Just a Factory Worker Who Builds Rockets

The moment my parents led me through the front doors of the mansion, a boy dropped to his knees in front of me with a thud.

Startled, I quickly sidestepped him.

He wouldn't let it go. He shuffled after me on his knees, tears streaming down his face. "It's all my fault. I stole the life that should've been yours.

"I'm on my knees begging you to forgive me. If you won't... then I'll leave the Addison family on my own and go back to the slums!

"As long as you're not angry anymore, I'll do anything!"

In the opulent living room, my rich biological parents and my three biological sisters rushed to his side.

Mom helped Tyson Addison to his feet, her face full of heartache, and turned on me with displeasure. "Corey, you've gone too far! How could you treat your brother like this?"

Dad's face darkened, and he fixed me with a hostile, reproachful stare.

My eldest sister, Leah Addison, mocked me too, "Figures, coming from the backwoods. Other than herding cattle and tightening bolts, cheap tricks for attention are all you're good for."

I was too busy gawking at the décor, eyes shining, to catch a word of their jabbering.

'The Addisons really are one of the top private players in advanced materials. Everything in this place is top-shelf stuff.'

The anger in their eyes vanished at once. They exchanged glances, then all stared at me in shock.

'Good thing I listened to the director and took leave to come home for this reunion. With me as their inside connection, the plant will never have to worry about its material supply again.'

Dad frowned slightly.

Leah gave a disgusted snort and said nothing.

My second sister, Heather Addison, turned a sharp, guarded look on me.

My third sister, Melanie Addison, glared daggers at me, her tone icy. "I'm warning you. Tyson is the only brother we recognize. Don't even dream of competing with him, not for us and not for the family company!"

Dad cleared his throat and lectured me earnestly, "Corey, you've been working at a factory all this time. Coming back to our family so suddenly, you're bound to struggle with life in a Healy City high-society family."

He swiped a few times on his phone.

Soon, the old flip phone in my pocket blared out a choppy robotic announcement that thirty dollars had arrived.

"Hold on to this thirty for now," Dad said. "Once you've gotten used to things for a while, I'll send you more."

Then he turned to the heartbroken Tyson, his tone doting, "Tyson, we raised you ourselves. Nothing will ever change the fact that you're a part of the Addison family.

"Starting next month, I'm raising your allowance to forty thousand dollars. I'll send it right now. Think of it as making it up to you."

As soon as he finished, he pulled out his phone to transfer the money.

Tyson instantly broke into a smile through his tears.

But he still had to put on a show of refusing, his smug gaze drifting toward me every so often. "How could I take that? Give my allowance to Corey instead.

"After all, before this, he was either living a hard life in the countryside or working at a factory. He needs the money more than I do."