Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The car was suffocatingly quiet.

Every word of that phone call had reached my parents in the back seat.

"Nolan... sweetie... you were just speaking out of anger, right?"

My mother leaned forward, her voice trembling.

"I know you feel wronged, and your cousin was completely out of line tonight.

But you can't just ruin his business.

He is your first cousin, the only boy carrying on the Hayes family name!"

When I didn't respond, she pressed on.

"Besides, Wayne is my only brother.

As his older sister, I can't let you destroy his livelihood.

If you do this, how will our families ever face each other again?

How am I supposed to hold my head high around my own family?

Nolan, please, just let it go for my sake.

Let's pretend nothing happened and keep giving him the formula, okay?"

I frowned and looked at her through the rearview mirror.

"Mom, you saw how they treated me tonight. They clearly intended to exploit my work for free.

Sure, he's my cousin, but did he remember that when he broke his promise and stabbed me in the back?

I spent months pulling all-nighters in the lab perfecting that formula.

Did you really think a high school dropout like Dustin managed to land all those commercial clients on his own?

Those corporate buyers only signed contracts because of my scientific credentials and the verified test results I provided. Dustin just showed up to sign the paperwork and claimed all the credit.

And after all that, he turns around and tells everyone I did nothing?

Mom, your favoritism toward your brother's family needs to stop."

"Nolan! That's not what I meant!"

My mother defended herself in tears.

"You're my son, of course I love you more than anyone!"

"Then act like it," I said calmly.

"You keep saying I'm an educated researcher with a bright future, while Dustin only has that farm and no other prospects.

So in your eyes, I'm the one who should constantly sacrifice and roll over for him?"

"Mom," I continued as I drove through the empty streets.

"Have you thought about what happens if I let this slide?

If I keep handing over upgraded formulas for free, his farm will get bigger, and he will rake in millions.

And then what? Next year, will he toss me eight grand? Ten grand?

Or will he decide that since I already have a steady salary, he doesn't need to pay me a single dime?

My scientific research and the industry connections I've built are worth millions on their own.

I shared them with him solely because he was family and because you valued that relationship.

I'm not a charity, Mom. I entered a business partnership based on mutual trust."

"They enjoyed all the benefits of Nolan's work without feeling a shred of gratitude," my father intervened coldly, his tone firm.

"They actually believe they did our son a favor by tossing him table scraps."

I nodded.

"Exactly. Greed knows no bounds.

If he can break a fifty-fifty agreement today and offer four grand, he'll betray his business partners tomorrow.

Mom, when his recklessness catches up to him, what will you do then?"

Hearing my words, my mother's face went pale.

"No... Nolan, you worked so hard to get your master's degree and build your career.

I won't let them drag your future down."

Hearing her say that finally lifted a weight off my chest.

My father took a deep breath and squeezed my mother's trembling hand.

He looked up at the rearview mirror.

"Nolan, what's your plan now?

After cutting ties like this, things around here are going to get messy."

"Dad, Mom," I replied steadily.

"I've already tied up most of my loose ends here.

I'm moving abroad, and all the paperwork is completed.

In a few days, as soon as I finish the final transition, we're leaving together."

"Moving abroad?!" my mother gasped.

"What?!" my father echoed in shock.