Chapter 2

Inside the magnificent five-star hotel.

Robert, the guy who had been bullying me at school, spitting on me, and dumping trash over my head, was now surrounded by a crowd like a prince.

He had a look of pure bliss on his face. "Thank you, Mom and Dad, for planning this amazing birthday party for me. I’m so lucky to have you guys."

Beside him, a woman dressed in a gorgeous designer gown looked at him with adoring eyes. "Robert, having you in our lives is our real blessing."

"You have no idea how fat and stupid my own son is. His grades are always at the bottom of the class."

"I'm too embarrassed to even admit he’s mine. Honestly, I wish you were my biological son."

Next to her, a dignified man in a custom three-piece suit patted Robert on the shoulder, his face full of pride.

"Robert is indeed the best! He’s smart, and he looks so handsome."

"Study hard, Robert. Once you graduate, I’ll hand the management of my company over to you."

This wealthy, elite couple was none other than my biological parents.

But just this morning, my parents had looked sallow and tired, wearing worn-out clothes from Goodwill.

They had looked at me with helpless expressions, saying the family couldn't afford the $500 fee for my SAT prep class, telling me to figure it out myself.

Yet in the blink of an eye, they were gifting a million-dollar watch and a limited-edition sports car to the "underprivileged" student they sponsored.

Meanwhile, their own flesh and blood was nothing but an embarrassment in their eyes.

Staring at the Snapchat story on my phone screen, I felt a freezing chill run through my body. My chest tightened until it was hard to breathe.

Earlier, when Mr. Davis mentioned that Robert was being sponsored by some wealthy philanthropists, I had been so envious.

I thought about how struggling our family was.

If only I could get sponsored too, it would take the burden off my parents, and I would finally have a quiet place to study.

But I never imagined that the wealthy benefactors sponsoring my bully were my own biological parents...

Tears streamed down my face. I suddenly remembered that today was my birthday, too.

In the morning, my parents told me they had to work overtime tonight and would be home very late.

I never expected their "overtime" was celebrating Robert’s birthday, while I, their real son, was completely forgotten.

I dragged my exhausted body to the sofa and waited. It wasn't until the clock ticked past 2:00 AM that my parents finally unlocked the front door.

Their glamorous party outfits were gone. They had changed back into their faded, tattered clothes, and their faces wore the familiar masks of exhaustion.

But the strong smell of expensive champagne on their breath was impossible to hide.

Seeing me sitting on the sofa, my mother immediately put on a guilt-ridden face.

"Ethan, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to miss your birthday."

"My boss kept me late for overtime. But look... I brought you something incredibly delicious!"

She spoke like she was presenting a treasure, pulling two plastic takeout boxes from her bag. Inside was a smashed slice of gourmet cake and some cold seafood.

I recognized them instantly. They were the leftovers from Robert's birthday banquet.

I suddenly remembered all those times Robert boasted on Snapchat about eating at high-end steakhouses, and how my parents would always happen to bring home "gourmet treats" for me later that night.

It turned out that the "luxury meals" I cherished were just the scraps left behind by my bully.

My throat tightened, and my eyes stung. I choked out, "No thanks, I'm not hungry."

My mother frowned in confusion. "Ethan, this is high-end food you’ve never even tasted before! Are you sure you don’t want any?"

I couldn't blame her for being confused. In the past, if I saw food like this, my eyes would have lit up, and I would have eagerly shared it with them.

But now, I just shook my head.

My mother’s face immediately fell into an expression of deep hurt.

"Ethan, are you still blaming us for missing your birthday?"

"We work ourselves to the bone every single day just to give you a better life!"

She sounded so earnest, but it only made me want to laugh.

To give me a better life?

They clearly already had a luxurious life, but it wasn't for me. It was for Robert.

While their biological son couldn't even afford a high school prep course.

Seeing me smile, my parents assumed I had listened to their lecture and accepted their apology. They both let out a sigh of relief.

Then, they mysteriously pulled a small gift box from their bag.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart. You’re another year older."

My mom opened the box. Inside was a long, handwritten card.

My dad cleared his throat and began to read aloud with dramatic emotion.

"To Ethan: Remember what we always teach you. A man must be self-reliant. Only in desperate situations can you learn to survive, and only through adversity can you make your comeback..."

Listening to his voice, and comparing it to how they treated Robert, I felt nothing but mockery.

As they read the card, the pain in my chest became unbearable, and tears flowed freely down my cheeks.

My parents took my tears as a sign of being deeply moved and wrapped me in a tight embrace.