Chapter 2

Night had completely fallen by the time I returned to the Ashcroft residence. The living room was brightly lit, filled with laughter and chatter.

I stood at the door, dragging my crippled leg, and watched the happy family inside.

Seated in the center of the couch, Everest was shrouded in everyone's attention. A massive cake sat on the table with words iced across it. "Get well soon, our precious son."

They were celebrating his recovery from the fright, while I, the one who had fallen from a height and nearly lost my life, hadn't received a single word of concern.

It hit me then that their attention had never been meant for me.

I gave a bitter laugh before a cold voice cut through my thoughts.

"Where have you been, Leo? Don't you know that Everest was badly frightened, and everyone's been worried sick? How could you just disappear without a word?"

Bianca frowned down at me from the steps. Her gaze was sharp and carried clear disdain.

I pointed to the thick plaster around my right leg and sarcastically replied, "Take a good look, Bianca. I broke this leg saving your precious brother."

Her eyes flickered. For a second, she stood frozen to the spot before Everest's muffled wails sounded behind her.

"Don't blame Leo. This is all my fault. If it wasn't for me, he wouldn't have gotten hurt at all…

"Are you still mad at me, Leo?"

Bianca's gaze immediately darkened, and her tone turned sharp as she snapped, "If you weren't always trying to compete with Everest, none of this would've happened."

In her eyes, the fact that I had saved a life was just a tactic for rivalry.

"Are you saying that I brought this on myself?" I quietly asked.

"Didn't you?" she countered and stepped closer, pointing in my face. Every word she spoke cut deep.

"I warned you to know your place and behave in the Ashcroft family. Stop trying to fight Everest for everything.

"He's been with us for 20 years, and that bond is something you'll never replace."

She was right. 20 years of companionship and a bond could make blood ties worthless.

My biological dad, Benedict Ashcroft, glanced over with disappointment. "You should learn gratitude, Leo. We bought you back from the countryside, gave you comfort, food, and a home. What more do you want?"

Like always, I was in the wrong as long as Everest shed tears, no matter how much I suffered.

When I said nothing, Bianca took out a bank card from her wallet and tossed it at my feet.

"Here's more than enough to cover your medical bills and compensation. From today on, behave yourself and stop causing us trouble."

The card clattered onto the floor, and so did my heart and dignity.

I looked her in the eye and hoarsely said, "Bianca… If it had been Everest who fell from that height yesterday, would you have said the same thing to him?"

She stiffened as if she had never expected that question.

After a long pause, she coolly replied, "Everest isn't as calculating as you are."

I scoffed and closed my eyes, feeling the last spark of warmth in my chest vanish.

"I'm moving out tomorrow," I declared before turning around and limping painfully toward my room.

Behind me, I could faintly hear Bianca's muttered curse. "Ungrateful brat."

…

I sat numbly on the edge of my bed and curled into myself, feeling my heart ache dully. It hurt so much that I could hardly breathe.

After some time, a sudden crack of thunder jolted me awake. For a moment, I wondered if I was dreaming.

I had imagined countless times what it would be like to find my biological family, but I had never pictured such a scene.

Amid the crackling thunder, I stood up and looked around the room.

The space was technically mine, but traces of Everest were everywhere, including his discarded old models and his worn-out sneakers that filled the closet. Everything that belonged to me fit into one small suitcase.

I opened it and carefully took out an old wooden music box.

My adoptive mom, Joycelyn Wood, had made it for my tenth birthday. A tiny dancing boy spun on the lid as the tune played.

She had said, "August will shine as the brightest dancer on stage one day."

It was my most treasured possession. I was about to place it in my bag when the door to my room was pushed open.