Chapter 1

On the day of our college graduation photos, my parents stood behind the camera, happily taking picture after picture of my girlfriend, Stella Daniels, and my best friend, Roman Hopkins.

In every shot, the two of them stood shoulder to shoulder while my parents looked on with proud smiles.

But I was their son. I was the one who'd spent four years as Stella's boyfriend.

Dressed in my graduation gown, I stood alone in the corner, waiting...

My mother never called me over even once.

After the photos were done, Roman admitted he still hadn't found a job.

Stella immediately forgot all about me. She walked over to him, her voice so gentle it practically melted. "Roman, why don't you come work at the company I'm joining? We'll be close to each other, and I can look after you."

My father nodded in agreement. "Send me your resume. I'll see what I can do. Your first job is too important to settle for less."

Then my sister, Peyton Fisher, walked over carrying a bottle of iced water. She handed it to Roman herself. "Don't worry, Roman. My company is hiring too. I'll put in a referral for you. You don't have to face the interviews alone."

Chapter 1

It wasn't until they noticed my hand still hanging awkwardly in the air that everyone finally remembered I was standing there.

"Hayden Fisher, I don't think we need to worry about you."

My mother, Vivian Fisher, nodded while frowning in agreement. "You picked such an ordinary major. You'll be lucky if anyone hires you at all, so don't act like you're in a position to be picky."

Stella Daniels paused while scrolling through the graduation photos on her phone. She frowned. "Hayden's blocking Roman in this one. Delete it."

Out of all 380 photos taken that day, it was the only one in which I appeared.

"Roman looks so handsome in these. Let's not ruin the album with this one."

I stood there, my fists slowly clenching at my sides.

So it wasn't that they hadn't seen me. They had.

They just thought I didn't belong in the picture.

At that moment, every compromise I'd made over the years suddenly felt pathetic.

To my parents and my sister, Roman Hopkins had always been the better son. Even my own girlfriend reserved all her tenderness for him.

If that's how it was, then I'd take the hint. I'd accept the job, which meant never coming back.

...

After deleting the photo, Stella handed her phone to Roman so he could pick out a few more favorites.

Just then, a notification popped up. It was the result of one of his job interviews. He had been rejected.

Roman's eyes instantly turned red. "Am I really that incompetent? I can't even land a job."

Stella stepped closer, gently patting his shoulder. "It's not you."

Her voice was so soft it almost melted. "They're the ones who don't know talent when they see it. Roman, don't say that. It breaks my heart seeing you like this. How about I take you out for a drink tonight? It'll help you forget about all this."

Before she'd even finished speaking, my mother had already wrapped him in a hug.

"What nonsense are you talking about? If Hayden couldn't find a job, I'd believe it.

"But you? You've excelled at everything since you were a kid. There's no way someone like you would have trouble getting hired."

Then she glanced at me. She didn't have to say anything else. The meaning couldn't have been clearer.

"That company's the one with bad judgment. We'll keep looking. There's no need to rush."

I hadn't said a word or done anything. Yet somehow, I'd become the measuring stick they used to prove how outstanding Roman was.

Growing up, I'd wondered more than once if maybe the hospital had switched us at birth.

More than once, I'd wondered if I was really the neighbor's son, and Roman was my parents' real child.

Unfortunately, the DNA test said otherwise.

Later, I convinced myself the problem had to be me. Maybe I wasn't likable enough or good at saying the right things. Maybe I just wasn't exceptional enough to deserve their love.

So I pushed myself harder than anyone else.

Only after I finally achieved something did I realize the truth. Their favoritism toward Roman had become a habit they couldn't break. Ignoring my feelings was simply part of who they were.

After all, no matter how badly they hurt me, I always found my own way back.

I stood there watching Stella murmur soft words of comfort to Roman.

At the same time, my father, Owen Fisher, pulled out his phone and called the hiring manager at St. Aurelius Group.

When he hung up, he smiled confidently.

"Leave it to me. Your first job is important. We can't afford to settle. At the very least, you should start somewhere like St. Aurelius."

Roman always had someone ready to catch him. The slightest setback was enough to send everyone rushing to his side, eager to shoulder his disappointment for him.

In freshman year, Roman failed one of his core classes.

My mother immediately used her connections to hire an upperclassman to tutor him for $300 a session. She prepaid twenty lessons without blinking.

That same semester, I scored a 95 on one of my own major exams. I excitedly sent my grades to my mother, hoping I'd finally hear her say she was proud of me.

Instead, all I got was blame.

"You said you studied so hard. So why did you still lose five points?"

After that, I never sent another report card home.

In junior year, I came down with acute gastritis. The pain was so intense that I collapsed outside the science building and couldn't stand back up.

I called Stella and asked her to take me to the hospital.

Silence filled the line.

Then she sighed softly. "Roman has a presentation tomorrow. He's really nervous, and he wants me to help him practice.

"Hayden, you've always been independent. You can call an Uber yourself, can't you?"

When my driver arrived, one look at my face was enough for him to get out of the car. He helped me all the way into the emergency room.

A complete stranger could see I needed someone to lean on, but my girlfriend believed I could handle it alone.

Maybe I'd spent too many years pretending I was okay. Eventually, they'd all convinced themselves I didn't feel pain or sadness.

A long while later, my mother casually asked about my job search.

I had barely opened my mouth when my father waved dismissively.

"With that useless major? What kind of good job is he expecting? He should just take whatever he can get."

My sister, Peyton Fisher, glanced at me before wrinkling her nose. "Exactly. Just get a job already. Otherwise, you'll be freeloading off Mom and Dad after graduation."

Even Stella chimed in, "If you really can't find anything, I could probably ask whether my company has an opening at the front desk."

She said it so naturally, as though she'd genuinely given my future some thought.

I lowered my eyes and opened the offer letter that had been sitting on my phone for the past week.

Northwest Deep Space Materials Institute.

Outstanding salary, world-class research opportunities, and located nearly 2,000 miles from home.

For seven days, I hadn't accepted it, not because I couldn't decide but because I was waiting.

I was waiting for my mother to ask me where I wanted to build my future or for my father to make one phone call for me, the way he'd done for Roman.

I was waiting for Stella to remember the promise we'd made—to stay in the same city after graduation.

But with only six hours left before the offer expired, not one of them had asked.

They were too busy paving Roman's future, comforting him, and feeling sorry for him.

Fine.

I pressed "Accept".

A message appeared almost immediately.

[Hayden Fisher, welcome to the Northwest Deep Space Materials Institute!]

In that moment, the first sincere recognition of my abilities came from nearly 2,000 miles away.

Chapter 2

Early the next morning, my mother took us to the mall. She said Roman was about to start at a major corporation and needed a proper wardrobe.

A custom-built PC that cost nearly $14,000.

A $2,000 tailored suit.

A $700 pair of leather dress shoes.

Every time Roman glanced at a price tag, my mother just smiled and told him not to worry about the cost.

"You're about to start at a prestigious company. Of course, you need to look the part. A man's first job is important. You can't let people look down on you."

My father stood at the register, swiping his card without hesitation.

Both of Peyton's hands were loaded with shopping bags, and she was already asking Roman if he wanted a watch to go with everything.

Stella crouched down in front of him and gently pressed the heel of his new shoes. "This part's a little stiff. Let's exchange them. I don't want your feet getting rubbed raw on your first day."

Roman glanced in my direction, a smug smile flickering across his face. "They're too expensive. Besides, I remember Hayden wanted this pair, too. I'll just keep these."

Stella looked up at him, then personally slipped the expensive shoes back onto his feet. "Someone who can't even find a job has no business wearing shoes this nice. Roman, you're about to start at St. Aurelius Group. You should be as comfortable as possible."

I stood a few steps away, watching the tenderness on her face as she lowered her head.

For four years of college, I'd walked countless miles beside her in shoes that never fit properly.

When my heels blistered and bled, she'd only laughed and called me a baby. It wasn't that she didn't know ill-fitting shoes could hurt. She just didn't think it mattered when they were on my feet.

As we passed a luggage store, I stopped.

I'd been using the same suitcase for ten years. The corners were cracked, wrapped over and over with clear packing tape, and its wheels had worn down so unevenly that it wobbled every time I pulled it.

I picked out the cheapest one in the store.

$129.

Instead of taking it straight to the register, I turned to my father.

"Can I get this one?"

Maybe, deep down, I was still clinging to a tiny sliver of hope. They'd just spent tens of thousands of dollars buying Roman a brand-new computer, suit, and shoes. Surely asking for a $100 suitcase wasn't too much.

My father frowned. "Don't you already have a suitcase?"

"That one's ten years old. It's falling apart."

"So what if it's old? It still works. Your mother and I work hard for our money. Is this really how casually you waste it?"

My mother walked over as well. "Roman landed a great job. Of course, he needs quality things."

Her eyes swept dismissively over the suitcase in my hands. "You're different. You'll be lucky just to find a job. Stop comparing yourself to Roman.

"If you end up working as a receptionist at some small company, who's going to care what kind of suitcase you carry? Just make do."

Peyton let out a laugh beside her. "He's just jealous. He saw Roman buying new things and couldn't stand it, so now he wants them too."

My grip tightened around the suitcase handle. Without a word, I put it back on the shelf.

Roman stood outside the store in his $2,000 suit, surrounded by shopping bags.

The moment Stella noticed the look on his face, she hurried over. "What's wrong? Are you tired?"

Roman shook his head. "I bought so much. Do you think Hayden's upset?"

Stella instinctively glanced at me, a faint frown creasing her brow. "He hasn't earned a dime, and he still hasn't even found a job. What does he have to be upset about?"

I lowered my head and looked at the faded backpack slung over my shoulder.

It wasn't that my family couldn't afford it. And appearances clearly mattered, just never when it came to me.

That evening, my mother reserved a private room at a restaurant to celebrate our graduation.

A huge cake sat in the center of the room.

The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the words written across the top: "Congratulations, Roman, on Your Graduation! Wishing You a Bright Future!"

Roman looked embarrassed. "Mrs. Fisher, did you forget to put Hayden's name on it?"

My mother didn't even look up. "He doesn't even like cake. It doesn't matter."

The truth was… I did like cake. She'd just never bought one for me.

During dinner, my father handed Roman a recommendation letter he'd already prepared.

"I've spoken with them. You can report to St. Aurelius Group next week. It's close to home, and the benefits are excellent."

Roman's eyes reddened. "You've all been so good to me. I don't even know how to repay you."

My mother took his hand. "Silly boy. Why would you talk about repaying us? We've long since considered you one of our own."

I stared at their clasped hands. For a moment, I felt as though I were sitting at the wrong table.

The warmth between them was blinding. My presence only seemed to spoil the picture.

When it came time to pay, my mother covered Roman's meal as part of the family bill.

Then she sent a payment request to our family group chat.

$136.50.

Addressed to me alone.

"Hayden, you've graduated now. You can't keep spending your parents' money. From now on, you'll pay your share whenever we eat out. And if you're living at home, you'll split the rent and utilities too."

I looked at the extra fifty cents on the total.

Without saying a word, I quietly tapped "Pay."

Chapter 3

When we got home, my mother stopped me just as I was about to go to my room.

"Pack up your things. Roman's moving in tomorrow. He starts at St. Aurelius Group next week, and his place is too far from the office. He'll be staying with us from now on."

I followed her gaze.

Brand-new bedding had been laid out in the hallway, along with a newly delivered gaming desk. Everything was in Roman's favorite black-and-gray color scheme.

"Where's he staying?"

"Your room, of course. We don't have any spare bedrooms."

I froze. "What about me?"

My mother paused for a moment before pointing toward the storage room by the front door.

"Clean out the storage room. There's enough space for a folding bed. Roman's a guest, so you'll just have to make do."

It was crammed with old furniture. Half the window was blocked by a cabinet, and stubborn patches of mold stained the corner walls.

When I was little, whenever Roman stayed over, I would give him my bed and sleep in that room instead.

Back then, my mother would pat my head and say, "Hayden, you're such a thoughtful boy."

I'd always believed that if I were thoughtful just one more time, maybe I'd earn a little more of my mother's love.

It wasn't until much later that I realized the reward for always being understanding was that I'd be expected to give in forever.

"I'm not staying there."

It was the first time I'd ever refused.

My mother's face darkened. "Roman's going to be busy with work. Of course, he needs proper rest. You don't even have a job yet. What difference does it make where you sleep?"

I lowered my voice. "That's my room."

My mother looked at me as though I'd just told a joke.

"What do you mean by 'your room'? Nonsense. Everything in this house was given to you by your father and me. What's wrong with asking you to give up one room?"

I looked at her. Then I asked quietly, "What if I found a better job than Roman did?"

She frowned. "Hayden, it's one thing to be unsuccessful. It's another to lie just because you're trying to outdo someone."

I'd wanted to tell her I'd already been accepted by the Northwest Institute for Deep Space Materials.

The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed them. There was no point. They didn't want to know the truth. They only wanted proof that I'd never measure up to Roman.

Finally, my father lost his patience. "If you don't want the storage room, then get out. No one's stopping you."

I looked at them and nodded.

"Fine."

They assumed I was throwing a tantrum.

My mother didn't even try to stop me. She only reminded me to clear out my room before I left so Roman could move in the next day.

I found a nearby youth hostel—a top bunk in a six-bed dorm for $30 a night.

Every time the person in the bunk next to mine turned over, the entire metal frame shook.

Yet the moment I lay down, I felt more at peace than I ever had at home. At least this bed belonged to me. I'd paid for it.

The next day, I went back to pack the rest of my things.

When I opened my jewelry box, my grandmother's turquoise pendant was gone. She'd been the only person in that family who had ever truly loved me.

When I was little and burning with a high fever, my mother had been accompanying Roman to his advanced math class.

It was my grandmother who carried me all the way to the hospital on her back.

She used to say, "Our Hayden isn't afraid of pain. He just doesn't have anyone to comfort him, so he doesn't dare cry."

After she passed away, that pendant became the only keepsake she left me.

Holding the empty jewelry box, I walked into the living room.

"Mom, where's my turquoise pendant?"

My mother paused in the middle of changing the bedsheets. "It's just an old pendant. How should I know where you left it?"

The moment she finished speaking, a new photo popped up in the family group chat.

My father had arranged a dinner with some friends and was introducing Roman to the executives at St. Aurelius Group.

In the photo, Roman was wearing the brand-new suit they'd bought yesterday. Around his neck hung my turquoise pendant.

I held the photo up in front of my mother.

Seeing that she couldn't deny it anymore, she didn't even bother trying.

"Roman was meeting some executives today. The suit looked a little plain, so I let him wear it. You never wear it anyway. What's the point of letting it collect dust?"

"Grandma left that to me."

My mother's expression turned cold. "I'm your mother. Do I need your permission to take one of your things?

"Besides, your grandmother cared about Roman, too. If she knew you were making this much fuss over that pendant, she'd think you were being petty."

"She wouldn't."

Tears fell without warning. Even my voice began to shake.

"Grandma was the only person in this family who never forced me to give my things to Roman."

I turned toward the door, intending to go straight to the restaurant.

My mother immediately stepped in front of me. "The executives are still there. If you go now, are you trying to ruin Roman's career?"

Just then, the front door opened. Roman was back. His hand instinctively went to the pendant hanging from his neck, panic flashing across his face.

"Hayden, are you looking for this?" He removed the pendant and held it out in his palm. "I didn't know your grandmother left it to you. Mrs. Fisher told me it was a gift to celebrate my new job."

I walked toward him and held out my hand. "Give it back."

There were still two steps between us, but he suddenly loosened his fingers. The turquoise pendant hit the tile floor with a sharp crack, splitting cleanly in two.

Roman took a step back.

Tears spilled from his eyes before I could say another word.

"I'm sorry. You suddenly rushed at me. You startled me..."

Chapter 4

I crouched down and gathered the broken pieces of the pendant into my palm. The jagged edge sliced my finger, and blood seeped into the fine cracks.

On my eighteenth birthday, Grandma had fastened that pendant around my neck herself. Her hands were already so weak that it took her several tries before she managed to close the clasp.

"Hayden, you're always giving everything away to everyone else. When I'm gone, promise me you'll keep the things you love for yourself. Don't keep letting people walk all over you."

I'd squeezed her hand and smiled as if it were nothing. "As long as you're here, Grandma, I'll never have to feel that way."

But later, Grandma was gone.

And with her, the only person in that family who saw me as a boy who could hurt, who could cry, who deserved to be cherished.

I hadn't even managed to protect the last thing she'd left me.

The only love in that house that had ever truly belonged to me... they took it from me, gave it to Roman, and shattered it right in front of my eyes.

"Hayden, I swear I didn't mean to." Roman covered his face and burst into tears.

My mother immediately pulled him into her arms. "Don't cry. None of this is your fault."

Then she glared at me. "If he hadn't rushed at you, why would your hand have slipped?"

But I had never even touched Roman.

Peyton said impatiently, "Just get it repaired. It's not like it was worth that much anyway."

Stella pulled out a tissue and gently wiped away Roman's tears. Her movements were so careful, as though she were afraid of hurting him. "Don't cry. This wasn't your fault. Hayden's gotten way too hot-headed lately. Don't let it bother you."

No one noticed the blood still running down my hand.

Or maybe they did.

Compared to Roman's tears, though, it simply didn't matter.

I closed my fingers around the broken pendant.

Whenever I'd been wronged before, I'd always fought desperately to explain myself. I believed that if I could just tell them exactly what had happened, surely they'd understand me at least once.

But in that moment, I suddenly didn't have the strength to explain anymore.

I slipped the broken pendant into my pocket and turned to leave.

My mother shouted after me, "If you walk out that door, don't bother coming back! You're a grown man! Who could ever put up with that rotten temper of yours?"

I never looked back.

She didn't know I had never planned on coming back in the first place.

I returned to the hostel.

I was due to report to the Northwest Institute for Deep Space Materials the day after tomorrow. I packed the last few pieces of clothing I had left.

At one o'clock in the morning, Stella sent me a text.

[Roman cried all night. Are you happy now?]

I stared at the message for a long time.

I started typing an explanation. Then I deleted every word.

She wouldn't care, just as she'd never cared why I'd left in the first place.

Roman's tears deserved an entire night of comfort. My pain earned me nothing more than being called hot-headed.

I blocked every one of them. Then I dragged my battered suitcase toward the train station.

As I went through security, one of the wheels caught on the edge of the stairs.

A stranger helped lift it free.

"Traveling alone, young man? Nobody from your family came to see you off?"

I smiled, feeling strangely at peace.

"They have someone more important to take care of."

The train pulled away from the platform.

Looking down at the broken pendant resting in my palm, I finally let the tears fall in a place where no one knew my name.

It wasn't because I couldn't bear to leave them.

It was because I grieved for the boy who'd always believed that if he were just a little more understanding, someone would finally turn around and love him.

Before I powered off my phone, a few more messages came through.

They were still telling me to "be the bigger person," still demanding that I go back and apologize to Roman.

What they didn't know was that the boy, who had always been understanding and spent his whole life waiting for a single word of approval, was already gone.

And he was never coming back.