Chapter 4

I ignored them, my eyes locked onto Leo. There was a hint of smugness in the depth of his eyes that he hadn't managed to hide in time.

That told me all I needed to know.

Mila spoke then, her voice frosty and unrelenting. "You've changed into someone I barely even recognize because of jealousy. Leo has won so many awards, and I haven't seen you be happy for him even once. Now that you've lost something of your own, you're quick to blame him, huh?"

She walked up to me, looking at me with disgust and contempt. "Wasn't the money I gave you enough? Did you really have to stoop so low just to get attention? Jared, you disgust me."

I looked at them, the people who were supposed to be my family, standing like three walls between Leo and me, keeping the two of us in completely different worlds. Each of them was tearing me apart with the cruelest words, one blow after another.

I suddenly laughed. I laughed so hard that my eyes welled up with tears. Then, instead of replying to them, I turned around and walked away.

Behind me, I could hear Delilah crying and Mila yelling at me, but I couldn't bring myself to listen to another word.

When I got back to my empty dorm room, I slid down the door and sat on the floor, feeling like nothing more than a hollow shell.

The city lights flickered outside the window, but not a single one of them was shining for me.

It was over. Everything was over.

Just as I was about to sink completely into despair, my phone screen lit up with a crisp little chime. There was a new email from an anonymous sender.

My hands trembled as I opened it. Attached to the email was a compressed file. Almost without thinking, I downloaded and extracted it. The folder was named "Coming Home", and inside were all my design files, modeling data, and backup materials.

The email contained only one sentence. It read, "Your talent shouldn't go to waste."

I froze.

…

The next evening, the ballroom of the city's most prestigious hotel was ablaze with lights. As one of the main sponsors of the exchange program, Mila was present. She was holding a glass of champagne and making small talk with a few of the other partners.

Benjamin Dunn, one of the event organizers, walked over with his own glass and gave Mila's shoulder an approving pat. "Mila, your family sure are a talented bunch. Leo is incredibly gifted at piano, and who knew you would have another brother who was just as talented at landscape design?"

Mila gave him a polite smile. But in her mind, she kept thinking about the word "brother".

"Mr. Dunn, you must be joking. I only have one brother."

"Oh, really?" Benjamin paused, then suddenly realized his mistake. "Oh, I must've gotten it wrong. I mean that student from your school, Jared. His design really blew me away today. He's one of the most promising talents I've seen in years!"

Mila's smile stiffened.

My name instantly shattered the calm in her mind.

Mila suddenly remembered Leo telling her with reddened eyes how I'd left the house angry and was working multiple part-time jobs because I needed the money. He'd said he was afraid I'd get taken advantage of.

Then, she remembered the money she'd sent me, the cold way she'd told me to name my price, and the way she'd scolded me the night before.

Mila realized this was what I'd been working myself to the bone for. A design project that had one of the biggest names in the industry calling me one of the most promising young talents he'd seen in years.

She, along with the rest of the family, had thought I was just pulling a childish stunt to win sympathy.

Mila tightened her grip on her glass, her face pale. She quickly dialed my number.