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She'd said she'd probably only ever cook for me, that no one else was worth the effort.
But later, she cooked for Lucas too. Countless times during my three lost years.
It seemed like their four years with Lucas easily outweighed my fourteen years with them.
But it didn't matter anymore. I smiled bitterly to myself and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Chloe stopped me. "Ethan, you need to understand. Once you leave, you have nothing to do with us ever again."
I didn't get it. Wasn't this what they wanted?
Why did Chloe seem almost reluctant now?
But I was wrong. Chloe just wanted confirmation.
"I don't want anything to do with you either."
Hearing my answer, she looked relieved.
"You might be a fool, but at least you have some self-awareness. Remember, once you decide, don't come crawling back to us."
"Don't worry. I won't."
As I stepped out, Lucas arrived. He brushed past me, deliberately bumping into my shoulder.
My suitcase fell. My heart leapt into my throat..
Lucas smiled sweetly. "Oops, sorry, Ethan. Didn't see you there."
Couldn't see someone my size? He must be blind.
Swallowing the urge to retort—it wasn't the time for a war of words. I knelt to gather my scattered belongings.
Chloe was calling Lucas in for cake, but he bent down and picked up a photo frame before I could. It was a picture of eighteen-year-old me with the Lawson sisters.
He sneered. "Ethan, I thought you'd finally accepted it. But you're still clinging on."
My eyes darkened. Couldn't let him find what was hidden behind the photo.
Looking up, I made my eyes well with tears, begging Lucas.
"Give it back."
Lucas looked thrilled, holding the frame high. "Want it? Beg me!"
Chloe brought the cake to the living room, sounding exasperated. "Lucas, stop playing around, come here."
Lucas humiliating me was just "playing around" to Chloe, something to be casually indulged.
I tried to grab the frame. Lucas dodged, stumbling and banging his leg hard against a table corner.
Sophia gasped and immediately blamed me. "Ethan! It's just a stupid photo! If Lucas wants it, give it to him! How dare you push him?!"
Lucas clutched his leg, pretending to be hurt. "It's okay, Sophia. Things that seem ordinary to us might be treasures to Ethan."
Sophia snatched the frame and threw it at me. "Here! Take your trash!"
The sharp corner of the frame cut my arm. I barely felt it. I gathered my things and walked out.
Behind me, I could hear the three of them laughing happily. My face was expressionless.
Sometimes, playing the fool is necessary. I've always known when to bend.
Back at the apartment, I met with Will again to get the full picture of the Foster situation.
"The main company is currently controlled by your uncle, Frank Foster. After your accident, you signed your shares over to the Lawson sisters. Your uncle managed to reacquire them and is now the majority shareholder."
"Your other assets were divided among your various siblings and cousins under various pretenses."
Hearing the losses caused by my stupidity, I stayed silent. Will watched my face, cautiously trying to comfort me.
"But those people are all incompetent. Thankfully, after you became head of the family, you eliminated any real threats."
I didn't respond. My philosophy has always been to leave no potential dangers behind. Otherwise, I never would have survived the Foster snake pit.
