Chapter 1

I dragged my heavy, tired legs forward. Suddenly, someone called out behind me.

"Nathan? What a coincidence. I can't believe I ran into you here."

It was Steve Payne, my adopted brother. I ignored him and picked up my pace, desperate to get away, but Dad's furious voice rang out behind me.

"Nathan? Stop right there!"

He grabbed me by the wrist and yanked me back. I stumbled and turned to face him. His expression was dark with anger.

"What kind of garbage flyers are you passing out on the street?" he barked. "Are we starving you? Do you have to skip school and come out here to make money?"

Mom had her arm linked with Steve's, her brow furrowed tightly as she looked at me in disappointment. "Nathan, I've told you before. We sent you to the countryside so you could learn resilience and build character. How could you let us down and skip school again?"

Their noise drew the attention of passersby, who stopped to watch.

Before I could say a word, Dad snatched the missing-person flyers from my hand and flung them into the air.

Each flyer had my brother's picture on it. They scattered across the street in the wind, but my parents didn't even bother to look at them.

Everything I'd been holding in finally boiled over.

I remembered how I'd broken down and begged them for help, only for them to refuse because they didn't believe me. I remembered the 80,000 dollars I'd gotten by selling a kidney to save Aaron's life, only for them to transfer the money away.

I clenched my fists, my voice trembling as I confronted them. "Aaron was kidnapped! I'm out here searching for him. You won't even help me. Fine. But why would you throw away my flyers? I had to go hungry just to afford those flyers! Mom, Dad, what is wrong with you?"

Watching strangers step on the flyers scattered across the street, a deep sense of helplessness washed over me.

Mom paused, looking confused. "Aaron was kidnapped?"

She bent down to pick up one of the flyers, but Steve caught her arm. Tears welled up in his eyes. "Nathan, I know you and Aaron are angry that I joined the family, but you shouldn't scare Mom and Dad with some fake kidnapping story."

He lowered his head, his voice cracking. "If you really hate me that much, I'll just leave. I can always go back to foster care, even if it means getting pushed around again."