Chapter 4

"Ethan, I hope you can understand my position."

"Both you and Tyler are my boys. I love you both equally. I don't favor anyone."

"Get out," I said coldly.

I didn't want to waste my breath on her lies.

In her heart, Tyler was her only beloved son. I was just a shadow. But my mother made no move to leave, looking as if she had something difficult to say.

"Spit it out."

She only ever came to me when she wanted something, and I figured it was for Tyler again.

"Ethan, I need a favor."

"Tyler's startup failed. He wants to start over, but he doesn't have the capital."

"I see how well you're doing. Besides, he is your brother. Can you give him a million dollars...?"

"The door is right there. Don't let it hit you on the way out."

I gave her an eviction notice, refusing to discuss this nonsense.

Right then, Chloe walked in, supporting a limping Tyler.

She must have overheard our conversation.

"Ethan, how can you speak to your mother like that? She's just worried about Tyler!"

As soon as she spoke, my mother rushed over to them.

The three of them stood together, looking exactly like a happy family.

From beginning to end, I was the only outsider.

"If she's so worried about him, she can go to the bank and take out a loan."

"Ethan, he is your brother..."

"My brother? Ha! What a joke."

"If he really saw me as his brother, would he have crawled into bed with my fiancee?"

"And my own mother always takes his side."

"Tell me, how much more do you expect me to tolerate?"

Silence fell over the room. No one dared to speak.

This house was suffocating. Just as I turned to leave, my mother yelled in frustration.

"Wasn't the wedding thing just a misunderstanding?"

"They are innocent! Why can't you just let it go instead of stabbing everyone in the heart?"

I turned back and looked coldly at the three of them. The urge to argue died in my throat.

One mouth couldn't outtalk three hypocrites.

Finally, Tyler, trying to play the good guy, stepped in to defuse the situation.

"Ethan, I'm sorry."

"That night, I was completely drunk. I made a terrible mistake."

"I am begging for your forgiveness. Can you please forgive me?"

"This is your home. If anyone should leave, it's us."

Seeing Tyler's seemingly sincere apology, both my mother and Chloe looked at him with immense pity.

When I remained silent, refusing his apology, Chloe's face hardened.

"Tyler has already apologized to you personally. What more do you want?"

"Nothing. I just want both of them to disappear from my sight right now."

Hearing my words, Tyler lowered his head, looking incredibly hurt.

My mother glared at me defensively.

Before she could speak, Tyler turned and ran out of the house in tears.

But he ran too fast and slipped, tumbling down the stairs.

"Tyler!"

"Tyler!"

Chloe screamed, then turned on me with venom in her eyes.

"Ethan, why did you have to push him? You are worse than a monster!"

"We don't care if you forgive us anymore. We don't need your forgiveness!"

"Get out! I don't want to see your face!"

My mother didn't say a word, she just kept glaring at me with cold eyes.

I had told myself to let go and walk away, but being stabbed by them again still brought a wave of sharp pain to my chest.

My own wife and my own mother would always choose another man.

At this very moment, I finally realized that whether it was love or family, I didn't want any of it anymore.

"Chloe, we're done."