Chapter 3

3

When I walked through the front doors of our villa, I saw my mother and Harrison sitting across from each other, enjoying an intimate candlelit dinner.

"Caleb, you are home! Come meet your Uncle Harrison. I did not get the chance to introduce you properly yesterday."

I glared at him with undisguised contempt.

"Like father, like son. Both of you dress like gentlemen, yet you spend your days seducing other men's women."

My mother slammed her cutlery down, her face flushed with fury. She marched over and struck me across the chest.

"How dare you speak to your elder like that! When did you become so utterly disrespectful?"

I let out a harsh scoff. "Disrespectful? I must have learned it from you. Pimping out my fiancée to entertain his son is the real definition of trashy behavior."

Smack!

A sharp slap landed across my cheek, making my ears ring.

"Damian is my son too! You two share the same blood! What is wrong with asking your fiancée to keep him company while he settles in? Why do you have to be so petty?"

Tears welled in her eyes as she leaned against Harrison's shoulder, weeping dramatically. "Do you truly see your own mother as such a vile person?"

Harrison gently rubbed her back, putting on a soothing tone.

"Caleb, this is all my fault. Please do not let our presence ruin your relationship with your mother. Blame me if you must."

My mother quickly pressed her fingers against his lips. "No, Harrison, this is not on you. It is my fault for failing to raise him right."

Just then, the front door clicked open. Damian rushed in and hurried to my mother's side with an expression of deep concern.

"Mom, what happened? Why are you crying?"

My mother looked up and instantly spotted the bruise on the corner of his mouth.

"Damian! You are bleeding! Were you in a fight? Does it hurt, sweetie?"

Damian cast a timid, wounded glance in my direction.

"Mom, my little brother hates me. But he has had your love all to himself for over twenty years. I was just so envious."

He lowered his head, feigning vulnerability. "I only wanted a tiny piece of a mother's warmth. Was that too greedy of me?"

Tears poured down my mother's cheeks. She spun around and shoved me backward with raw fury.

"Is this how you treat your own brother? I carried him for nine months just like I carried you! Why are you so full of malice toward him?"

I let out a hollow, broken laugh. I raised my trembling hand and pointed to the dried blood on my own lip.

"Mom, my injury is twice as bad as his. You have been looking at me this whole time, yet you never even noticed. Your entire world revolves around them now. What are Dad and I to you?"

She froze, her eyes finally dropping to the cut on my face.

"I… Caleb, I am sorry. I was just overwhelmed and did not notice…"

"Save your breath. I know Dad and I mean nothing to you anymore. Keep your fake sympathy to yourself!"

I turned around, bolted up the stairs, and slammed my bedroom door shut.