Chapter 3

"It's already so late. Why aren't you home yet, Ash?" Mom asked anxiously.

"I thought something happened to you. It's all our fault for being so useless. You even have to work on New Year's Eve. We're the ones who failed you…"

My throat tightened painfully, but I swallowed down the bitter feeling.

I wanted to ask them why they were lying to me, but I could only make choked noises.

I heard Dad coughing on the other end of the line. "You're a good kid, Ash. It's all my fault. Olly, your mom, and I dragged you down."

In the past, I would definitely refute his words and tell them that I was doing everything of my own volition. However, I didn't want to waste my energy on them any longer.

Dad assumed that I was tired when I remained silent. "It's New Year's Eve today, Ash. Don't push yourself too hard. Come home early and get some rest."

"He's right," Mom hastily chimed in. "Let's go out tomorrow night and have a nice meal. We've also bought a lot of food for you. Also, it's your birthday tomorrow. We've prepared a surprise for you."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced out an "Okay."

The snow was getting heavier, but I didn't immediately rush home after I crawled back up to my feet. Instead, I dropped by a 24-hour self-printing shop and printed a disownment contract.

I was going to prepare a surprise for them too.

Since my parents were so fond of Oliver, perhaps my departure would truly be a pleasant surprise for them.

…

It was a little over 4:00 am by the time I made it home.

I looked at the cold leftovers in plastic containers on the dining table and the dark home where no one was waiting for me.

"Happy birthday," I muttered to myself.

It was my 24th birthday that day. However, I had learned the cruel truth the day before—my parents were showering all their money and love on Oliver, my adopted brother and fake heir who had stolen my time with them when I was a child.

I shivered as I took a shower. I then curled up under the thin blanket that failed dismally to keep me warm.

In the past, I believed that Mom and Dad didn't pay for heating to save money. I thought that everyone wanted to pay off our debts as soon as possible.

Oliver always fell ill during winter. My parents would always leave to accompany him to the hospital. He also constantly needed someone to watch over him since his body had grown weak after recovering from leukemia.

Only then did I realize that my parents were actually scared of the cold. They made up an excuse that they needed to stay by Oliver's side, when in reality, they were hiding in a luxurious home and enjoying a lavish lifestyle.

I pressed the back of my hand to my eyes before suddenly bursting into laughter.

It was laughable that I had even thought about buying a home with proper heating for them after paying off our debts. Only then did I understand that I had overestimated myself.

The three of them could afford to host a party in a villa in an affluent area in the heart of the city. What right did I have to buy a house for them when I couldn't even afford to pay the property management fee?

Sunlight streamed through the old glass window and fell across my face.

The sounds of footsteps echoed from beyond the door. I grabbed my phone and glanced at the time.

It was 8:00 am. It was the first time I had slept in after Dad went bankrupt.

It was too cold under the blanket. I was shivering when I got out of bed.

Before I left my room, I changed my phone's wallpaper. It was a note that I had personally written.

"I'm willing to give up everything that I have in exchange for Mom's, Dad's, and Olly's health."

Mom looked a little surprised when she saw me coming out of my room. "Why did you get up so late today? Did something happen? Did you get sick? Is it serious?"

Although she was fussing over me, I couldn't feel a single trace of warmth in my heart. In fact, I couldn't even tell if her concern for me was genuine or just an act that she was putting on to fool me into believing that she loved me.

"Ash? Why aren't you saying anything?"