Chapter 5

"So you're saying Alex Miller stole your engagement?"

Victor's face clouded with false sorrow. "I never imagined my nephew could be so twisted."

"He already had a fiancée, but he chose to go after someone wealthier."

I was tied up in the old storage room.

Powerless, I listened to their slander.

Rhea's face was grim. "You're saying he only cared for me for the money?"

Victor nodded, continuing his lies.

"Who knows if he genuinely cared for you, or just waited for you to die so he could inherit everything?"

"He's been rotten since childhood, always trying to steal my things."

"Even my spot in college — if I hadn't fought tooth and nail to keep it, he would've stolen it long ago."

I whimpered in helpless indignation.

That college spot was mine. I was the one who got in. Victor impersonated me.

I tried to sneak away to attend college, but he and my father broke my leg.

My father chimed in from the side.

"This son of mine has been unfilial since childhood. He beat his grandparents, and even I, his father, got hit by him plenty. When he was a kid, I wouldn't buy him candy, fearing he'd get cavities. He went into the kitchen and grabbed a carving knife to chase me."

When Victor was a kid, he loved candy, but his teeth couldn't handle it. When my father, his older brother, stopped him from eating more, he grabbed a carving knife and chased him all over the yard.

Beating his grandparents, harming people, torturing small animals – those were all things Victor did, but the Millers blamed them on me.

And Victor, he was always blameless.

Victor pulled up his sleeve, revealing a large bruise, his expression mournful.

"My body had just barely recovered when I tried to come and reveal the truth to you, but he found out."

"He was afraid of losing this good life, so he beat me like this."

Rhea slammed her hand on the table, rising to her feet.

"He lied to me to this extent!"

She looked at Victor, a hint of pity in her eyes.

"You've suffered all these years. I need to give you an explanation."

She pulled out her phone and called mine.

But it wouldn't connect. My father had it, and he'd turned it off early, fearing exposure.

Rhea then opened my SnapChat and sent me a voice message.

"Alex Miller, if you don't come out and explain yourself, I'm divorcing you!"

My heart sank like a stone.

—She didn't believe me.

Victor shook his head, his eyes red.

"It's okay, I'm used to it."

With that one sentence, he painted himself as someone who had suffered for years.

"You probably won't reach him. He's terrified of me, terrified of you getting to him. He's probably long gone by now."

Rhea didn't answer. She called Mr. and Mrs. Hayes.

The call was on speaker, and I clearly heard my in-laws' shocked anger.

"He's been lying to us all this time! We treated him like a son-in-law!"

"We even thought about letting him inherit our fortune, but it turns out he was scheming for it from the start!"

"We've blamed Victor all these years, Rhea! You must compensate Victor well! And when Alex gets back, I'm going to break his legs…"

My three years with Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, from strangers to their heartfelt affection.

I thought they had come to see me as their own son.

When Rhea was still in a coma, I secretly vowed to care for them in their old age, to treat them like my own parents… but it turned out I had never truly entered their hearts.

I lost my last bit of strength to struggle.

My gaze was empty as I looked at the cobweb-filled storage room.

It seemed that, from beginning to end, I was still alone.

Victor left, a satisfied smile on his face, the check clutched in his hand, without even cashing it.

The storage room door reopened.

Victor patted my face, malicious glee in his eyes.

"They're here to pick you up. Don't blame your uncle, blame yourself for holding onto what was his!"