- 10.
Unlike last time, where I didn’t even get into a
decent college, this time I was at MIT, and
<
Jake, he was just doing community college.
Last life, neither Jake nor I accomplished
anything, but Jake was still the favorite, and
to get the connections of the family, Abby’s
mom made Abby marry Jake.
Abby saw me, and she looked at me with
disgust. “Mom, I hate Danny, I’m gonna break
our engagement.”
33
“I’m marrying Jake, I love Jake.”
She walked to me, all the sweetness of my
younger years were gone. The girl who took
my hand and put candy on it, the one who
said she didn’t want to leave me, was long
gone.
Her expression was like the one I saw on
<
Abby in my last life, arrogant and disgusting.
“Danny, I’d never like a guy as horrible as
you.”
“I only love Jake, if you hurt him again, I’m
gonna get you!”
“You just bully the weak, it’s disgusting!”
Mrs. Green yelled. “What are you talking
about? You said you were going to marry
Danny when you were little.”
Abby scoffed. “I was blind back then.”
Okay, well, me too, it looks like.
Mrs. Green didn’t get a chance to cover her
mouth, and embarrassed, dragged Abby
<
In the hospital room, it was just my parents,
Sarah, and Jake.
Even after two lifetimes, I still asked. “Did you
guys know about Jake and Abby?”
Mom looked guilty. “Danny, why do you need
to talk like that, what do you mean by
hooking up? Abby doesn’t have feelings for
you, she loves Jake. Why don’t you just let
them be together?”
Sarah chimed in. “Danny, you can’t force someone to love you! If she doesn’t like you, then she doesn’t! Why not be nice and let
them have the engagement? It’s a win–win
for everyone.
“Otherwise it’s gonna be too embarrassing for you.
く
I looked at my sister, who has always been
Jake’s cheerleader. I remembered how, when
she broke Dad’s teapot, I took the blame, and
got a beating.
And when she was bullied in school, it was
me that rushed in and beat up the jerk. I got
yelled at and my allowance was docked.
And when I had a reaction from seafood, she
cried and told me, “Danny, don’t die, I don’t
want to lose you.”
Now, she was Jake’s sister. I lifted my head
to hold back my tears.
- 11.
“I’ll give the engagement to Jake, but you
have to agree to two things.”
く
Jake looked surprised. “You’re really going to
do it? You’re not lying, right?”
I ignored him and looked at Mom and Dad.
Dad nodded, sounding almost relieved.
“Danny, you’re finally growing up. Jake is
family, no need to fight, it’s embarrassing. I’ll
tell everyone that this engagement was meant
for Jake and Abby.”
I smiled. “Not so fast, I’m not done.”
“First, I want to be taken off your family
records. Second, I’m done with you, we’re not
related from now on.”
Mom was stunned. “Danny, do you know
what you’re saying?”
<
“Why make a big deal out of it? You’re
always causing trouble!”
“Jake is sick, you’re supposed to take care of
him! What are you doing now, are you trying
to threaten us?”
“Danny, you disappoint me so much!”
I was disgusted, no need to be nice to them
at this point. “Trouble? When have I caused
trouble?”
“You wanted to take him in, you made him.
part of our family, did I cause trouble? No,
right? I just don’t like him, why is it a big
deal? I haven’t cursed or hit him, I just don’t
lick his boots like you guys, and it’s trouble?”
“I’m your son, and I think I haven’t been
<
causing trouble, I’ve never lied. But once Jake
came in, everything you do is to believe him and call me a liar. How can you be parents?”
“It’s my first time seeing people adopt their nephew as their son, but treat their actual son
like an orphan, it’s an eye opener.”
“His dad borrowed $20,000 from our family
to buy a house, you almost couldn’t pay my
and Sarah’s tuition fee, did you forget that?
Oh, right, you still haven’t gotten that money
back, and you’re throwing money into raising
their son.”
“Knowing that it’s my birthday, you took away my present and gave it to him, saying we’re a family and it doesn’t matter, did you see him
give me the jersey back? That was my gift, he dropped some tears, and he got it. And on his
birthday, you rented a mountain, hotel, and
bought a big cake, while I was sitting at
home, eating cold food.”
“You always had to go together for parent-
teacher conferences for him, letting me be
the only kid with parents that didn’t go. And
after my son got first place in the school, you
told everyone he cheated just to make your
nephew happy. And you turned my room into
his gaming room, and made me sleep in the
guest room. Are there any parents more
ridiculous than you?”
“Oh yeah, and you lied to me about working,
but took your nephew to a concert. You didn’t
forget about that, did you?”
“Forgetting your own son’s seafood allergy,
that’s really hilarious, is that what you call
く
“Should I continue?”
“If I don’t say it, you will pretend you didn’t
know and everything is fine? I don’t think so.”
“I’m even starting to think you swapped me
with Jake at birth, and he’s your real son.”
- 12.
Mom’s face went pale, and she tried to deny
- it. “That’s not true, Danny, you are our son…
we love you!”
“Mom carried you for ten months, how could she not love you?”
I cut her off coldly. “If I knew I was going to be born into this family, I’d rather die in your
stomach.”
Mom’s crying stopped, she just stared,
looking like she couldn’t believe it.
Dad’s face was ashen, even the always bossy
Sarah didn’t say anything.
I didn’t bother lecturing her. “I’ll give you the
engagement. In three days, I expect a new
record of the family. And when I get the
scholarship, I’ll pay you for raising me all
these years.
Dad opened his mouth to say something, but I
smirked. “And If you guys would rather have
me as your enemy, then you’re free to choose
that. We can go for a kill–or–be–killed
relationship.”
I was smiling when I said it, but everyone
く
could sense the coldness in my tone.
Because I wasn’t the same as the last time.
I had grown!
I was a valedictorian!
I was going to MIT!
I had been patient for all those years to get to
this point.
Dad stopped talking, looking defeated.
I left without looking back.
As I was leaving, I heard Dad’s regretful sigh.
But it was useless!
く
It was too late for regrets!
Two days later, the new records came, and it
was just me. I was finally free, I looked at the
crowd, and for the first time in two lives, I
smiled.
I heard Jake and Abby got married, but the family didn’t show up. I didn’t care, I just
made sure the information that Abby was illegitimate was leaked at her wedding.
Abby was the only heir to her family, and my news did a good job of throwing everything into chaos. The people who wanted her gone started to make their moves. She couldn’t even do anything with her family, and the old man started to think about giving up on her.
Without the support of the family lake
<
couldn’t do anything, and within a year he got
sick. But Abby didn’t stay at the hospital with
him. Instead she was already finding a new
husband. She was going to marry a kid with
connections, so Jake was only going to “die.”
I visited Jake one last time.
He was lying on the bed, looking like a ghost.
“Danny, you must be so happy. Mom and Dad
don’t want me, even Abby wants me to die.”
Jake was trying his best, but he couldn’t
seem to talk right, but he still looked at me
with hatred.
“Danny, I hate you, why is it that my parents
are dead, and you still have your family? I will
take your parents away, steal your life, and
<
I laughed. “You got what you deserved.”
I paused at the door, smiling. “Don’t worry, Abby will join you soon.”
Two days later, I heard Jake died. And Abby got remarried to some real estate guy.
The next time I saw Abby was in her office. I had already gotten into the IRS, and we were checking their company’s tax record.
After looking through the records, I found out
that they had been hiding their taxes and
were involved in illegal trade. And all the
blame went to Abby.
The entire company’s assets were taken, and
Abby, well she ended up in jail.
I heard that she had been asking to see me, but I said no. I was living comfortably without anyone from Jake’s family bugging me, why should I see a loser?
