Chapter 4

"You can apply for the national award with some other academic achievement. Why must you insist on going after this one?" Mom questioned me.

Staring at her, I replied, "Because this award will give me the biggest edge. You're afraid I'll get in Jeremy's way, Mom, but even if I back out of it, do you really think the other candidates will step aside for him, too? Everyone should just compete based on their own merits."

"Don't give me that nonsense!" Mom slammed her hand on the desk. "I know that it's an award that's given out based on individual merit, but I can't accept the fact that you're insisting on competing against Jem, too!"

That caught me off guard.

"You're Jem's older brother, Nate. He'll be very sad if you go up against him, too."

I let out a bitter laugh. "Are you really saying that out of concern for him, Mom, or for your own reputation?"

Mom stiffened.

"Jeremy's parents and grandparents were all prominent artists. He's also the orphan of your good friend. Everyone in the industry knows about him and his relationship with us.

"If he's the one who takes the spotlight, everyone will know that you, his adoptive mother, are just as worthy of praise and respect as his family. You think I don't know that?"

Mom's face went pale.

Truth be told, I had only found out not long ago myself. I'd overheard a conversation Mom and Dad had in the study. They'd sighed about it, but they still said, "Even though it's unfair to Nate, once word gets out, it'll bring even more prestige to the family."

Chuckling bitterly, I continued, "Every single one of you keeps talking about wanting prestige and for the family to rise through the ranks. Well, the four of you have managed to make yourselves look good in front of the public, but what about me?

"Are you saying I deserve to be treated like this? Am I not a member of this family, too?"

Without warning, she slapped me in the face.

Mom looked at me as though I had lost my mind. "What kind of ridiculous assumptions are you making now?"

She grabbed her bag and marched toward the door, seemingly in a fit of rage. However, to me, it looked more like she was running away.

"I can't believe I raised such an ingrate!"

…

Professor Graham received a warning from my parents, but she ignored it. She continued to aid me in my entry for the science and technology award.

However, before long, all of our laboratory equipment suppliers breached their contracts. Without the equipment, we couldn't conduct our experiments, let alone apply for the award.

Professor Graham called in every favor she had and managed to borrow the equipment for me. But the very next day, her colleagues and friends all came back and took their equipment away.

A few of them even told her they wanted to end their friendship with her. One of them hemmed and hawed for a while before dropping a hint.

"It's not that we want to do this. It's just that a major investor has put the word out, and a lot of our projects rely on funding from him… You know what it's like…"

He gave us a meaningful look.

Professor Graham and I silently stepped aside and let them take their equipment.

It was someone who not only had the financial means but already had active funding partnerships with these people.

That could only be my father.

I clenched my fists. "It's fine. We'll do it ourselves."

Professor Graham and I bought the components ourselves, and it wasn't long before I'd basically assembled the equipment myself.

On the day I completed my experiments and confirmed the results, I posted about it online.

Mom swiftly called me. "Must you insist on going up against your own family? Against Jem?"

Before I could say anything, I heard Wendy's voice coming from the other end as well. "Jem's experiments failed, and he hasn't eaten all day. Why are you such a bastard? Is your biggest goal in life to steal other people's things?"

Just before I could hang up, Mom snapped at me, "Nate! You're going to withdraw your entry and delete that post on social media! Got it?"

I simply ended the call.

It never occurred to me that Mom would show up on campus the next day. Everyone was stunned.

"Professor Lloyd? The one who's the foremost authority in her field? Goodness me! She even refused a tenure position with the top university in our country! I can't believe she's here to visit a small university like ours."