Chapter 4

Justin went to the same middle school as me. Armed with Robert's limitless allowance, he bought a gang of loyal thugs.

He ordered them to trap me in the bathrooms, beating and kicking me until I couldn't move.

Once my face was bloody and bruised, he would pour foul, dirty mop water over my head. "Just disinfecting you, bro! Hahaha!"

Whenever he felt like it, he would have his lackeys pin my arms and legs to the floor.

Wearing tailored blazers and polished leather shoes, he would grind his heel into my face. "Acting all pathetic like your dead mother, trying to make Dad pity you. She took up my mom's rightful spot for years, and now she's finally dead. Why don't you go die too? Don't you miss her? Go kill yourself!"

I never let anyone disrespect my mother. I fought back violently.

And he loved seeing me struggle helplessly.

"You're pathetic, Ethan. You know what you look like squirming on the ground? A maggot in the gutter."

It happened dozens of times. I would run, and when cornered, I fought until I was beaten to a pulp.

The teachers turned a blind eye to my bruises. Robert listened exclusively to Brenda, convinced I was framing his angelic, well-mannered son.

He accused me of being a delinquent picking fights on the streets, beating me even harder when I got home.

That living hell lasted until I tested into an elite boarding high school with a strict zero-tolerance policy on bullying.

I moved into the dorms, completely out of his reach.

Spoiled and unchecked, Justin found another victim at his own school to torment.

Eventually, that boy committed suicide. To dodge the scandal and the police, Robert drained half his savings to ship Justin overseas.

Could a monster like that ever save someone?

From that day on, Chloe began "working late" almost every night.

She had no idea that every time she stayed out, my dear brother sent me pictures on Snapchat.

Candlelit dinners Chloe cooked for him, designer clothes she bought for him...

In all our years together, the only thing she had ever cooked for me was that single bowl of birthday noodles. She claimed she didn't know how to cook.

Even though those noodles were overly salty and weirdly sweet, I had eaten every last bite with gratitude.

Because she was the only person who had ever celebrated my birthday. When you've lived in the dark for so long, you cling desperately to the faintest spark of light.

So even though her heart had strayed, I desperately clung to hope. I couldn't bear to let her go.

Just catching a glimpse of her smile was enough to keep me going.

Until I saw their company's new launch event.

Justin stood on stage under the dazzling spotlights as the lead game designer.

The revolutionary game they unveiled was mine.

It was the project I had poured my heart and soul into since college.

Only Chloe knew my passwords.

Just like my father, she helped Justin rob me of everything I loved.

Driven to madness, I stormed into their corporate office, barged up to Justin, and seized him by the collar. "Stealing my game?! You're nothing but a petty thief! Don't push me!"

The commotion immediately drew a crowd of employees.

"What's happening? Is Justin's masterpiece stolen?"

"No way, he has an Ivy League degree. That guy just looks like a house husband."

"Probably just jealous. Men get insecure so easily."

Justin leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Looks like nobody believes you. And how is it stealing? I just told Chloe I was stressed about my debut project, and she handed it to me on a silver platter as a birthday gift."

He tilted his head with mocking curiosity. "What did you get for your birthday? Oh, right, Chloe was with me in Iceland. The hotel you booked was wonderfully romantic. We both loved it."

"Your face right now is priceless. Just like when you were a kid." His grin was venomous.

Having heard about the scene, Chloe rushed over.

She instantly pried my hands off him. "Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough? You're acting like a raving lunatic! Don't make me call security to throw you out!"

She fussed over Justin with deep concern, checking him for scratches.

Looking at Justin's triumphant smirk, and then at the bleeding scratch Chloe's nails had left on my hand, I shook my head slowly. "I hope you can handle the consequences."