Lahat ng Kabanata ng Their Rejection and My Goodbye: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

Staring at the grand yet alienating house, I hesitated on where to begin packing.My possessions weren't overwhelming; they were scarce, ghosts of what once was.Whatever caught Derek's eye became his by default. I wasn't allowed to even lay a finger on them.I lingered in the cavernous living room. Cruelly, not a single item there belonged to me.They had forced me to give up my bedroom to Derek, and my study place too.Even the storage room, my final refuge, fell when he whined about needing space for orphanage relics he couldn't part with.I balked, but he weaponized pity. "Mom, Dad, I've been tossed aside my whole life. Not like Samuel, who's got the silver spoon. If he says no, don't push him."That sealed it. Suddenly, I was the villain.They huffed, "Samuel, we've spoiled you rotten. Can't you share it with Derek? So stingy over a junk room!"Confused and hurt, I pushed back. "But that's the last spot left. Where do I sleep?"Vernon kicked me in the butt. "Talking smac

Post-escape from home, my dwindling cash secured a dingy apartment.Not fancy, it was much better than the damp basement, and I was free of constant barbs.Right after I settled, Vernon's call buzzed. "Where the hell did you vanish to? Olivia says you bolted. Looks like you don't know your limitations. Get home now. Derek's cake awaits!"I laughed weakly, "No need. I'm done."I hung up, and his predictable tirade was spared.I stared blankly at the ceiling, imagining their party. Derek's cake must be expensive, a modest slice eclipsing my net worth. His exclusivity bred entitlement.He scored extravagance for minor wins. Since he appeared in the house, I had never eaten cakes again.Last month, I splurged on a budget crumb from a corner shop for my fading self-celebration.Derek spied it, erupted in tears, and ratted to our parents."It's my birthday, and this flavor's not your jam anyway," I explained.Vernon snatched my cake, hurled it to the ground, and pulverized it under

I went to my best and only friend, Simone Kendall.Simone lost his parents young and grew up with his grandma. She loved him, and though they weren't rich, he had it better than me.Before Derek came into my life, I had it good and helped Simone when I could.When kids at school bullied him for being poor, I stood up for him. When he almost dropped out because he couldn't afford tuition, I gave him nearly all my allowance to keep him in school.Over time, we became inseparable.I never expected anything from him, but Simone was the type to repay kindness. When my life fell apart, he always had my back and tried to help.When he opened the door and saw my sorry state, he pulled me inside. "What happened, man? Did Derek mess with you again? He knows you're sick and running out of time. Why won't he leave you alone?"I sighed, trying to play it off. "It's fine. I don't have much time left. Let him do what he wants."Simone patted my shoulder, upset. "You're too soft on him. You ne

Vernon's eyes blazed with anger.Morgan and Olivia rushed over, confronting Derek. "You said you were bringing Samuel cake. You even had your dad pull strings to find his address."Derek blinked. "Yeah, I brought him the cake."Thinking they were just worried about him, he slapped his forehead. "I waited for Samuel to eat the cake, so I got held up. My bad for not calling to let you know."Vernon slapped him across the face. "You're still lying? If it weren't for you, Samuel might still have a chance."Derek, shaken by Vernon's rage, tried to stay calm. "What are you talking about, Dad? Is this about something Samuel said? Some misunderstanding?"He pouted, putting on his pitiful act. "I know he hates me, but I didn't think he'd frame me like this."His tears started, but Vernon shoved the video in his face.Derek stepped back, nervous. "It's not what it looks like, I swear."His voice trailed off as guilt took his words.Morgan grabbed his collar. "We treated you like our ow