“Like that’ll ever happen? I’m gonna be living
the high life with Mom.”
He grabbed Mom’s hand and strutted off, not
even looking back.
I watched them go, feeling a strange mix of
emotions.
In the last life, Mom was broke.
She refused to do any hard work.
She always said, “I raised you, so it’s your turn
to take care of me. I deserve to enjoy life.”
I was just a teenager in high school.
She expected me to shoulder the burden of our
survival.
<
I couldn’t say no to her.
I had to support both of us.
The pressure was insane.
Just putting food on the table felt impossible.
Eventually, I couldn’t afford tuition anymore.
I had to drop out and get a job.
I handed out flyers, washed dishes, delivered
pizza.
I took any work I could find.
It took years of grinding before we even started
to get ahead.
In the car, Dad turned to me, his face like
stone.
<
8:54
“We’re going to Susan’s place now. Don’t
embarrass me.”
My own father was worried about me
embarrassing him.
Alex was the golden child.
Everyone loved him.
I was just the awkward, insecure kid.
“And that five hundred bucks allowance is way too much. I’m cutting you down to two hundred. Don’t want you getting into trouble.”
I just laughed.
Alex probably got five grand a month.
To him, even 500 was too much.
I didn’t argue.
<
8:54
It wouldn’t change anything anyway.
36
I rode in the back of a luxury car to a mansion.
I’d never been anywhere so fancy.
My stomach was tied in knots.
Seeing Dad sucking up to Susan, I knew who
was really in charge.
Susan greeted me in the living room, standing
by the floor–to–ceiling windows.
She actually seemed glad to see me.
“This is your home now.”
I mumbled, “Thank you, Susan.”
I felt grateful and nervous at the same time.
Susan enrolled me in the best school in the city.
She gave me ten grand a month to spend.
It wasn’t just about the money.
It was the way Susan seemed to care.
I decided right then and there that I’d make her
proud.
At school, I threw myself into my studies.
I worked hard, aced every test.
Susan was so good to me.
I had to show her I was worth it.
It paid off.
I got scholarships and won awards.
My name was always on the honor roll.
く
8:54
When the school called Dad to invite him to
speak as the parent of an outstanding student,
he acted suspicious.
“What’s he done now?” he’d ask, bristling.
When he found out I was actually doing well, he
was shocked.
He couldn’t believe it.
Last time, my grades were good too, but after
my parents divorced, I had to drop out and find a job. Now that money wasn’t an issue, I could finally focus on my education.
Dad got invited to speak at school more and
more.
His ego loved it.
He started treating me better.
<
8:54
But I knew it was all because of Susan.
Susan’s business partners would also praise me
in front of her.
Some were envious, others were impressed!
“Susan, your stepson is a real go–getter. He’s going places,” they would say.
Susan would beam.
“He’s a good kid. I knew I wasn’t wrong about
him.”
Before I knew it, high school was almost over.
Susan asked if I wanted to study abroad.
