Chapter 1

Mom was a notorious madwoman at the card table. Her favorite pastime was going off the rails whenever she got worked up while gambling.

During our family dinner, Mom's older sister, Tiffany Walker, praised me for being diligent and well-behaved. She said that I was bound to have a promising future now that I'd gotten into a top-tier university.

Mom immediately slammed the table and snapped back, "What are you talking about, Mel? A young man like Frank who'd studied STEM still couldn't get into Horvard University. He's practically a failure!

"Top-tier? Please. Nobody's even heard of that university. It's just some no-name dump. He's a useless piece of trash just like his father! I'm not paying a cent for him!"

The moment I opened my eyes, I saw Mom pounding on the table with her face flushed.

That was when I knew that I'd been reborn.

Mom was the only person who'd call a top-tier university a "no-name dump".

In my past life, all I'd said was that getting into a top-tier university was good enough. She ended up losing it on the spot, flipped the table, and dumped a full pot of boiling stew all over me.

Mom yelled, "How dare you talk back to your mother? You think you're all that now? Get out of my sight!"

The scalding stew left second-degree burns across half my body. I spent the entire summer break recovering, and even then, thick, ugly scars remained.

However, Mom merely brushed it off after that. "You can't blame me for that. You were the one who provoked me even when you knew I was angry. Serves you right! What kind of son can't just give in to his own mother?"

I learned my lesson this time. I sat quietly off to the side, scrolling through social media.

She could go ahead and gamble herself into the ground for all I cared.

But even so, I still couldn't escape what was coming.

Mom got even more fired up as she played. "I know exactly what Frank is capable of. He's nothing but a bookworm! His university tuition is five thousand dollars a year. That's tens of thousands for four years! How many rounds of cards do you think I'd have to give up for that?"

She slammed the table, grabbed her handbag, and was about to hurl it at me.

Fortunately, Aunt Tiffany managed to stop her.

At the same time, Aunt Emily, Dad's younger sister who loved stirring trouble, chimed in, "Come on, Shannon. Aren't you just whining after getting the better end of the deal?"

Her teasing expression immediately struck a nerve. "What are you talking about, Emily? Do you think I'm just bluffing?"

Aunt Emily waved her hands dismissively. "That's not what I mean. I'm just saying, you speak of the university like it's completely garbage, but isn't Frank still going to attend university when admission season comes anyway? Unlike Sunny, who wants to go but doesn't even have the chance to."

Her words sent Dad flying in rage. "You're just looking down at Shannon now, Em! If she says he's not going, then he's not going ever!"

Aunt Emily was startled, yet still shot back, "Oh please, you're just talking big. If you really won't let him go, then why don't you burn his admission letter?"

Mom shot up, hands on her hips as she spoke domineeringly, "Fine, I'll burn it! I'll make him understand what happens when he angers the head of this household!"

Surprised, Aunt Tiffany sobered up instantly and hurried to stop her. "Enough now. This isn't something to joke about. Stop getting carried away now, Shannon!"

Most of the relatives around the table just assumed Mom was just worked up and didn't take her seriously. I was the only one who knew she meant every word.

As the scene grew more familiar, I quietly got up from my seat and went to my room. I took my admission letter and hid it under the bed.

Back at the table, Mom pouted and grumbled, "So what if I burn his admission letter? Who told him to talk back to me? I'm upset, okay?"

Looking at the empty envelope, I came up with an idea.

I slipped the IOU Mom's loan-shark boss had repeatedly reminded her to keep safe for him inside the envelope.

The amount was over 1.7 million dollars.

If that got burned, Mom would probably get burned alive by the ruthless Mr. Abel Jarrell right along with it.

By the time I returned to the dining table, Mom was already red-eyed with fury. She pointed right at me and yelled, "Are you even listening to me, Frank? Bring me the envelope yourself! Don't make me say it twice!"

Resigned, Aunt Tiffany nudged Dad to say something.

But instead, he said, "Just burn it. What's the big deal? Frank can reapply again next year. I don't want my sweetheart to be upset.

"We hardly ever all get together like this, and Shannon's having a good time now. What's wrong with burning one admission letter?"