Chapter 3

Blake didn't hesitate.

"Don't you dare try to use my mom to pressure me!"

"Your parents are always working out of town, so poor they can't even come home for years at a time. Do you honestly think they could afford to send you an allowance?"

"I thought you'd be grateful like a dog for freeloading at my house, but I never expected you to be so ungrateful!"

My parents' work was highly specialized, and hardly anyone knew what they did.

But that didn't mean my family was poor!

In fact, ever since I could remember, Aunt Sarah's family had been benefiting from my family's generosity.

What right did he have to think I was taking advantage of his family?

Blake's words made everyone dislike me even more.

"Some people are just poor and dramatic! They can't even manage to be a good leech!"

"Exactly! They kindly provide him food and shelter, but he freeloads, picks out the best food, and even makes Blake so malnourished, it's disgusting!"

"I hate poor relatives like him the most. No ability but thick-skinned, like a disgusting bloodsucking tick you can't shake off!"

"Blake, you're just too kind. You should keep your distance from shameless vampires like Alex, don't let him tarnish your reputation as a rich heir!"

Their words, one after another, praised Blake to the skies while demeaning me completely.

Blake's lips curved into an undeniable smirk as he basked in the compliments.

"If only certain shameless poor people were half as sensible as you all!"

Then, he looked at me, and condescendingly offered.

"Alright, alright, I'll forgive you this time, seeing as you're poor and have never had anything good to eat!"

"Now, stop making a scene with your luggage and come home with me!"

I chuckled lightly, my voice cold.

"No thanks. From now on, I'm staying at school!"

With that, I ignored Blake, calmly made my bed, and settled into the dorm room.

I thought my refusal would bring me some peace.

But the next day after school, Aunt Sarah suddenly showed up.

She waited downstairs by the academic building, walked straight towards me through the bustling crowd, and spoke with a worried expression.

"Alex, I saw the video online. Blake was being foolish, and I've already talked to him."

"It's your senior year, a crucial time. Who will take care of you if you live at school?"

"Come on, come home with me. Don't let this affect your studies and health."

Looking at the genuine concern in Aunt Sarah's eyes, for a moment, I couldn't tell if she was truly worried about me or just about that fifteen thousand dollar allowance.

If she genuinely cared, why had she never told Blake that my mom paid fifteen thousand dollars a month, allowing Blake to humiliate me endlessly?

I looked at Aunt Sarah, my voice calm.

"No need, Aunt Sarah. I'm doing just fine at school."

My refusal instantly annoyed Blake.

"Alex, don't be so ungrateful! My mom came personally to ask you back, what more do you want?"

"Do you expect our whole family to get on our knees and beg you to stay at our house?"

His voice was sharp and loud.

It immediately drew everyone's attention.

In an instant, everyone started shouting at me.

"Alex, you're so ungrateful! Your aunt is being the bigger person, personally inviting you back, and you're still putting on airs?"

"Exactly! You were the one who was rude first, and now that they're overlooking your mistakes, why are you still playing the victim?"

"The poorer you are, the more you cling to your pride! Do you really think you're some rich heir?"

Knowing the situation was gaining traction, Jake even pulled out his phone and started a live stream, pointing it at me.

"Everyone, look! The freeloading cousin who's been all over the trending topics these past two days is causing trouble again!"

"His aunt is worried about him living alone at school affecting his health and studies, so she specially came to school to invite him home. But not only is he ungrateful for her kindness, he's putting on a show and refusing to go back!"

"He's probably trying to act like a victim to gain sympathy and get people to beg him to live for free!"

With Jake's exaggerated commentary, the live stream's chat was flooded with insults.

"Poor people just love to play the victim while still trying to grab benefits, acting all high and mighty as if that hides their greedy, disgusting nature!"

"Why even bother with such a freeloading relative? Let him die out in the streets!"

"I hate these poor relatives the most. My dad went bankrupt because of his freeloading relatives. These bloodsucking relatives should just drop dead!"

Facing the public's curses, I solemnly explained.

"I wasn't living for free at my aunt's house. My mom paid for my living expenses."

Hearing this, the students present scoffed.

"How ridiculous! With your family's situation, can they even afford living expenses?"

"Exactly! Look how shabbily he's dressed. His mom probably just collects garbage, and pays for his living expenses with a pile of junk every month!"

"That meager amount wouldn't even buy a pair of socks for Blake, the rich heir! How can you even say that with a straight face?"

The surrounding students burst into laughter.

The live stream chat was also plastered with messages calling me a clown.

Blake scoffed, his voice dripping with condescension.

"Still talking about living expenses? How much could your parents, who are too poor to even afford a train ticket home, possibly give you? A hundred? Two hundred?"

I looked at him, enunciating each word. "Fifteen thousand."

"Fifteen thousand dollars a month for living expenses."