Chapter 2

Grandma was the first to react. She didn't even bother swallowing the crab meat in her mouth before she slumped bonelessly against the chair. Her lips crooked to one side as drool spilled down her chin and dripped on her clothes. She also began to make silly laughing noises.

Her swift transformation would have earned her a prestigious trophy in an acting award ceremony.

"Oh, you're back, Jasper," Uncle Daniel said.

He was the second one to snap back to his senses. He didn't show even a hint of concern for my well-being. On the contrary, he looked a little annoyed at being interrupted.

Ashton wiped the grease from his lips before scrutinizing me with narrowed eyes.

"So, you finally decided to show your face, Jasper." He sneered. "You've been gone for two months. How could you abandon Grandma at home to fend for herself when she's sick?"

I looked at him coldly and said, "I almost died in a car crash. I was bedridden in the ICU for a week. Are you blind, Ashton?"

Ashton clicked his tongue and retorted, "Well, you look perfectly fine to me now."

He then stood up with a righteous air and pointed at the mess on the floor, exclaiming, "Just look! No one did the laundry, mopped the floor, or wiped Grandma down when you were away. Mom and Dad were the ones who had to work themselves to the bone to take care of her for the past two months."

Aunt Molly approached me and chimed in, "He's right, Jasper. It's not my intention to criticize you, but you were too irresponsible. Daniel needs to work every day while I have to take care of Ash. I lost so much weight in the past two months because I was taking care of Mom on your behalf.

"On top of that, we had to pay out of our own pocket to make sure that Mom gets the best and most nutritious food. We had to spend so much money on her!"

"Taking care of her on my behalf?" I repeated, staring at Uncle Daniel. "You're Grandma's eldest son, Uncle Daniel. According to the law, you're the one who should be responsible for taking care of her.

"I quit my job and stopped socializing for the past seven years. I take care of Grandma day in and day out while the rest of you never contributed even a single cent to her medical bills. How dare you complain about how hard it is to take care of her?"

Uncle Daniel's face turned a ruddy red, his embarrassment swiftly morphing into anger.

"How dare you speak to us in that tone, you brat?" he roared. "How dare you talk back to us when we're your elders? Mom was the one who raised you after your parents' early deaths. It's perfectly reasonable for you to pay her back for the kindness that she showed you."

Uncle Daniel claimed that Grandma was the one who raised me, but in reality, the way she treated me was as if she were taking care of a dog, feeding me with whatever leftovers were available.

I worked multiple part-time jobs to pay for my living expenses and school fees.

I wouldn't have had to live such a disgraceful life if I had access to the inheritance that Mom and Dad left behind. Unfortunately, Uncle Daniel stole it from me, claiming that he was taking care of it on my behalf because I was still young.

"That's enough! Stop spouting nonsense!" Ashton interrupted impatiently. "Let's settle the bills since you're back now, Jasper. You have to pay us a fee for taking care of Grandma for the past two months. Including the money we spent buying nutritional products, the total is three thousand dollars.

"Wire the money to me now. I still have to pick up my car tomorrow!"

Three thousand dollars.

How dare they demand money from me for "taking care of Grandma" when they were spending my parents' money, living in my house, and tormenting me?

"I don't have any money on me," I said icily, staring at them calmly. "I only have my life. Feel free to try to take it from me. But you can forget about getting even a single cent from me from today on."

I ignored them as they hurled furious insults at me. I picked up my bag of medicine and made a beeline toward the small, dark room.