Chapter 3

My chest heaved with rage. I could no longer contain the fury burning inside me.

But before I could break free of my mom's grip, I heard a heavy thud behind me.

My dad had collapsed.

"Dad!" I scrambled to catch him and help him up. "Dad, what's wrong?"

He clutched his chest, his face frighteningly pale.

"Oh no! He's had an attack from getting so worked up! Quick! Call 911!"

After shouting, my mom frantically rushed to find the landline, only to discover that it had already been smashed to pieces.

It was as if someone drowning had just lost the last thing keeping them afloat. She sank to the floor, her whole body trembling as though she might collapse at any moment.

"Mom!"

I was holding my dad and couldn't leave him, so all I could do was glare at the two men responsible, my eyes bloodshot as I screamed, "Help him! Call 911!"

Parker flinched at my roar and hurriedly fumbled in his pocket for his phone.

But just as he unlocked it, Cameron stopped him. "Are you an idiot? Your uncle and aunt got sick on their own. We didn't lay a hand on them. Why get involved in this mess? Let's go!"

With that, the two of them fled in a panic.

My eyes nearly bulged with rage. I wanted nothing more than to tear them apart with my bare hands.

Fortunately, my parents were eventually taken to the hospital and pulled through.

I stayed by their side all night. By the time dawn broke, I was so exhausted that I finally dozed off with my head resting on the edge of the bed.

In a daze, I heard hurried footsteps and voices coming from the hallway.

"This is the room! Uncle Winston, you have to stand up for us!"

It was Cameron's voice!

My heart lurched. Afraid they'd wake my parents, I hurried out of the room and shut the door firmly behind me.

Cameron and Parker weren't alone. Several senior members of our extended family had followed them to the hospital.

The moment Cameron saw me, he began shouting loudly for everyone to hear, "Everyone, take a good look! This is my nephew, the big shot who's made it in the world!

"When I heard he worked in construction, I was just trying to help him out by giving him some business. I asked him to build a house for us.

"But he looked down on us because we're poor relatives! He cursed at us, beat us up, and threw us out!"

He raised his right hand, showing off his thumb, which was wrapped in a bandage. "Look at me! I'm an old man. How could I possibly be a match for young people like them?

"And now they've gone too far! My own brother and sister-in-law are pretending to be sick in the hospital, trying to dump all their medical bills on us and drive my whole family to ruin!"

What a shameless liar!

He'd injured his own thumb while smashing up my house the day before!

But Great-Uncle Winston Mitchell didn't care about the truth. He frowned at me reproachfully. "Adrian, just because you've made something of yourself doesn't mean you can turn your back on your own family!

"You beat your uncle up this badly, and now your parents are pretending to be sick to avoid taking responsibility? That's outrageous!"

"He's lying!" I ground out through clenched teeth. "He and Parker trashed my house and assaulted us! My parents spent the entire night in critical care before they finally stabilized. I haven't even had a chance to settle accounts with them, and now they're trying to play the victims!"

"Cut the crap!" Parker stepped forward and arrogantly interrupted me.

"Listen up, Adrian. This isn't over!" He lowered his voice, making sure only I could hear his vicious threat. "If you don't want your parents to die of shock, give me a straight answer right now.

"You'll draw up the plans, handle the construction, and front the money for the materials. Then you'll build my house properly.

"If you dare say no, I'll march straight into that hospital room and make a scene!"

As he spoke, he raised his foot and pretended he was about to kick the hospital room door.

"Don't you dare!" I glared at him, my eyes bloodshot, and planted myself firmly in front of the door.

My parents had only just been brought back from the brink of death. I absolutely could not let them suffer another shock.

Just then, a reckless idea suddenly flashed through my mind. They wanted me to build them a house, didn't they?

Fine. I'd build them a house they'd never forget.

As for what kind of house it would be, that was no longer my concern.

I suppressed the hatred in my eyes and pretended to give in, putting on a look of humiliation and reluctant surrender.

"Fine... I'll do it."