Dad kept begging, but Susan called security
and had them drag Dad and Alex out of the
house.
Dad was helpless without Susan’s money.
He didn’t have any skills.
He couldn’t handle living in the real world.
He was used to the good life.
Susan kicked Dad and Alex out, but she let me
stay.
I knew she wanted to groom me to be her
successor.
I couldn’t let her down.
One day, Dad came to me privately, begging for
help.
<
He looked terrible.
He hadn’t shaved and seemed totally defeated.
“Son, talk to Susan. Beg her to forgive me,,
please?” Dad pleaded, groveling.
I knew he wouldn’t be sucking up to me like this
if he wasn’t desperate.
He must have hit rock bottom.
But who helped me back then?
I shook my head.
“You did this to yourself, Dad. I’m not going to
help you.”
Dad exploded.
He dropped the nice act.
<
“You’re a heartless bastard! I’m your father!
You have to help me! And don’t forget who
brought you into this house in the first place!”
I laughed.
When they got divorced, they didn’t ask who I
wanted to live with.
Now he was keeping score?
I said I had to get to school and left.
Dad wouldn’t let it go.
He started showing up every day to yell at me.
He wanted me to be as miserable as he was.
“You heartless brat! I wasted my time raising
you!” Dad would scream at the school gates.
“Look at this ungrateful son! He’s enjoying the
Г
“Look at this ungrateful son! He’s enjoying the
high life while his own father is starving! He
doesn’t deserve to be in a fancy school!”
The other students stared.
The school principal started calling me in for
talks.
I was tired of it all.
I didn’t want to bother Susan, so I tried to avoid
Dad.
A few days later, Alex and a bunch of his loser
friends cornered me after school.
Alex sneered, “You wouldn’t help Dad, huh?
Let’s teach you a lesson!”
They started punching and kicking me.
“Dont him good!” Aloy volled
“Beat him good!” Alex yelled.
I couldn’t fight back.
I was a punching bag.
Then they ran off, laughing.
I limped home.
Dad was there, acting like nothing had
happened.
He was busy buttering up Susan, rubbing her
shoulders.
When he saw my bruises, he frowned.
“What’d you get into, a street fight? Stop
causing trouble!”
I was about to explain when Alex walked in,
<
looking just as beat up.
Alex played the victim, crying, “Dad, Mark sent
people after me! I’m hurt!”
I protested.
“That’s a lie! He attacked me first!”
Dad ignored me and hugged Alex.
“My son would never lie!”
Susan cut through the noise.
“This isn’t getting us anywhere. Let’s call the
police and get this cleared up.”
The security cameras were conveniently broken,
so the police couldn’t find anything.
Things were getting worse.
Alex milked the situation for all it was worth,
crying, “I’m so wronged! How could my brother
do this to me? I… I don’t want to live
anymore!”
He ran towards the second–floor balcony and
jumped.
