Chapter 4 The Declaration of Severance

"Please. Stop playing dumb. How could you not know about Lawrence's world tour through 18 countries? I know you want to go, but look at what you've done. Do you really think you're in any position to ask?"

Something felt off.

"Does Lawrence get a world tour for his birthday every year?"

My mother looked uncomfortable. "Well, you haven't been back with us for very long. Otherwise, you would've gotten one too."

I said nothing.

They must have forgotten that I'd been back for five years.

Five whole years, and I'd never even gotten a birthday cake.

Every year, when Lawrence celebrated his birthday, they couldn't even remember that it was mine too.

When I found out Lawrence was going on a trip, I'd begged my parents to take me somewhere too.

They'd finally agreed, only to send me straight into a war zone.

My memories of my previous life came back to me. I quickened my pace as I packed.

"I told you we're not taking you! What are you rushing around for?"

Celine impatiently reached for me, but Lawrence hurried to stop her.

"It's okay, Celine. If Calvin wants to come along, let him. I don't mind. Besides, he's the one who really belongs with you…"

His eyes reddened, but he managed a defiant smile.

Celine's expression immediately softened with sympathy. "Don't be scared."

She gently pulled him into her arms. "You'll always be my only brother."

Lawrence shook his head, his eyes still red. "Celine, you don't have to comfort me…"

"I mean it." Celine looked him straight in the eye. "Calvin will never amount to anything. When we get back, Mom and Dad will give you half their shares in the company."

Tears of delight spilled down Lawrence's cheeks. He suddenly threw his arms around Celine.

Her body stiffened. For a moment, I caught a look in her eyes that she couldn't quite conceal.

"Since Lawrence has agreed, you can come along. But don't you dare go near him. I'll be with him the entire time. Understand?"

Celine snapped coldly.

I nodded and went back to packing.

Of course I wouldn't go near him. We weren't even going to the same place.

…

Ten days later, the Beaumonts were ready to leave, but I was nowhere to be found.

"Isn't he still in bed? How can we not find him?" My father was furious.

The housekeeper looked uncomfortable. "Actually, Calvin hasn't been home for ten days."

"What?" My mother frowned. "How is that possible?"

She was the first to push open my bedroom door.

Everything was neat and orderly, but all my belongings were gone. A thin layer of dust covered the desk. The room looked as though it hadn't been lived in for days.

"That brat! He must be throwing a tantrum because we scolded him the other day!" My father was beside himself with anger. "He's the one at fault, so why is he throwing a tantrum?"

My mother shook her head in frustration. "We gave him money, and we even agreed to take him on the trip. What more could he possibly want?"

Celine sneered. "He's probably gone missing on purpose, hoping we'll come looking for him. How childish."

"That ungrateful brat!" My mother turned to leave. "Fine! Let him do whatever he wants. Does he really think we'd put our trip on hold because of him?"

The four of them turned away without a second thought.

But Celine accidentally knocked against the desk. A stack of books wobbled and fell to the floor. A sheet of paper and an envelope slipped out.

Frowning, she picked them up. The bold title "Letter of Disownment" on the paper immediately caught her eye.

She hurriedly opened the envelope.

Inside was a detailed record of every expense the Beaumont family had covered for me over the past five years, along with a total of $7,862.41.

"Mrs. Beaumont!" Someone from the finance department came rushing in. "The $5,000 you instructed us to transfer to Calvin has been returned to the account it came from."

"What did you say?"