Chapter 2

My pent-up irritation rose to the surface, and I said coldly to Oliver, "I was just about to tell you that I'll either rent out a place for them or send them over to your place. Pick one."

Oliver was momentarily silent, and even his breathing seemed to grow faint.

After a long while, he finally asked, "Owen, are you angry? Are you still holding a grudge over those past incidents?"

I couldn't help but ask in return, "Are you talking about the time I wanted to stay at your place for a few days back when I was 25 and fresh out of a job, which ended with our parents mocking me and causing me to leave the very same day?

"Or are you talking about when I got into an accident at 28 years old and called you for help? You and our parents sent me 500 dollars and never showed up to visit.

"Or perhaps you're talking about when I got married at 30 years old and invited all of you, only for nobody to turn up? I only received the most half-hearted well wishes from you, yet I learned from a post on your timeline that you'd all gone out to have fun."

Oliver sighed. "Sure enough, you're holding a grudge against us. Still, my parents worked hard to raise you. They—"

I cut him off. "Oliver, since childhood, they've always only been your parents. You may not even have realized, but more than once when talking to me, you've referred to them as 'my parents' and not 'our parents'."

Oliver immediately became slightly panicked. "T-That was a slip of the tongue. Why are you being so nitpicky?"

Instead of replying to his question, I continued, "They're also my parents who gave birth to and raised me, after all. Therefore, they have the right to come over and stay for a few days, but it'll be inconvenient if they intend to stay here permanently. Our family needs personal space as well.

"If you're unwilling to let them stay with you, I can rent them a place nearby instead."

Oliver reflexively argued, "I'm not like you."

Then, he realized he'd been out of line and laughed awkwardly before adding, "I'll pick them up in a few days."

I laughed mockingly and replied, "No, you're certainly not like me."

After hanging up, I involuntarily recalled my childhood.

Oliver and I were twins, but he was born slightly thinner than me, so he got sick easily.

Just like the squeaky wheel gets the grease, he quickly received our parents' undivided attention.

In order for them to better take care of him, I was sent to my hometown to live with my grandmother, Dorothy Anderson, as soon as I was born.

It wasn't until Grandma passed away due to illness when I was in junior high that I started living with Mom and Dad.

The moment I arrived at their place, Mom made sure I knew how things worked in the household.

"It's because I gave you all the nutrients while you were in the womb that Oliver has always been frail and sickly. That's why we'll focus on giving him love from now on, and you should do the same."

And yet, I could see Oliver's rosy complexion, straight posture, and overall liveliness.

There was also the family photo I'd inadvertently glimpsed, in which a toddler Oliver looked positively chubby.

Evidently, Mom and Dad had already successfully nursed him back to full health.

Still, innocent and naive as I was back then, I agreed at first that Oliver had been suffering since birth, while Grandma had taken good care of me despite the lack of parental presence in my life.

As such, it was perfectly normal for Mom and Dad to favor him a little more.

The first time I noticed the difference between Oliver and me was during junior high.

There was quite a bit of distance between our school and home. Oliver hadn't wanted to live in the dormitories, so Mom and Dad simply rented a place near school for him.

I hadn't wanted to live in the dormitories either. I'd only just moved back to the city from my rural hometown, so I hadn't really adjusted to my new life in the city at that time.

However, our parents were displeased when they heard that I didn't want to live in the dormitories.

Mom twisted my ear and scolded angrily, "You good-for-nothing! Where do you want to live if not in the dormitories? Were you hoping for a place outside like Ollie? Do you have any idea how expensive rent is?"

I retorted resentfully, "Why does Oliver get to stay outside but not me? It's not fair!"