Following the others into the Park Residence, I clutched my small bag tightly. Ahead of me stood a young man around my age.
As our eyes met, his turned red.
“Is… is this my brother?” he asked, voice trembling.
I glanced at Dex with a slight frown. “He’s also part of the Park Family?”
The moment I spoke, his eyes grew even redder, and he lowered his head like he’d just suffered the deepest injustice.
Pauleen immediately snapped at me, “You just got here and already want to kick Dex out?”
“I’m telling you—he’s my brother. You? You’re nothing. Don’t think for a second I want to acknowledge you as part of this family.”
Her tone was sharp and biting.
Heidi added, “Dex is our brother, a real Park. We accept him. Stop causing trouble.”
I raised a brow, puzzled. “And what exactly did I say?”
Their faces stiffened. They realized they’d overreacted and quickly fell silent.
Kester stepped in with a forced calm. “Dex is our child too. No one’s driving him away.” He then turned to me. “You’ve just returned to the family. There’s still so much you need to learn. Dex is excellent—he’s already helping me manage the company.”
His words weren’t subtle—they painted me as the ignorant outsider, while Dex was clearly favored, paraded as the rightful son.
I wasn’t particularly interested in the Park Family’s affairs. I knew their business had been declining steadily for years, with Dex at the helm of many losses. Still, I wanted to see how they’d treat me—the real son—now that I was back.
Well, now I know.
Once inside, Lisha looked at me awkwardly. “Kingston… we’re short on space. You can stay in the servant’s room on the first floor for now.”
I glanced up at the second floor. There were plenty of rooms. “There’s no room upstairs?” I asked, feigning curiosity.
Dex quickly jumped in. “It’s my fault. I converted the two spare rooms upstairs into a piano room and a study. I’ll move to the servant’s room. You can take mine!”
The moment he spoke, the whole family’s mood shifted. They looked at me like I was being unreasonable.
The two sisters glared.
“There really aren’t any extra rooms,” Kester declared. “Kingston, stay in the servant’s room.”
The room was tiny—a bed, a table, and not much else.
Later that evening, after Kester and Lisha Park had left the house for some business, I stayed in my room. Outside, I could hear the sound of cutlery—the sisters and Dex were already having dinner.
No one called for me.
I lay on the small bed, listening to them eat, a faint smirk forming on my lips.
When the parents returned and saw only three people at the table, Kester frowned. “Where’s Kingston?”
The three exchanged glances.
“If he won’t come out, do we have to beg him?” Heidi scoffed.
“Right! Honestly, we should just send food to his room. He probably eats like a peasant—it would ruin our appetite watching him,” Pauleen added mockingly.
Their voices were loud enough that I heard every word.
It was clear. To them, Dex was their brother. I was the intruder.
“Nonsense!” Lisha snapped. “Kingston is your brother too! How could you treat him this way?”
“Mom, it’s my fault you’re upset,” Dex said softly, his tone full of self-blame. “I’ll go bring Kingston out myself.”
Even now, he played the part of the wounded, considerate son. I frowned in my room, the act starting to sicken me.
But in the eyes of Kester and Lisha, his “concern” only made them feel more guilt—towards him.
“Dex,” Kester said gently, “you’ve always been our child. Kingston may be back now, but that doesn’t change how we feel about you.”
I felt the last traces of warmth fade from my heart.
Soon, Lisha knocked on my door. “Kingston, everyone’s eating. Why don’t you join us? Are you angry with us?”
Her words made me scoff inwardly. I’d been deliberately excluded, yet now they were making it seem like I was being petty.
“Dinner, is it?” I said simply, rising from the bed.
I walked to the dining table. As soon as I arrived, Heidi and Pauleen stood up abruptly.
“We’re done,” they said coldly and disappeared upstairs.
Dex looked at me with feigned concern. “Kingston, don’t blame the girls. They’re just worried about me. I know you don’t want me here. I’ll pack up and leave right away.”
He added, “Please… be kinder to them in the future.”
At that moment, the two sisters burst from their rooms, eyes full of fury.
“I knew you were trying to force Dex out!” Pauleen snapped. “As long as I’m here, you’ll never succeed!”
I looked at them coldly, then gave a faint smile.
“Did I ever say he should leave?”
