Chapter 2

I had just reached the door when I saw Dad walking in, holding a brand-new basketball. He noticed me covered in dirt with bandages on my arms, his expression instantly souring.

"Did you fool around while you were outside again? I told you to come straight home after school, but you never listen. Do you see the state you're in right now? Are you doing this just to spite me, Elijah?"

I gripped my backpack straps, intending to explain, but his glare silenced me. I started having nightmares every night about those drunks in the alley lunging at me after that. I would shout at them to stop, but there was never an answer.

I would wake up with a start every single time and hear Dad, who was next door, promising to take Jacob to a game of basketball, while the study materials I had repeatedly requested from Mom the week before still lay unmet by my pillow.

It had always been clear who was cherished and who was overlooked—I had simply held onto hope and refused to face it.

It was the following morning, and Dad took Jacob out shopping. He filled his social media with pictures of high-end labels, credited Jacob for the haul, and basked in the glowing comments from our relatives, who treated him like a celebrity.

Dad had pretty much forgotten that I was the one bankrolling him, Mom, and Jacob's entire household.

I was content to let him continue his delusion, though; after all, I had already unlinked the "Family Sharing Account", which meant he was currently burning through his own savings.

I packed my bags, intending to rush to the high-speed rail station. I was just about to leave when Mom looked at me and said hesitatingly, "Your father has struggled a lot over the years, so you should show him some consideration, Elijah."

I was told that Dad hadn't had it easy, so I had to show him some consideration. I was told that Jacob was going through some hardship, so I had to show him some consideration as well. Why was I the only one in this family expected to consider everyone but myself?

Mom said, "You should go ahead and focus on work for now. We'll be waiting for you in Yalara."

I merely stated, "You don't have to wait for me. My superior told me this trip involves an important project. I likely won't be back at all during the Independence Day break."

Mom visibly breathed a sigh of relief in response.

"Isn't that exactly what you hoped for, Mom?" I asked, looking at Mom while finding the whole thing ridiculous; after all, I had been the only one who had never belonged in the family, ever since I was a child.

"What are you talking about? How could you blame us just because you're stuck working? You just have to ruin the holiday for the whole family, don't you? What's wrong with you, Elijah?" Mom finally dropped the "loving mother" act and started yelling at me.

I responded to Mom by slamming the door shut. I couldn't stand the thought of staying in that house for another minute.

I couldn't help but wonder if, after Mom and Dad had flown to Yalara the following day, they would still feel the same sense of relief about my absence.

I hadn't even gotten off the high-speed train when I saw Dad's social media post. He and Jacob stood shoulder to shoulder, smiling warmly. "I might have ended up raising one ungrateful child, but luckily, I have raised another considerate one. I never thought I'd experience first class in my lifetime."

I was stunned, wondering how they had already boarded the flight. I remembered that we were supposed to fly on the 30th, and I had planned to meet them at the airport right after work. It was only the 28th at the moment. I realized then that Dad never intended to take me with them in the first place.

It was then that my phone started ringing. Felix, who was only four years old, had already adopted Dad's habit of boasting. "Grandpa upgraded all our seats, Uncle Elijah!

"Do you know how comfortable first class is? You know, I get to lie flat and enjoy five-star food! You've probably never even seen the inside of first class, right, Uncle Elijah?"

Dad interrupted Felix before he could finish his bragging. "Why bother talking to him? You should just tell him to focus on working and making money."

I glanced at my six-hour train ticket and understood that the money I hesitated to spend on myself was freely spent by others. I wondered if I had really spent all that time working like a dog just so they could live in luxury on my dime.

I suddenly felt this secret rush of excitement. I couldn't wait to see the look on Dad's face when he realized the money for those upgrades came out of his own bank account. I imagined that the scene would be quite remarkable.

I received a photo from Felix, who couldn't resist boasting. It showed my eldest uncle, Kenny Hunt; my younger uncle, Kayden Hunt; and my aunt, Kylie Hunt, alongside their families, on the flight, though they were all seated in the economy section.