At the thesis defense, Mom and Dad read out the list of students whose graduations would be delayed.
When I heard my name—Marcus Thornton—I froze.
"There must be a mistake. I have a patent. How could my graduation be delayed?"
Mom and Dad shot me a look, signaling me to sit down.
"The patent is Harrison's. Don't think you can exploit a loophole."
Everyone in the room stared at me, eyes burning like they couldn't wait to tear me apart.
After the delayed-graduation list went up on the official website, the whole school praised Mom and Dad as model teachers. They'd cultivated an outstanding graduate who'd lost both arms, and showed absolutely no mercy to their own good-for-nothing son.
Clutching the notice that had just ruined my future, I walked into their office.
"Son, Harrison is very pitiful. Graduating late is nothing for you. Can't you be considerate of Mom and Dad?"
Looking at those faces—faces that suddenly felt like strangers'—I finally understood.
They'd planned this three years ago.
1.
The year I got into Capital University for grad school, Mom and Dad—who'd always taken a hands-off approach to parenting me—knocked on my rented apartment door for the first time ever.
"Son, your re-exam results are out? I heard you got double first place at Capital University."
They weren't there to congratulate me. They were there to convince me to give up my spot and come back to our hometown with them.
"Son, your mom and I are getting old. All the connections we've built over a lifetime are here. After you finish at Capital University, you'll still have to come back anyway. You might as well come back now—we'll pave the way for you."
Looking at them, dusty from travel with graying temples, I believed their nonsense about paving the way.
I voluntarily gave up Capital University's excellent conditions and went back with them.
On the slow train home, Mom was on the phone with someone.
"Don't worry, it's settled. You'll definitely be able to enroll on time."
Three months into the new semester, Harrison Mason arrived late.
That's when I finally heard from other people what Mom and Dad's real purpose was.
"Director Thornton and his wife are too great. For that child with no arms to be able to enroll, they didn't hesitate to make their own son give up his spot at Capital University."
"That's Capital University—how is that possible? Who'd be stupid enough to sacrifice their own son's future for someone else?"
After hearing the gossip, I went to confront them. But they shut me down with a single flat sentence: "There's no such thing."
Unwilling to let it go, I went to the academic affairs office myself to check Harrison's admission score.
The teacher there told me Harrison's admission was a buy-one-get-one deal.
In order to let this student who'd lost both arms—disabled in body but strong in will—enroll, Mom and Dad had personally negotiated with the leadership. In the end, they agreed: as long as they could recruit an outstanding student with three patents, Harrison could enroll as a specially accommodated student.
After the truth came out, a suffocating sense of betrayal washed over me.
But it was too late. I'd already lost my spot at Capital University.
When they found out I'd gone to the academic affairs office, Dad flew into a rage.
"Marcus Thornton, your wings are hard now, aren't they? I already told you it was a rumor, but you insisted on checking."
"Now Harrison is going to drop out—do you know how hard it's been for him to get here after losing both arms?"
I met his bloodshot eyes. "His hardship has nothing to do with me. Why should I sacrifice my future to pave the way for him?"
Mom tried to smooth things over. "Son, there's no such thing. Listen to your dad—apologize to Harrison properly, and we'll consider this settled."
I stared at her in disbelief. "Why should I apologize? I didn't do anything wrong."
I stormed out and slammed the door.
I thought my anger would bring them to their senses.
