Chapter 5

Kendrick's POV

I looked down, refusing to let anyone see the bitterness in my gaze.

So, that was it. Instead of buying me new clothes, Daphne had been fooling around with Oliver. She'd claimed she'd only watch from the sidelines, but in the end, she couldn't stay away from him.

Refusing to give Oliver the reaction he wanted, I wheeled toward the restroom.

When I came back out, I froze. Oliver had my mother's urn in his hands. Worse still, he was casually tossing it from hand to hand.

Rage burned through me as I charged at him in my wheelchair.

"Are you out of your mind? Put my mother's urn down!" I barked. "I knew you were cruel, Oliver, but I'd never thought you'd stoop this low."

I shoved Oliver aside. He lost his balance, and his drink splashed all over his pants.

Then, he leaned in close, his voice barely above a whisper as he said, "Kendrick, your whore of a mother gave birth to a bastard like you. Dead or alive, she was nothing but something for people to use.

"What? That got under your skin? I even pissed in her urn."

Hearing him insult Mom was the last straw. I raised my hand and slapped him.

But almost immediately, someone shoved me hard. I lay sprawled on the floor, my legs pinned beneath the wheelchair as pain shot through them.

"Kendrick Shaw! How dare you lay a hand on your brother!" Daphne yelled. "No wonder everyone says you bully Oliver. You really need someone to teach you a lesson!"

She looked nothing like the woman who had once adored me. Her face contorted with rage, a vein pulsing at her temple. Hitting Oliver had clearly infuriated her.

Oliver's eyes reddened as he buried his face against Daphne's shoulder. "Kendrick didn't mean it. Please don't blame him. He's just jealous that I can still walk. It's my fault. I shouldn't have upset him."

Faced with his blatant lies, I gritted my teeth and shot back, "You liar! You were the one trying to smash my mother's urn! Oliver, I've put up with all the lies and humiliation. But don't you dare insult my mother!"

At that moment, Dad strode toward me, his brow furrowed. For a moment, I thought he'd finally come to stand up for Mom and me.

Instead, he drove his foot into my chest. "You have your mother's looks and her talent for causing trouble! You just had to make a scene at my birthday party, didn't you?

"What the hell are you trying to pull? If Daphne hadn't begged me to let you back here, I wouldn't even want to look at a worthless piece of trash like you!"

He was my own father, yet he hurled the cruelest insults at me.

Every guest in the room looked at me with mockery, while Oliver's eyes gleamed with triumph and contempt.

At last, Daphne helped me back into my wheelchair and stepped in to smooth things over. "Sorry, everyone. It's just a family matter. Please, enjoy the rest of the evening."

Then, she gripped the wheelchair handles and wheeled me into a corner.

"Kendrick, you were out of line today. I'll announce the company transfer in a minute. When I do, apologize to Oliver," said Daphne.

"He's your brother. Don't make things uglier than they already are. You'll do this for me, won't you?"

She gently touched my cheek, but there wasn't a hint of affection in her eyes.

…

Later, Daphne led Oliver onto the stage, ready to announce that my company was being transferred to him.

I looked at her one last time, overwhelmed with sorrow.

Then, I let the foreign bodyguards who had come for me wheel me out of the main hall. I didn't even glance back.

"Daphne, enjoy my parting gift. After today, our paths will never cross again," I said inwardly.