Chapter 1

On Christmas Eve, the freezing wind bit through my thin delivery jacket. I was out rushing DoorDash orders to pay for my dad’s cancer treatments.

When I handed the custom bakery box to a customer around my age, he smirked and deliberately tilted it sideways. The cake slid and crashed against the inside of the box.

"Look what you did! Do you have any idea how much this custom cake cost? My mom ordered it specially for my birthday!"

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but then two familiar figures stepped into the marble foyer behind him.

My parents.

My dad, who always claimed we were drowning in medical debt, waved a dismissive hand with effortless wealth. "It’s just a cake, son. You're brilliant, and you deserve the world. Dad is transferring the deed of this penthouse to you as your birthday gift."

My mother, wearing a couture designer dress I'd only ever seen on celebrities, gently patted his hand. "Austin, sweetie, don't let this filthy trash ruin your special day. Mom bought you that Patek Philippe watch you wanted. Come on, don't be upset."

Austin picked up the smashed cake and hurled it straight at my chest. He gave me a mocking, knowing sneer.

"Merry Christmas, stray. Eat it off the floor like the dog you are."

I clutched the ruined box, completely paralyzed, when my phone chimed.

A one-star review.

A warning popped up on my DoorDash app: "One more low rating, and your account will be permanently deactivated."

Looking down at my frostbitten hands and worn-out sneakers with holes in the toes, my entire world turned to ice.

Because of Austin’s complaint, the platform deducted three hundred dollars from my earnings to cover the cake.

That was three whole days of driving in a blizzard.

Yet I couldn't even bring myself to care about the money.

The hallway of this luxury high-rise was so warm, but inside, I felt dead.

The door clicked open again. Austin tossed out a broken gold chain.

My chest seized. I recognized it instantly—it was the 14k gold necklace I had saved up for months to buy my mom for her birthday.

Austin crossed his arms and looked down at me from the doorway.

"My mom told me to toss this junk. But hey, looks like a dog like you is missing a collar. Matches your vibe. Bark for me, and maybe I’ll let you keep it."

When I stayed silent, his grin widened cruelly. "Pathetic bastard. Born to be dumped."

That did it.

Rage exploded in my chest. I balled my fists and lunged forward, but the heavy oak door slammed shut right in my face.

I couldn't just walk away. I pounded on the door, desperate to scream, desperate to make my parents look me in the eye.

Instead, heavy footsteps approached from behind. Two massive private security guards grabbed my shoulders.

"The owners inside are my parents!" I gasped, struggling against their grip. "You can't kick me out!"

The guard sneered, looking me up and down. "Kid, condos in this building start at ten million. Your whole outfit isn’t worth fifty bucks. Go dream somewhere else."

The guards laughed in my face. One pulled out a taser, pointing it at my chest. "Get lost before we drag you out."

Humiliated, I picked up the snapped gold chain from the floor and bolted into the freezing night.

The biting wind cut through my jacket like razors.

A few blocks down, an elderly woman collapsed on the icy sidewalk. To avoid hitting her with my beat-up scooter, I swerved hard and crashed into the snowbank.

The leftover cake spilled everywhere, smearing across my face.

I lay there in the slush, staring up at the dark sky and falling snow. Tears finally spilled over my cheeks.

My phone buzzed. It was the special ringtone I had set only for my parents so I would never miss their calls.

Mom’s voice sounded anxious over the line. "Leo? Why did it take you so long to pick up? I was terrified something happened to you! It’s all our fault... if your dad and I weren't so useless, you wouldn't have to deliver food on Christmas Eve. We're so sorry, baby."

I gripped the phone, a million questions screaming in my throat: "Why did you lie to me?"

But all that came out was a broken sob.

Then Dad started coughing weakly on speaker. "My good boy... Dad’s illness is dragging you down."

Normally, I would have rushed to comfort him, telling him not to worry, that I’d work harder.

Now, I couldn't say a single word.

Assuming I was exhausted, Dad softened his tone. "Take tomorrow off, son. It's Christmas. Let’s spend it together as a family."

Mom chimed in playfully, "I have a special surprise for you tomorrow."

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I choked out, "...Okay."

Passersby saw me lying in the snow and pulled out their phones. "Should we call 911?"

Hearing that, panic kicked in—I couldn't afford an ambulance bill. I scrambled to my feet.

"I'm fine! Don't call an ambulance!" I panted, pointing at the snowbank. "B-but she needs help."

Under a snow-covered hood was an elderly lady with silver hair, shivering and unable to stand.

"You're young, kid, that's why you can take a fall," a bystander warned. "An old lady like that? You're just a delivery guy. Don't get involved or you'll get sued."

Cars were sliding on the icy road as the blizzard intensified.

Looking at the helpless old woman lying alone in the cold, I saw myself.

Without hesitation, I helped her onto a dry bench beneath an awning and dialed 911, waiting by her side until the paramedics arrived.

By the time I dragged myself back to my rental room, it was four in the morning.

Standing before the cracked bathroom mirror, covered in cake and grime, I whispered to myself, "Happy birthday, Leo."

Today was my twenty-second birthday.

And my parents were showering a stranger with millions, while watching me starve.