Chapter 4

I'd profited 26,600 dollars off the whole scheme.

I handed over the little wrapped box. "Dad, happy birthday."

He took it, and just as I'd expected, set it down without a glance on the table already piled with other gifts. He nodded. "Good, you made it. Go find somewhere to sit."

The words had barely left his mouth when Pete walked over, arm in arm with Alexis.

He opened a lavish velvet box and held it out to Dad.

"Dad, happy birthday! Alexis and I picked this out together. Take a look and see if you like it."

It was a Patek Philippe watch.

A wave of gasps and compliments went up around them at once.

"Oh, George, your two kids are so devoted!"

"Pete's got a great eye. That watch suits your whole look perfectly!"

Dad grinned from ear to ear and immediately took off his old watch to put on the new one.

"I love it, I really do! My boy always knows exactly what I want."

My little wooden box ended up buried under a pile of designer wrapping paper, not even a corner of it visible.

I didn't care either way. I found a couch in the corner and sat down.

"Blake."

Alexis's impatient voice dropped down on me from above.

I looked up at her.

She was frowning. "It's Dad's birthday party, and you're just sitting here on your phone? Everyone here is family, friends, relatives. What kind of impression do you think you're giving?"

Her voice wasn't quiet, and people at the tables nearby turned to look, whispering to each other.

Before I could even open my mouth, Mom stormed over, clearly annoyed.

"Blake! Are you picking a fight with your sister again?"

She jabbed a finger at me, making her point crystal clear. "Any other day, fine, but it's your father's birthday. Do you have to ruin everyone's mood?"

I looked at her, then at Alexis standing beside her with an expression that practically screamed, "See, I told you he's like this."

A suffocating feeling rose up in me all at once.

In this family, even breathing felt like something I was doing wrong.

I put my phone away and stood up.

"I'm not feeling well. I'm going to step outside for some air."

I didn't wait for a response. I turned and walked straight out of the ballroom.

The hallway outside was quiet. I'm not sure how long I walked before I turned down a side passage that led toward a lounge area.

I stopped short. The lounge door was left slightly ajar, and I could hear my parents' voices coming from inside.

My mother's voice carried a note of grievance. "Did you see the attitude he had tonight? Like the whole world owes him something. Pete's so considerate, and all Blake ever does is give us dirty looks, like he's trying to ruin the night on purpose."

Then came my father's sigh.

"Enough, don't hold it against him. He's been through a lot out there. It's normal for him to still have some resentment."

"But I'm just worried..."

"Worried about what? I've already got it all figured out." Dad's voice turned cold.

"Pete has been with us for over a decade. We can't shortchange him. Once he graduates, the bulk of the family assets go to him, so he can go all in without any hesitation. As for Blake..."

He paused, and when he spoke again his tone carried the careless air of someone handing out charity. "He's our biological son, so it's not like we're neglecting him. Just give him a little extra money and call it even."

I slipped away from the lounge without letting anyone notice.

The cold air outside actually cleared my head.

Dad's words kept looping in my mind, over and over.

I didn't feel hurt. I wasn't even angry. Just numb.

Back in the dorm, Ben was still awake. He pulled off his headphones the moment he saw me walk in.

"Jeez, why are you so pale? Did your family give you a hard time again?"

I shook my head and said nothing.

I pulled the bank card Dad had given me out of my wallet, set it on the desk, and slid it over to him.

"Ben," I said, my voice steady, "let's build something big."