Chapter 2

Across the room, everyone was crowded around Miles, looking at the picture.

I opened my phone and messaged my boss.

[About making me a partner, what you mentioned yesterday—is that still on the table?]

The reply came instantly, and I could feel the sarcasm through the screen.

[Oh? The great family pillar can leave home for a five-year overseas assignment? What, you're not worried the house will collapse without you?]

Last year, my boss had already given me one shot at this. But when I told my family about the assignment, every one of them was against it.

Mom said the whole family depended on me. If I left, everything would fall apart.

Audrey had looked troubled too.

"Gavin, we're not getting any younger. I'm not asking you to support a family, but at the very least, you can't go that far away."

Back then, I believed my parents needed me, and Audrey needed me. So I stayed, and I didn't mind.

But now, watching the happy family of four across the room, I couldn't lie to myself anymore.

I lowered my head and typed one line.

[I'm not worried anymore. Start the process.]

The moment the message went through, Audrey's voice sounded right next to my ear.

"What process? I've been calling you, and you didn't even hear me."

I locked my phone.

"Nothing. Just work. Weren't you meeting a client today?"

Her eyes slid away from my phone. She looked a little uneasy.

"It got rescheduled. I didn't have time to tell you."

She didn't have time to tell me, but she had time to go shopping with my brother?

The words circled my tongue, and in the end, all that came out was a bitter smile.

She was my girlfriend, yet every free moment she had went to my brother.

She went shopping with him, went to concerts with him, even went to his class reunions posing as his girlfriend.

I'd questioned it. I'd been upset about it.

But my parents would just say, "Miles is still a kid. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?"

And Audrey would frown every time.

"Gavin, you're his older brother. Don't be so petty."

But just once, I wanted to be the irresponsible one. I wanted to go out with friends, go shopping, and buy things I liked, like a normal person.

That night, Mom asked Audrey to stay for dinner, and Miles announced he wanted to move out.

"I already found a place. An apartment on the west side of town."

I glanced at Mom, waiting for her to shoot him down the way she'd shot me down.

But she just put another slice of meat on his plate like always, her voice full of worry.

"If you live alone, who's going to cook for you? Will you have enough money? How about I help you with rent?"

My head snapped up.

When I said I wanted to move out, Mom had been just as anxious.

Only back then, she'd been in a hurry to accuse me of wanting to get away from them, of not caring about my own parents.

Apparently some sons didn't have to prove they were good sons.

"It's okay, Mom."

Miles grinned and patted Audrey on the shoulder.

"I'll be living right next door to Audrey. She'll take care of me. Right?"

For a second, I thought I'd heard him wrong.

He said it so naturally, as if that was how it should be.

I looked at Audrey on reflex. To my shock, she seemed to agree, her eyes full of a doting smile.

"Don't worry, Linda. I'll take good care of Miles for you."

Mom looked relieved.

I set my glass down on the table. The soft clink drew everyone's attention.

I pressed my fingertips into my palm and spoke quietly.

"Audrey, did you forget who your boyfriend is?"

The room went silent for a moment.

Audrey reacted first. The smile dropped from her face.

"Gavin, Miles is your brother. Are you seriously going to be this petty?"

Mom glared at me accusingly.

"You're even jealous of Miles? Why are you always the one making a fuss?"

Miles lowered his head and said softly, "Gavin, if you don't want me to, I won't move..."

Mom shot me a look and started comforting him.

"Don't mind him. You go ahead and move. What does it have to do with him?"

Audrey started coaxing him too.

"It's okay. Your brother will be fine tomorrow. You don't have to tiptoe around him."

I took a deep breath, got up, and went back to my room.

Fine. Let them do what they want.

Family or love, I didn't want any of it anymore.