Chapter 1

After everyone fell asleep, I went downstairs and dug through 18 dumpsters before I finally found the gift I had bought for my little brother, Clover Shaw.

The next day, I used the refund money to schedule my chemotherapy at the hospital. I was going to live for myself from this day onward.

After paying the hospital bill, I calculated wages from my construction job and figured it should be enough to cover the next chemotherapy session. But when my paycheck came in, it was short by 200 dollars.

I ran to the restaurant and tried to play nice with the owner, Max Douglas.

"Was there a mistake with the payroll, Mr. Douglas? You raised my pay to 10.50 dollars an hour, but it looks like you still calculated it at ten."

Max's eyes darted around before he started yelling, "When did I ever give you a raise? What? Are you trying to scam me?

"Hey, everyone, come look at this loser trying to extort my money!"

As more people gathered, I nervously clutched the hem of my shirt and turned around, only to accidentally make eye contact with Dad and Clover, who happened to be walking by.

Their eyes were full of ridicule and mockery.

When Dad noticed my gaze, he suppressed a smile and forced out drops of hypocritical tears. "It's all my fault, son. I'm poor, and that's why you've had to suffer…

"Just hang in there a little longer. Things will get better once we've saved enough for Clover's tuition."

But I hadn't missed the way Dad and Clover immediately scrambled to hide their luxury watch and diamond brooch the moment they saw me.

I didn't miss the way Max almost let slip a respectful title the moment he saw Dad, and I certainly didn't miss Clover mouthing a silent command to Max. "Keep lashing out at him. Go ruthless."

It turned out they were the ones who hired Max to torment me.

Suddenly, the whole thing felt incredibly pointless, so I turned away and said, "Forget it. Let's just go home."

Dad and Clover froze and exchanged confused looks. They couldn't understand why I was dropping the matter.

My sudden return home for dinner caught Mom completely off guard.

The dining table overflowed with gourmet seafood and delicacies, yet Mom had previously hinted that there wasn't enough money to cook for all four of us. That was why I would rather eat leftovers and scraps outside than come home to add to their burden.

Mom stammered out an excuse, "Our neighbors were kind and gave us plenty of ingredients…"

But our neighbors had moved out ages ago…

I didn't call her out on it.

After all of us took our seats, I noticed that Clover's plate was piled high with the finest delicacies, while dishes of leftover wilted vegetables sat in front of me.

I stood up and, under everyone's astonished gazes, picked up the only steak on the table. I knew it was made just for Clover.

Mom immediately panicked and slapped me hard across the back of the head. "You absolute leech! You don't deserve to eat that!"

Realizing how badly she had overreacted, she sheepishly added, "Clover is still young. You should let him have it…"

But Clover and I were twins and the same age. He got to thrive effortlessly, attend college, and take up enrichment classes. Meanwhile, I was forced to stay trampled under his foot and willingly serve as a stepping stone for his success.

I had had enough! I wanted to live like a real human being, too!