Chapter 4

Mom asked, "Why don't we let Gavin go on Henry's graduation trip in a couple of days as well? We can consider it our way of making up for what happened."

I held my breath as I waited for Dad's response.

In the next second, Dad's unconcerned voice, carrying a sense of complete justification, shattered all the hope I still clung to. "What's so wrong about it? I'm his father, for goodness' sake! Everything I did was for the sake of this family!"

Dad's voice was full of contempt. "Gavin had never been the affectionate type. He hardly ever talks and keeps everything to himself. He just doesn't fit in with this family. He's nothing like Henry, the cheerful one, the family's little ray of sunshine, and the one who knows how to keep us happy.

"You know as well as I do how stressed Henry was during the SAT. He barely slept and wasn't in a good place mentally. Henry would've been devastated if Gavin had done better than him. Henry's personality means he would've been deeply hurt, maybe even ruined by it.

"I'm doing this all for Henry's sake and for the sake of this family."

Mom fell silent for a moment before saying with a sigh, "It's just not fair to Gavin, though. He spent a whole year studying hard too—"

Dad raised his voice. "What's so unfair about it? Gavin can take the SAT again, can't he? If Henry doesn't do well, he'll be heartbroken. Gavin is resilient. He can handle the setback. Henry isn't like that. He's sensitive and needs to be cared for.

"Why should we take him on the trip? He's going to retake the SAT, so this is a good chance for him to get a part-time job and toughen up a little. He doesn't need to come with us. He can go after he's done with the SAT next year."

I didn't stay to hear the rest. I quietly walked back to my room, closed the door, and slowly slid down against it onto the floor. I had already known the truth, but hearing it out loud still made my chest ache so badly that I struggled to breathe.

Dad was worried I might beat Henry's score and hurt Henry's feelings, so he was heartless enough to hide my admission ticket. He wanted me to miss the SAT and ruin my future.

Henry's happiness mattered more than my entire future, as far as Dad was concerned. Henry's emotions meant more than my life's prospects. He thought that since I was resilient, I was the one expected to make the sacrifice.

I sat on the floor as tears streamed down my face. I quickly wiped them away, thinking that there was no use in crying at that point. I knew very well that in this family, my tears had never bought me any sympathy.

I sat on the edge of my bed, took out my phone, and with trembling fingers opened the train ticket app. I didn't hesitate before buying a high-speed train ticket to Brightvale for two days later. I would no longer have anything to do with this family in two more days.

I made sure to take time off from both the courier station and my tutoring gig the following day so that I could stay home and pack my things.

I had just started putting some clothes into my suitcase when I heard Dad's excited shouting from the living room. He was shouting so loudly it nearly shook the house. "Henry made it! He actually got admitted into a good university!"

Dad began making calls one after another after that. He called our relatives, his friends, and even Henry's teacher, his voice brimming with pride and excitement.

"I've got some good news to share, Jacob! Henry's SAT scores have been released! He did amazing! He actually got admitted into a good university!

"I've booked a private room at the restaurant tonight! It's on me, so you'd better be there!

"Thanks to your teaching, Henry got accepted into a good university! You definitely have to join us for a celebratory dinner tonight, Mr. Warner!"