"The middle-school placement, the study-abroad slot—you gave them all to Lucas. He even hit someone with his car once, and I took the fall for him."
"In college, to 'avoid suspicion,' you kept me on $300 a month while Lucas got $30,000 in spending money."
"Have I ever disobeyed? Am I still not obedient enough?"
Mom went silent. For once, she had nothing to say.
I didn't wait for an answer. I went back to my room, threw my things into a bag, and headed for the door.
"What's this supposed to mean? You're running away from home?"
Her voice finally came—not an apology. Just anger.
I didn't respond. I just walked out.
"Alex Gilbert!" she shouted after me. "It's not like we banned you from being CEO—why are you making this into such a huge deal?"
"You ungrateful child! If you walk out tonight, don't ever come back!"
"I'll pretend I never gave birth to you!"
Words like that—I'd heard them my whole life. But she was still blood. I always thought if I just tried harder, I'd finally earn their approval. That's why I never left before.
This time, I slammed the door behind me.
The wind outside was freezing. Still warmer than home.
I didn't have a car. Dad said it would "look bad"—people might think he spoiled me. Mom said Lucas didn't have a license yet, and she didn't want him to feel left out.
I'd barely reached the curb when a car pulled up beside me. The window rolled down, revealing a pretty face with a hint of baby fat.
Serena.
I got in. "Why are you here? Weren't we meeting at the usual spot?"
"The whole city knows you had a falling-out with your family," she said.
I froze, then pulled out my phone.
Gilbert Group removes biological son, appoints nephew as successor—grand celebration banquet tomorrow, all elite circles invited!
Breaking: Alex Gilbert cuts ties with parents, now left with nothing!
News traveled fast.
My parents had texted too.
Without the Gilbert family, who's even going to recognize your face? Think carefully.
Stop being so selfish. Come back and apologize to your father and Lucas. Say something nice, and they'll forgive you. Otherwise, when you starve out there, no one's coming to collect your body.
I didn't reply. Just smiled.
Starve to death? No one would recognize me?
We'd see about that.
Serena and I walked into a lounge bar. I looked up—and my breath caught.
Lily Galloway. My childhood sweetheart. My ex.
She was curled up in Lucas's arms, a sweet smile on her lips.
"Alex." Serena's voice dripped with disdain. "You're such an idiot. Those two got together while they were studying abroad."
My mind went blank.
A long time ago, my parents had actually told me to give Serena to Lucas. Their reasoning? They were afraid people would say they'd used their power to force Lily into marrying me.
I refused. My father beat me a hundred times for it. I still wouldn't budge.
Then Lily went abroad. Four years of long-distance. I paid for everything—tuition, living expenses, all of it.
The day she came back, she asked to break up.
She cried. "Alex, the pressure from your parents is too much. They'll never accept us. We should end it. I don't want to hold you back."
