Chapter 4

Though I was stunned by the slap, I quickly caught onto the key point in Benedict's words.

"What do you mean? Why was the application canceled?"

Benedict let out a cold laugh and said, "The chairman of Shaw Group and his wife said that you faked the whole thing, and now you're still playing dumb!

"Get out! Don't ever let me see you again!"

My whole body started shaking violently.

Shaw Group… That was my parents' company, and they hadn't left me a single way out.

Benedict had lost his job because of me. He was one of the only two people who had ever shown me kindness.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"

Crushed by an overwhelming sense of guilt, I fled the scene in a panic.

As soon as I stepped out of the hospital, I spotted a disheveled man sitting miserably on the curb and froze. It was Timothy Clarke, a famous, wealthy heir from my high school days, and the only person who had never been mean to me.

To protect my pride, he would always pretend to be annoyed while giving me food because I couldn't afford a meal… and he did that for three whole years. But now, how had he ended up in such a miserable state?

When Timothy saw me, a flicker of light flashed in his clouded eyes. He noticed my pathetic state and pulled out all his cash to hand it to me, the way he had done back in high school.

"Live well, my man. Don't end up like me."

I didn't understand the meaning behind his words until I saw the news the next day. Timothy had jumped from a building and taken his life.

I cried for three days straight and couldn't understand how the once proud, brilliant Timothy could have been driven to the point of suicide…

It was only because of the money he gave me that I could continue my chemotherapy, though there was barely any effect.

…

On my birthday, a month later, the pain became so unbearable that I could barely breathe. The doctor told me I had a month left to live at most.

Mom and Dad excitedly grabbed my hands and led me into a five-star hotel. The employees who used to look down on me and order me around now bowed obsequiously toward me.

"Good evening, Mr. Shaw!"

We walked into a private room, where the manager had already set up a Truth-or-Dare wheel to liven up the party. "Come on, everyone. Let's spin!

"Whoever it lands on has to tell the truth!"

The wheel landed on Dad for the first spin. He cleared his throat and announced, "The truth is… our family is actually worth hundreds of billions of dollars."

Mom and Dad immediately started applauding in response. Seeing my lack of reaction, they scoffed and said, "Look at Moron. He's completely dumbfounded by the good news.

"You idiot! You're a rich heir from now on, and you'll never have to work again! We'll give you a lavish lifestyle and take care of you for the rest of your life, as long as you don't fight Clover for any of the company's shares!"

The second spin landed on Dad again. This time, he said, "Do you remember Timothy? Your mom and I had his dad's company destroyed, and I heard he was sold off to work in an illegal coal mine when he was 17."

Their words ended with a proud cackle.

For the first time all night, the dead, indifferent look in my eyes finally cracked. I snatched a beer bottle off the table and smashed it at him.

No wonder Timothy had turned out that way…

Rage nearly swallowed me whole as I screamed, "Why? What right did you have to do that to him?

"You knew he was the only person in class who was kind to me! I talked about how amazing he was all the time!"

When Dad saw me lose my temper, he erupted, too. "So what? I just wanted you to understand that only our family treats you best, and everyone else can't be trusted! The more you praised him, the harder I ruined his family!"

I froze.

It turned out that I was the reason for every tragedy Timothy and Benedict had suffered. I had completely failed the people who sacrificed everything to save me. My whole life was a joke!

My head spun violently as Mom and Dad's voices sounded as if they were echoing from miles away.

"Are you seriously throwing a tantrum with us over strangers?

"Don't be an idiot. From today onward, you're a rich heir with all the wealth and luxury you could ever dream of. Everyone else is just a stepping stone for your future!"

Without a moment's hesitation, I threw the window wide open and leaped down.