only because he cares about you. Why do you have to be so petty?"

I glanced at Sam's smug, triumphant smile. And in that exact moment, whatever warmth remained in my heart disappeared completely.

I clenched my fists and coldly swept my gaze across everyone in the room.

"You have two choices. Sam can withdraw the complaint and apologize to me in front of everyone. But if he refuses, I'll write up a formal declaration severing all family ties right now. From today onward, I'll no longer be a member of this family."

The room went completely silent.

Mom and Dad stared at me in shock. They couldn't seem to comprehend that this hysterical person standing before them was the same Miles who had always been gentle and obedient.