Chapter 1

When I saw my parents illegally enter my rental apartment, I was not surprised at all.

After all, they had gotten my post taken down and my account suspended just ten minutes after I posted it asking for help.

They had the money to make that happen, yet they could not spare a cent for my younger brother Xander Parker’s medical treatment.

I clenched my fists as I listened to my dad coldly announce in a voice as merciless as the Grim Reaper’s, “Yale, you’re not getting your allowance for the entire year.”

He immediately launched into a furious tirade.

“You and Xander have gone way too far this time. You’ve lied about medical expenses and spread rumors online just to get money!

“Do you have any idea how much it cost me to get your post taken down?”

He grew more and more furious as he looked around the apartment.

“Where’s Xander? Get him out here! I’m your father, and I’m going to teach you both a lesson today!

“Get on your knees first!”

My mom stepped forward and pretended to defend me.

“Let’s talk this out. There’s no need to keep talking about hitting them.

“Yale, where’s your brother? Go get him and have him apologize to your dad too.

“You two have really taken this joke too far. If you’re still refusing to admit what you did, there’s nothing I can do for you either.”

Help?

When had she ever helped us?

Each time, she just stood by and watched coldly. Once everything was over, she played the peacemaker.

When we passed their tests, she took all the credit. She bragged about how well she had raised us and how good her advice had been.

When we failed their tests, she casually blamed everything on Xander and me.

Even the commenters had seen this kind of thing so many times that they could not help feeling sorry for me.

[Yale’s parents have really gone too far this time. Yale made that post because he needed help. He just hoped someone kind would help him arrange Xander’s funeral. Yet his parents had the post taken down in less than ten minutes.]

[I feel so bad for Yale. I guess this is just the fate of a supporting character.]

I let out a bitter laugh.

Ever since Zach Parker came into our family, I had been able to see the comments.

That was how I learned that Xander and I were nothing more than stepping stones for Zach, the lead.

We were destined to lose.

However, I refused to accept that. I tried to fight back.

I failed every single time.

Whenever Zach accused me of something, I did everything I could to explain myself and prove my innocence to my parents.

Yet they saw every explanation as an excuse.

Later, I learned from the comments that my parents wanted to use Zach to toughen Xander and me up, so they allowed Zach to do whatever he wanted.

I finally gave up. I had no choice but to accept this ridiculous test.

I even tried several times to convince Xander to accept our parents’ tests without a fuss.

I thought the tests would end soon.

However, seven years had passed. The tests just kept coming, one after another. There was never any end in sight.

Xander, the only family I had left, died in the hospital because of their 100th test.

His body was still in a cold morgue.

That was all because I did not have the money to arrange his funeral.

My dad had just cut off my 500-dollar monthly allowance.

I took a deep breath. After they finished, I slowly said, “You can cut off my allowance.

“But please, could you lend me 2,000 dollars?

“Xander… he’s still waiting for his funeral…”