Chapter 3

I sat in my office, my thoughts drifting far away.

In elementary school, every summer and winter break, Eric loved to go out and play basketball like crazy. By the time school started, his homework would be untouched.

He was terrified of being scolded by the teacher, so he'd try to pass my homework off as his.

My parents always had an excuse: my grades were good, , so even if I missed an assignment, the teacher would likely let it slide.

Eric was different. If he didn't do his homework, he'd be scolded in front of the class.

A boy's pride, they argued, was everything.

So, for the sake of Eric's pride, my efforts could be casually erased.

From then on, every holiday, I knew better than to argue and wrote two sets of homework.

In high school, Eric started dating. He'd flamboyantly chase the prettiest girls, get into dramatic fights, and expertly schmooze with all his teachers

Although his grades weren't good, he was outgoing and naturally had many friends.

From childhood to adulthood, all his whims were always covered for him. He always had a safety net.

While I, on the other hand, had to live carefully, weighing every step.

After college, he met Aurora at a music festival outside of school. They played in a temporary band at a local bar with live music.

For two months, while I was shuttling between various part-time jobs to earn tuition, they were wildly indulging their youth on stage.

I originally thought that after graduating from college, I would save enough money to completely escape my dysfunctional family.

Until that night, Eric came home very late, reeking of alcohol.

My parents got up in the middle of the night, cooking him porridge and taking off his clothes.

The whole family revolved around him.

But Eric, in his drunken state, uttered a sentence that shocked everyone.

He was going to be a father.

During that time, the entire house was frighteningly silent. My parents were flustered by the sudden news.

I was busy working part-time during the holidays to save for tuition.

The most carefree person in the whole family was surprisingly Eric.

He seemed completely oblivious to the change his identity was about to undergo.

To cover up the scandal, my parents made him stay at home, confined indoors.

On the other side, my family and the Sinclairs had already discussed the marriage. After the baby was born, a paternity test would be done, and then the wedding would be held.

Everything had been agreed upon. The Sinclairs were forced to accept the marriage out of necessity.

If this scandal were to be exposed, the Sinclair family's reputation would be ruined, potentially even affecting their company's stock.

The night before the wedding, I took a four-hour train ride home.

But the next day, Eric had vanished.

The house was left with only baby Lily in her swaddling clothes and the furious-looking Sinclair family.

Aurora's face was grim. My parents stood awkwardly, then their eyes slowly shifted to me.

Mom seemed to grasp a lifeline.

"We have another son! He's never even dated! Consider it our apology!"

Dad immediately chimed in, "That's right! Adam! Hurry! Your brother is gone, now you have to step in!"

I stood there, stunned, my mind not yet processing what was happening.

My parents already had their hands on me, pulling each of my arms, ready to drag me into the dressing room to change into a suit.

I struggled desperately, my heart freezing to the core.

Anger and disbelief intertwined within me.

My first twenty years had been spent living in Eric's shadow, and now my latter half of life would also be sacrificed for him.

Resentment filled my heart, and my nose burned.

That was the first time I truly broke down. I argued loudly, shaking off the hands that held me captive.

"Why?! Why do I have to be responsible for his recklessness?! This is his business, it has nothing to do with me!"

Dad, hearing that, slapped me hard across the face.

"That's your brother!"