Chapter 2

If I remembered correctly, today was my 27th birthday.

Before I turned 22, I was the happiest heir in the world.

I had parents who loved and cherished me, treating me like the most precious person in their lives.

I had an older sister who, because of my poor health, had willingly abandoned the business studies she had pursued since childhood and switched to medicine instead.

And I had a fiancée whom my parents had supported financially since she was a child, a woman who had always had eyes only for me.

On my 22nd birthday, I sat alone at the enormous birthday party, eagerly waiting for the surprise they had prepared for me.

I called them countless times throughout the evening. In the end, all I received was the devastating news that my parents had died in a massive pileup.

On the day of their funeral, Fiona and Janet brought home a 19-year-old young man named Tyler. His parents had also died in the horrific accident.

I had barely had the chance to embrace the young man who shared my grief when Janet slapped me so hard that I crashed to the ground. She accused me of causing the chain-reaction accident, claiming it had happened because of the phone call I had made.

I tried to defend myself, but the two women who had once loved me more than anything refused to listen to a single word.

They did not care that I had injured my knees in my desperate rush to get there. Instead, they forced me to kneel before my parents' memorial and bow my head hundreds of times in front of Tyler.

They said I would have to spend the rest of my life atoning for my parents' deaths, as well as the deaths of Tyler's parents.

From that day on, Janet cut off every source of financial support I had.

Fiona stripped me of all my shares in the company. She let Tyler move into the room that had once been mine and showered him with all the love and affection she had once given me.

…

The vibration of my phone pulled me back to reality.

[Happy birthday to my grandson! I hope you stay happy forever! I learned the cartoon dance you and Xalia like! Are you happy?]

I stared at the video on my phone. An old man with a stern face was earnestly dancing in a mascot costume.

It felt as though a sharp blade had pierced my numb heart, leaving several gaping holes behind.

After retiring, my grandfather had been living in a nursing home overseas.

After my parents died, we were afraid another shock would be too much for him. So all these years, no matter how much Xalia and I suffered, we never dared tell him.

But at that moment, I could no longer hold myself together.

I called him back and, between sobs and broken words, told him everything I had been through.

I did not know how long I talked. Eventually, I fell quiet, still sniffling.

I was about to explain to my grandfather that I had only gotten so emotional because I was overwhelmed.

But all I heard from the other end of the phone was, "Don't be afraid, kiddo. I'm coming to take you home."

Before I could say anything else, the call ended.

…

Clutching Xalia's urn, I wandered aimlessly down the road.

I felt like a stray dog everyone despised.

Then, suddenly, everything went black. A group of people roughly blindfolded and gagged me before throwing me into a van.

I had no idea how long we drove. When the van finally stopped, several people dragged me out and slammed me hard onto the ground.

I used every ounce of strength I had to keep the urn cradled safely in my arms.

Then, in one swift motion, someone ripped the black cloth from my eyes.

The sight before me made me suck in a sharp breath. Tyler sat on Fiona's lap, dressed in expensive designer clothes, a frown on his face. Janet had rolled up her sleeves. Her expression was dark as she gripped a thick black leather whip.

When they saw me stumble to my knees before them, Fiona hurriedly patted Tyler on the back. "Good boy, Tyler. I brought this bastard here for you! Do whatever you want to him later. Don't hold back!"

Janet chimed in, "That's right, Tyler. Don't go easy on him. Your therapist said your anxiety is too severe right now. You need to let it all out properly if you want to feel better!"