Chapter 4

Her words made me sway, and I leaned against the cabinet to steady myself:

"So, to you, I'm not part of this family, but just an extra? You see me as a burden, so you want to throw me away like trash?"

My mom finally spoke: "You finally get it. You bring a child back, and we suddenly have two more mouths to feed. We really can't afford it.

"We could rely on the tenant for some income, but if we drive them away for you, we’d have nothing to live on."

I looked at my mom with a bitter smile:

"You call me a burden? Wasn't it you and Andrew Taylor who begged me to help him raise the child?

"I lent you the second-hand apartment I bought for my retirement, while I rented a place to raise my brother's child for five years.

"And now, just because I quit my job to bring the child home, to live in my own room, you want to kick me out. Do you think that’s fair to me?"

My sister-in-law's eyes widened in anger: "What did you say? This child is Andrew's?!

"No way, that's impossible; you must be lying!"

She grabbed my mom's arm: "Mom, what’s really going on?!"

"I lent you the villa I bought for my retirement, and I went out to rent a place for my brother's son, whom I've been looking after for five years.

"Now, just because I resigned and returned home with the child to stay in my own room, you want to throw me out. Do you really think that's fair?"

My sister-in-law's eyes were wide with anger: "What did you say? This child belongs to Andrew Taylor?!

"No, that can't be true, you must be lying!"

She grabbed my mom's arm: "Mom, what's happening here?"

My mom shot me a fierce glare and tried to calm her:

"Emily is just upset about being thrown out and is talking nonsense. How could this child be Andrew's?"

I watched them with a cold smile and said:

"He is Andrew's son with his ex-girlfriend. If you don't believe me, you can do a paternity test."

My dad stormed over with a grim face and slapped me:

"You just can't keep quiet, can you? Always causing trouble! Do you think you have a say in this family? Get out!"

I was stunned, frozen in place. He had never hit me before. He had always stood up for me. But this time, he took the opposite side.

My brother couldn't hold back anymore and revealed his true feelings:

"Can you stop harping on about this? You've helped me with the child for five years, do you plan to keep bringing it up forever? You're really making me feel ashamed.

"I've started a new family, what am I supposed to do? Why are you so selfish? Can't you consider me a bit? You're into non-marital philosophy, so what's wrong with helping me out with the kid?

"Besides, if I raised the child with Olivia, who knows what people would say about her. Since everyone thinks Charlie is your illegitimate son, just keep raising him. Your reputation is already bad, why drag someone else down?"

I poured my heart into raising my brother's child, giving both money and effort, and this is how it ends!

He's worried about what people might say about Olivia, but not about tarnishing his unmarried sister's reputation.

He just doesn't care about me.

I looked at my brother coldly and said:

"If you're so considerate, why haven't you paid a dime in child support for five years?

"When you asked me to help raise the child, did you think about the problems I'd face as an unmarried woman raising a kid?

"You're the irresponsible one, yet I'm the one cleaning up after you, and you have the nerve to blame me for not considering you?"

Five years ago, my brother knelt before me:

"Sis, my ex-girlfriend threatened that if I don't raise this child, she'll accuse me of a crime.

"Since you're not interested in marriage, raising my son means you won't have to worry about your own retirement."

My parents begged too:

"He's your only brother. Can you bear to see him tied down so early? Anyway, you're not interested in marriage and won't have kids, so just help him out!"

I didn't want to get married, let alone raise a kid. But seeing my brother kneel and his forehead bruised, I softened:

"I can help raise him for now, but once you can, I'll return him to you."

My brother agreed immediately and even hugged me, saying I was the best sister in the world.

Who would've thought he'd get married without taking the kid?

I watched him and his wife live happily, unwilling to cause trouble, and ended up raising the kid for five years.

I gave my all to raise Charlie, never asking my brother for a cent.

I ignored all the gossip and bore all the malice in silence.

I gave money and effort, and in the end, this is what I got.

What does family mean?

Is it about holding you close when useful and tossing you away like trash when not?

Can that still be called family? I suddenly couldn't understand anymore.

After I spoke, my brother complained:

"You helped me raise Charlie for five years, and I've thanked you countless times. What more do you want? Should I light incense and worship you every day?

"Olivia just had a miscarriage and needs rest. This house isn't yours anymore. You barging in scared her, and we're being polite by not kicking you out immediately.

"Also, you quit and have a kid, but we don't have extra money for unrelated people. Pack your things and find a place to stay, or you'll be sleeping on the streets soon."

To my brother, whatever I did for him was my duty, and a simple thank you was enough for my five years of hardship.

Now that I've quit and am dependent, I'm a shameless burden.

My mom chimed in:

"You claim to be into non-marital philosophy, which is already unfilial. Honestly, by not marrying or having kids, what's your purpose? Did we raise you just so you could bring a kid home to freeload?

"Given you helped your brother with his son, your dad and I didn't say anything, treating you as family. But now you're overstepping by wanting to move in, so don't blame us for being ruthless in kicking you out."

My sister-in-law, pale, leaned against Andrew and said:

"Whether Charlie is Andrew's son doesn't matter to me. Since you've raised him all these years, he's your son.

"I hope you have the sense to take him and leave by cab tonight, so you don't upset me anymore."

My dad turned off the TV, looked at me coldly, and said:

"You're over thirty, yet still so troublesome. Since you dared to quit, you should bear the consequences, not us. There's no free lunch in the world."

Their words numbed my once-pained heart.

I looked at them, disappointed, and said:

"Are you all determined to force me out of this house today?"

They answered in unison: "Yes!"

They were resolute and determined to sever ties with me.

It seemed there was no room for reconciliation.

I gave up completely:

"Fine, since you're so determined, I have no attachments.

"From today on, we part ways. If we meet again, we're strangers!"

I finally saw clearly.

A mere "resignation" revealed this cold-blooded family.

They didn't deserve my years of sacrifice, nor did they deserve the hundred million I initially intended to share with them.

With that, I took Charlie's hand and left without looking back.

Chapter 5

After leaving home, Charlie and I wandered aimlessly on the street.

Charlie seemed to sense my emotions, shook my hand, and looked up at me:

"Mom, don't be sad. You still have me."

Seeing Charlie so considerate warmed my heart a bit.

Yes, I still have Charlie. I'm not entirely alone.

Since they refuse to acknowledge Charlie, he will have nothing to do with them.

Thinking back on these five years, Charlie endured so much with me, yet gained nothing in return.

I picked up my phone and booked a presidential suite at the most luxurious hotel in the city.

After putting Charlie to sleep, I lay on the bed, pondering where things went wrong.