Chapter 1

My father is paralyzed, trapped in a hospital bed.

His life's work―an AI model designed to conquer terminal illness―was stolen and published under someone else's name.

The humiliation was too much for him. He suffered a massive stroke.

Now, he can't speak. He can't even hold a pen to write.

I swore to find the thief. My girlfriend, Scarlett, cried as she promised to help me uncover the truth.

But tonight, at a fancy dinner, her "golden boy" bragged about being recruited into a prestigious national lab using that very model.

Scarlett immediately grabbed my arm, begging me not to be impulsive.

"Liam just wants a good career, Leo. Don't ruin him," she whispered.

Liam Knightley gave me a disdainful smirk.

"The old man was about to retire anyway. I'm just putting his wasted research to good use," he said.

My eyes turned bloodshot. I lunged at him, wanting him to pay for my father's ruined life.

But Scarlett tripped me. I crashed to the floor.

She threw a ten-million-dollar check at my face.

"This is for your dad's medical bills. Don't be ungrateful," she hissed.

"Liam is a genius destined for greatness. You're just a broke student. You need to learn your place."

I slowly tore the check into pieces.

This money could never buy the future of the Thorne family in the academic world!

1.

"Are you insane? That's ten million dollars!"

Liam kicked the chair next to me and pointed a finger at my nose.

At the table, his so-called friends looked at me with pure disgust, as if I were literal trash.

"It's just research from some cripple. If it weren't for Scarlett, we wouldn't give you a single cent!"

Liam acted like this was all perfectly normal. His face was full of arrogant entitlement.

"Leo, don't say I didn't warn you. I'm joining a top-tier national lab. What do you have to fight me with?"

"Your dad's pathetic model can only shine in my hands. Do you get it now?"

Scarlett gave Liam a playful nudge before turning to me. Her eyes were full of the usual impatience.

"Liam is telling the truth. Stop being so stubborn."

"It's just a computer model. I'll figure out a way to pay for your dad's treatment. Just stop making a scene, okay?"

I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw ached.

The hatred in my eyes was almost physical.

"Making a scene? I don't want your money. I want my father's AI model back, and I want a public apology!"

Scarlett flinched at my gaze, but she quickly straightened her back.

"Be reasonable! Do you know how hard Liam worked for this opportunity?"

"Your dad is already like that. Do you want to ruin Liam's future too? Can't you think about me? About our future?"

I suddenly swung my hand and slapped Scarlett across the face.

The sharp sound echoed, making the entire room go silent.

"Think about you? You're all just predators climbing over someone else's blood and bones!"

That slap set everyone off.

They swarmed me, shoving me to the ground.

Liam stepped on the back of my hand, grinding his heel down with all his weight.

He looked down at me while pulling Scarlett into his arms. He gently blew on her red, swollen cheek.

"I told you, you and him aren't from the same world."

"He's just an ungrateful dog. You give him respect, and he bites your hand."

Scarlett touched her face, her eyes filled with a fury that could drown me.

"Leo, you really want to destroy yourself? You want to throw away years of our relationship like this?"

Because I loved her, I put up with her rich-girl attitude. I endured her family's insults.

But I couldn't tolerate her pushing my father into hell just for Liam's career.

My father's dignity and hard work were priceless!

I struggled to crawl up, but several guys pinned me down.

Liam grabbed an unopened bottle of red wine from the table. He raised it over my head.

"If you touch Scarlett again, I'll make sure your dad never wakes up in that hospital!"