Too Late to Call Me Home

After I was kicked out of the house, my sister, Nicole Thompson, and I met at a nightclub five years later. She was the VIP client who spent millions to celebrate Michael West's, her godbrother's, birthday, while I was the male host in the hype team. We didn't talk to each other the whole time until she saw me chugging two bottles of whiskey for a 500 dollar tip. When she saw my pallid face, she questioned coldly and unhappily, "You'd rather do this disgusting job than come home and apologize? Jack, you really are unbelievable!" I just smiled indifferently and held out my hand to her. "500 bucks. Cash or Venmo?" Times had moved on, and I no longer wished to bring up past grudges. However, the 500 dollars I had just earned was just enough for me to pay the balance due for my cremation urn. Chapter 1 Drinking for Money The VIP room was completely silent. Everyone was looking at me with different expressions. Eventually, someone among the crowd burst out laughing first. Nicole, sitting on the sofa, instantly turned grim with embarrassment when she heard the laughter. After all, 500 dollars barely even covered the breakfast for people of her status. Yet, I had subserviently chugged two bottles of whiskey in a row for it. "Nicole has been waiting for you to come home. Yet, you're here doing this kind of job? Aren't you disgusted?" Michael mocked me. When I heard him, I glanced at him and retorted, "What's so disgusting about making money through drinking? It's not like I'm whoring myself out." He sneered dismissively, "You're so short of money, huh? Then, you can drink two more bottles. I'll add another 500 to your tip." As soon as he finished speaking, the onlookers began to shout boisterously. "Drink up! Since Michael added 500, I'll do the same!" "Me too! I'll add 1,000!" I didn't hesitate to reach out and grab another bottle of whiskey. Suddenly, the door to the VIP room swung open. The manager, who had learned of the commotion, entered with an obsequious look. "Ms. Thompson, did he do something wrong?" he asked Nicole in a fawning manner after pushing me aside. "Please don't be angry. He's dumb, so if—" "Are you going to drink for him?" Nicole interrupted him coldly, her eyes narrowing ominously. The manager broke out in a cold sweat. He didn't want to stand up for me, but he was also afraid that he would be in trouble if I drank myself to death. Therefore, he had no choice but to force a smile and reason with her. "No normal person could drink this much alcohol." "Get lost if you're not going to drink!" Nicole frowned in frustration, took out 100,000 in cash from her bag, and threw it at the manager. "Jack can't leave tonight. I'll put your nightclub out of business if you keep getting in my way!" The manager hurriedly stuffed the money into his pocket, his face beaming with joy. I could tell right then that he could barely give a whit about me. He simply thanked Nicole and strode away. Once again, all eyes turned to me. "What's wrong? You don't want the money anymore?" Nicole sneered. I walked over expressionlessly, grabbed a bottle of whiskey, and downed it in one gulp. However, my stomach was already twisting in knots after having already downed two bottles. Frankly, the liquid felt like knives sliding down my gullet. So, I drank this bottle of whiskey very slowly, which drew a lot of ridicule. Nicole's face turned increasingly stormy. As I finished one bottle and staggered to get another, she abruptly grabbed my wrist. "Are you out of your mind, Jack?" "I want money." I pulled my hand away, grabbed the whiskey, and poured it into my mouth. Actually, I had thought it through. Since the lighting in the VIP room was dim, I would pretend I couldn't hold the bottle properly while I was drinking and spill some. No one would notice anyway. Unfortunately, someone slapped me hard across the face just as I took a sip. I was stunned by the blow, and the bottle in my hand fell to the ground and shattered. Nicole snarled, "Are you really going to debase yourself like this for money? Stop drinking! I won't give you a single penny even if you drink yourself to your death!" As the alcohol took effect, I started seeing psychedelic patterns. That voice, buried deep in my heart for five years, seemed to echo in my ears suddenly. 'I can't believe you actually sold Mom's belongings for money! Haven't I provided you with everything you need? Why don't you just sell yourself? Get out of here! You're not my brother anymore!' Chapter 2 So Tired of Life Michael played a dirty trick on me five years ago. He stole my mother's belongings from Nicole, sold them, and claimed that I was the one who did it. Nicole flew into a rage. She punished me by making me kneel in the snow for three days and three nights while constantly questioning me about where I had sold the belongings. Of course, I had no idea. I told Nicole that it was Michael's scheme to sow discord because he just couldn't stand how nice she was to me. Sadly, she absolutely refused to believe me. Stealing, disrespecting our late mother, and being reluctant to admit my mistake—all these three offenses hit her nerves. Due to Michael's lies, Nicole confiscated all my money and kicked me out of the house. I did fairly well for the first six months. I found a sales job, which was enough to support myself and even leave me with some money to spare. However, everything changed six months later. Nicole called me for the only time in five years. As soon as I answered the call, she asked why I hadn't come back to admit I was wrong yet and said she would forgive me as long as I told her where I sold my mother's belongings. Since I was filled with resentment at that moment, I yelled at her, "Which part of it wasn't me that you don't understand? Ask your precious brother, Michael! He's the one who sold it!" Nicole immediately hung up the phone, and I was fired from the company that same day. She declared throughout Seaton that anyone who dared to hire me was going against her. As a result, I couldn't find a decent job for the next few years and could only work as part of a nightclub's hype team. She seemed to be doing this on purpose just for me to see. Not only did she announce that Miguel would be the sole heir to the company, but she also brought him to interviews, dinner parties, and auctions. She was liberal with her money, often spending millions or tens of millions whenever she wanted. She also frequently appeared on financial news channels with Michael. On the other hand, I hid in the shadows and drank myself into stomach cancer in order to support myself. Over the past few years, I sought medical treatments everywhere. I spent all my money and took out numerous online loans, but it still wasn't enough. The specific drugs to cure my cancer were too expensive, and chemotherapy was beyond my means. I called Nicole to borrow money, but she cut me off impatiently after I had only said a few words. "Money! Money! Money! Don't you care about anything else?" Don't even think about taking a single penny from me unless you come back and apologize! Otherwise, you might as well die out there!" That phone call completely extinguished my hope of living. I was just so tired of this, of life. Since she wanted me dead, I might as well die. At least, I wouldn't be in pain anymore. I ordered a cremation urn for myself a month ago. Although I tried my best to get the money, I was still 500 dollars short of the final payment. The shop owner called almost every day, urging me to settle the payment. I thought I could raise enough money today. To my surprise, Nicole gave the manager 100,000 but refused to even give me 500. She marched out of the club with her group. As for me, I was throwing up my guts in the bathroom. Only one thought was on my mind. 'I'd drunk three bottles of whiskey for nothing.' My supervisor was smoking next to me. "How exactly did you offend Ms. Thompson? She was livid when she left. What's your relationship with her?" My stomach was cramping, and my head was spinning. I could barely keep my eyes open as I held onto the toilet, trying to prevent myself from falling right into it. "I don't know her. Enemies, maybe." Chapter 3 Got Fired From the Job The next day, I was woken up by a phone call. It was the owner of the cremation urn shop. "Jack Thompson, when are you actually going to settle the rest of the money? It's only 500 bucks. Must you drag this out for a whole month? If you can't pay me within three days, I'm not keeping it for you anymore, and the deposit is non-refundable!" In a fit of panic, I blurted hoarsely, "Give me a little more time. I'll get paid in two weeks, and then—" "I can't wait two weeks!" he interrupted me, his tone unfriendly. "I've never seen anyone who drags their feet like you, especially when they're here to buy a cremation urn. Don't order in advance if you don't have the money. Why buy such an expensive one if you can't afford it?" I wanted to say something, but the call was disconnected before I could even speak. My head was throbbing. I had no choice but to call the manager to request an advance on my salary. Sadly, his response was just another blow to my shattered psyche. "Just letting you know, you don't need to come to work today," he said. "We can't pay you your salary either. It's an order from Ms. Thompson, so there's nothing we can do." My mind went blank as my voice cracked with anxiety. "What you're doing violates labor law! I demand arbitration!" The manager simply sneered at me, "Arbitration? Go ahead, then. Ms. Thompson said she will bear all the consequences, no matter what they are. Besides, her legal team is second to none in the country. If you insist on asking for trouble, then there's nothing I can do." Then, he hung up on me. A feeling of frustration welled up inside me, and I couldn't get over it. I felt so uncomfortable that my face turned pale. At the same time, my throat tasted like rust. Suddenly, I vomited a mouthful of blood. As I stared at the glaring pool of bright red blood, I felt as if a knife was twisting in my heart. Only after a while did I take out some tissue paper to wipe the blood clean. Then, I skillfully took out a painkiller and swallowed it whole. I barely had the strength to move after all that. As I leaned against the bed, I couldn't help but think about what had happened over the past five years since I was kicked out. A sudden realization hit me. Nicole was the one who had personally ruined all my backup plans. Now that I couldn't even work in nightclubs anymore, I would definitely struggle to make ends meet, let alone afford painkillers and a cremation urn. All I wanted was a decent eternal home when I die. What was so wrong with that? My eyes fell on my trembling hands, and I finally decided to take a trip back home. I wanted to ask Nicole what right she had to treat me like this. Chapter 4 Quit Fighting Back Nicole and Michael were having dinner when I got home. She glanced at me. Her tone was flat as she spoke, "So you've finally decided to grace us with your presence?" "What gives you the right to make the manager fire me?" I questioned expressionlessly, completely changing the subject. "Five years have passed. Haven't you humiliated me enough?" She merely arched a brow at me and answered indifferently, "I'm doing this for your own good. You won't know that home is the best place for you if I don't let you suffer a little. "Jack, do you know what the word is on the streets about you? I've been the one to keep those nasty comments from reaching your ears. Yet, you've never once thanked me for my efforts!" Just then, Michael put down his fork and knife and added sarcastically, "Nicole, Jack doesn't appreciate how good you are to him at all. Look at him. He's clearly blaming you!" "Shut up!" I couldn't take it anymore. So, I rushed over and raised my hand to punch him. However, Nicole grabbed my wrist the next second. "You've even learned to get physical now, huh? As I see it, you still haven't learned your lesson!" she remarked, her voice as cold as ice. "Believe it or not, I'll make it impossible for you to live in Seaton." My heart clenched as if someone had squeezed it tightly. She was saying that she would make it impossible for me to live in Seaton. Yet, she completely disregarded the fact that she'd been doing that for the past five fucking years. She ruined my career and crushed my hope time and time again. I was worse off than a rat in a sewer. My life was in tatters. As a matter of fact, I couldn't even afford a cremation urn for my ashes. That was it! I had had enough of her threats! Finally, I broke down in tears and yelled, "I'm innocent! Nicole, since you've been trying so hard to make my life miserable, then fine. I'll do what you want and die! You'll have no control over me once I'm in hell!" Nicole turned red in the face, seemingly angered by my words. "You'll always owe me even when you're dead!" She pushed me as she spoke. Even though she didn't use much force, I still fell to the ground. My lower back slammed into the dining table. The pain made my face turn pale instantly, and I broke out in a cold sweat. A hint of regret flashed across Nicole's eyes, but she turned her back to me anyway, refusing to look at me. "You're in no position to even die until you've retrieved Mom's belongings." With that, she strode away. I was in so much pain I couldn't get up. Michael stood before me in a condescending demeanor and jeered, "Jack, look at the way you are now. Tsk. How about you get down on your knees and beg me earnestly? "Then, I'll tell you to whom I sold that crappy bracelet. Deal?" I glared at him with my eyes bulging with rage. Oh, how I wished I could tear him to pieces right there and then. Regardless, I knew I was too weak to hit him. I had lived in humiliation for five years. Yet, never once did I imagine that I wouldn't be able to leave with dignity even in the face of death. Nicole's words still seemed to echo in my ears. 'You're in no position to even die until you've retrieved Mom's belongings. You'll always owe me even when you're dead!' Very well. I could finally die in peace once I retrieved my mother's belongings. I wiped my face, got down on my knees in front of Michael, and begged him earnestly. "Please tell me where my mother's belongings are." In the past, I would fight back with all my might whenever he schemed against me. However, not a single rebuttal left my lips over our last few encounters. As a result, Michael seemed to have suddenly lost interest. He simply tossed me a slip of paper and said, "This is the address. You'll still need to actually get it, though!" Chapter 5 Michael's Final Trick I numbly picked up the slip of paper, selected and unlocked a bike via the Citi Bike App, and rode it to the address on the paper. The pawnshop was located in a very remote suburb. When the shop owner learned why I came, he immediately took out the bracelet without saying anything. It seemed that Michael had already told him. I felt nothing. All I wanted was to return the bracelet to Nicole as soon as possible so that we would be even. To my surprise, the shop owner suddenly lost hold of the bangle when I went to get it. The bracelet fell to the ground and shattered into pieces with a crack. I froze on the spot, my face turning ghastly. The shop owner exclaimed, "Young man, why weren't you more careful? It's not my fault!" "Jack Thompson!" Nicole's angry voice suddenly came from behind. I turned around abruptly and met Michael's provocative gaze. "Nicole, what did I tell you? Jack did it on purpose!" he said. "He smashed Mom's bracelet just to spite you. And to think you were still trying to forgive him all this time!" Nicole seemed not to hear him. Her eyes fixed on the pile of broken jade on the ground as she walked over with heavy steps. She squatted down stiffly. After a long pause, she picked up the broken pieces one by one and clenched them in her palm. When I saw the dejected look on her face, I felt an unprecedented sense of panic and couldn't help but explain, "It wasn't me. He was the one who let it slip from his hands. I didn't sell Mom's belongings back then either…" However, my explanation seemed to be the last straw, for Nicole suddenly stood up and slapped me across the face upon hearing me speak. I lost balance and took a nasty fall. My stomach was already cramping with pain, so tears instantly streamed down my face as my body protested against the abuse. Nicole's chest heaved, and she looked as black as thunder. "How can you still have the nerve to say that? I've been giving you chances for the past five years. I told myself I would forgive you as long as you come home and tell me where Mom's belongings are. "Yet, what have you done? Jack, you really aren't worthy of being a member of the Thompson family! "You certainly do not deserve to be my brother!" she shouted at me with red-rimmed eyes, losing her composure in a rare display of disbelief as a result of being extremely disappointed in me. My heart plummeted into the fiery depths. I suddenly felt a metallic taste in my throat, but I managed to swallow the blood that was tickling at the back of my throat. When I spoke, my voice came out in a rasp. "What if I really am going to die?" "What are you trying to play the victim for?" Nicole glared at me with disgust, her hand gripping the broken jade so tightly that blood dripped from it. "I won't feel sorry for you even if you die!" "Okay." I clenched my fists and slowly got up. At this moment, a sudden realization struck me. I was dying soon. All these past entanglements really were not that big of a deal and were no longer all that important. Since she believed I was responsible for everything, so be it. Once I died, I would return to dust, and nothing would matter anymore anyway. So, I smiled at her wryly before turning around and leaving the store. Nicole yelled from behind, "Where the hell are you going?! Are you trying to be the death of me?" I didn't turn around, but my voice drifted over just the same. "You don't need to die. I'll die instead." … Nicole didn't contact me for the next two days. She sent the bracelet for repair, but found that the bracelet could never be restored to its original state, no matter how well it was repaired. She almost went bananas looking at the weird-looking jade bracelet. On the first day after I left the shop, she publicly announced for the first time that she was severing ties with me. "From now on, I will no longer concern myself with Jack's affairs. He can look for whatever jobs. He can even sleep with someone, for all I care. I won't interfere anymore," she stated expressionlessly in front of the media. "I just hope that no one will mention his name in front of me, because it makes me want to throw up." The media was in an uproar. Meanwhile, Nicole swiftly and decisively removed me directly from the family tree. The next day, she took Michael to pay respects to our ancestors. She even changed his last name and acknowledged that he was the son of the Thompson family. A relative couldn't comprehend her action and questioned, "Is it really necessary? Jack is your own brother. How can you just ignore him like this? What if something happens to him?" "What could possibly happen to him? He was still doing just fine when I suppressed him for the past five years, wasn't he?" Nicole replied sarcastically. "He won't die because he can't bear to leave, and he's too ashamed to face my mother!" Unfortunately, she was wrong again, for I was right beside her in spirit form at this moment. I died in the river near the house two days ago. I was in so much pain and sorrow that death was rather a relief for me. To my surprise, Nicole received a call from the owner of the shop where I had ordered my cremation urn on the third day. "You're Jack Thompson's sister, right? He listed you as his emergency contact, so don't try to deny it!" The shop owner was so frustrated that he was about to swear on the other end of the phone. "Your brother had ordered a cremation urn for his ashes from us, but he keeps delaying in paying the balance. Do you still want it?"