Chapter 4

The sound of hurried footsteps came from downstairs almost instantly. "What happened? Did something happen to Sam?"

My parents and Shelby rushed upstairs at nearly the same time.

Samuel was lying on the floor, clutching his arm, drenched in cold sweat from the pain. Still, he forced himself to try and stand.

"Mom, it's okay," he said. "I don't blame Nick… I just went to give him the card, telling him it was a little something from you and Dad, so he could buy whatever he liked…

"But Nick snatched the card and said it was what he deserved! He said if it weren't for me, he wouldn't have ended up like this. And then, he shoved me…"

He let go of his arm, revealing the terrifying red swelling and bruising.

Mom took one look, and her heart broke at the sight of it. Tears immediately spilled down her face. "How did you get hurt so badly! Nicholas Caldwell! Have you lost your mind? Sam is your brother! How could you be so cruel?"

Dad was shaking with rage, and he looked downright livid. "That bastard! He's really gone too far! We've given him so much these past few months! All those herbal medicines, hundreds of thousands worth of supplements, dividends from the company shares, and now two million—and still he's not satisfied?

"Who does he think he's pulling that sour face at every day? Nicholas, do you really think your mom and I have no limits? Get out here right now and apologize to Sam!"

Hearing my parents' words, I grew more and more bewildered. I had never seen any of those things he'd mentioned.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Samuel's lips.

Then, with Shelby's help, he stood up shakily and said weakly, "Dad, Mom, I guess Nick just doesn't like me. He poured the herbal medicine I brought him down the drain, and he also smashed the watch I gave him. I was afraid Mom would be upset, so I didn't say anything…

"I'm sorry, Mom and Dad. I shouldn't have come back. If it weren't for me, Nick wouldn't be like this. It's all my fault…"

Remembering how Samuel had hidden the card just moments ago, I felt a deep weariness wash over me. So everything Mom and Dad thought they had given me had all been taken by Samuel.

I hadn't done anything. I hadn't even seen any of it. And yet I had become a greedy, insatiable monster in their eyes.

"It wasn't me, Mom. It was Sam…" I didn't even have the strength left to explain.

I was already dead anyway. They couldn't hear me, and I wouldn't be an eyesore to them anymore. I also wouldn't be fighting with their precious son for anything anymore, so they should be happy, right?

"Mr. Caldwell, please calm down. Nicholas probably just isn't thinking clearly. Don't take it to heart!" Shelby hurriedly stepped forward to intervene, her face full of feigned concern.

"It's one thing that he isn't in the best of health," she added, "but if you get worked up and end up getting sick yourself, that'd be even worse! Please don't act rashly!"

On the surface, it looked like she was trying to mediate, but in reality, she was just adding fuel to the fire.

Sure enough, Dad's anger flared up even more at her words. "He isn't in the best of health? He looks perfectly fine to me! Strong enough to beat Sam black and blue!

"Shelby, take Sam back to his room. I'm going to make things clear with Nick today. The Caldwell family doesn't owe him anything! He can take that two million and get the hell out of my house!"

Dad banged furiously on my door and twisted the handle. But try as he might, it simply wouldn't budge, so he kicked the door hard. The solid wooden door rattled with each blow, as if it would splinter any second.

Samuel wore a smug expression, clearly wanting to stay and watch the show. But Shelby, who hadn't gotten the money yet, didn't dare displease Dad, so she dragged Samuel away.

"Open up! Nicholas, you worthless bastard! You think I can't get to you just because you're hiding in there?"

Just as he raised his foot to deliver one last kick, the doorbell downstairs suddenly rang, loud and urgent.

"Who the hell is that? Why are they ringing the bell so urgently at this hour?" Dad's chest heaved violently, and he exchanged a glance with Mom.

Mom went downstairs and opened the door, only to find several uniformed police officers standing at the entrance, their expressions grave.

Both of them froze.

"Are you Nicholas Caldwell's family? We recovered a body downstream. The preliminary description matches Nicholas. We'd like you to come with us to identify the body."