Sold My Life for My Brother's Birthday Present

On my little brother, Clover Shaw's birthday, I tear up my stomach cancer diagnosis report and use the money I've saved for treatment to buy him the gift he's been talking about for ages. But when I wake up in the early hours of the night while coughing blood, I hear the disdain in his voice. "That piece of crap he bought is just 5,000 dollars. It's not even worth as much as my cheapest game! Who would want that garbage? "He's such an idiot. It's been over 20 years, and he still hasn't figured out that we've been playing poor. He's out there working himself to the bone to scrape together my tuition fees! On top of that, he stinks so much every day! It's disgusting! Mom, who has always called me the backbone of the Shaw family, angrily speaks up. "He deserves it! You wouldn't have ended up in the ICU right after you were born just because he stole all your nutrients in the womb. You'd grow up to be young and healthy. "The fortune teller was right. He's nothing but a leech, and if we don't find ways to torture him, he'll only make your life suffer." While I collapse on the floor, tears stream down my face nonstop as I stare at the blood pooling in the trash can. "Don't worry, Mom. You won't have to fuss over my future because I won't have one…" Chapter 1 After everyone fell asleep, I went downstairs and dug through 18 dumpsters before I finally found the gift I had bought for my little brother, Clover Shaw. The next day, I used the refund money to schedule my chemotherapy at the hospital. I was going to live for myself from this day onward. After paying the hospital bill, I calculated wages from my construction job and figured it should be enough to cover the next chemotherapy session. But when my paycheck came in, it was short by 200 dollars. I ran to the restaurant and tried to play nice with the owner, Max Douglas. "Was there a mistake with the payroll, Mr. Douglas? You raised my pay to 10.50 dollars an hour, but it looks like you still calculated it at ten." Max's eyes darted around before he started yelling, "When did I ever give you a raise? What? Are you trying to scam me? "Hey, everyone, come look at this loser trying to extort my money!" As more people gathered, I nervously clutched the hem of my shirt and turned around, only to accidentally make eye contact with Dad and Clover, who happened to be walking by. Their eyes were full of ridicule and mockery. When Dad noticed my gaze, he suppressed a smile and forced out drops of hypocritical tears. "It's all my fault, son. I'm poor, and that's why you've had to suffer… "Just hang in there a little longer. Things will get better once we've saved enough for Clover's tuition." But I hadn't missed the way Dad and Clover immediately scrambled to hide their luxury watch and diamond brooch the moment they saw me. I didn't miss the way Max almost let slip a respectful title the moment he saw Dad, and I certainly didn't miss Clover mouthing a silent command to Max. "Keep lashing out at him. Go ruthless." It turned out they were the ones who hired Max to torment me. Suddenly, the whole thing felt incredibly pointless, so I turned away and said, "Forget it. Let's just go home." Dad and Clover froze and exchanged confused looks. They couldn't understand why I was dropping the matter. My sudden return home for dinner caught Mom completely off guard. The dining table overflowed with gourmet seafood and delicacies, yet Mom had previously hinted that there wasn't enough money to cook for all four of us. That was why I would rather eat leftovers and scraps outside than come home to add to their burden. Mom stammered out an excuse, "Our neighbors were kind and gave us plenty of ingredients…" But our neighbors had moved out ages ago… I didn't call her out on it. After all of us took our seats, I noticed that Clover's plate was piled high with the finest delicacies, while dishes of leftover wilted vegetables sat in front of me. I stood up and, under everyone's astonished gazes, picked up the only steak on the table. I knew it was made just for Clover. Mom immediately panicked and slapped me hard across the back of the head. "You absolute leech! You don't deserve to eat that!" Realizing how badly she had overreacted, she sheepishly added, "Clover is still young. You should let him have it…" But Clover and I were twins and the same age. He got to thrive effortlessly, attend college, and take up enrichment classes. Meanwhile, I was forced to stay trampled under his foot and willingly serve as a stepping stone for his success. I had had enough! I wanted to live like a real human being, too! Chapter 2 I stared into Dad's eyes and demanded, "Give me 200 dollars. I need medical treatment." After hesitating over and over, Dad reluctantly pulled a 200-dollar bill from a wallet stuffed with black credit cards and held it out to hand it to me. But Clover stopped him. "What kind of sickness costs that much money, Moron? You know how hard Mom and Dad work to make a living; are you just making this up so you can scam them out of money and gorge yourself on expensive food?" That was the reality. My name was Moron Shaw, while my brother's name was Clover. Mom and Dad made their favoritism crystal clear from the day we were born, but it took me nearly 20 years to finally see the truth for what it was. I softly said, "It's stomach cancer. I need chemotherapy." The moment Dad heard, he immediately tucked the 200 dollars away and sadly said, "I can't believe you've learned to lie at such a young age, Moron. When did you become so lazy and shameless that you'd lie to me for money? "There's no history of cancer in our family, so who do you think you're fooling?" As I watched my last hope of survival disappear back into Dad's wallet, panic took over. My body lunged toward him before my brain could even process what I was doing, and I desperately reached out to snatch the bills over. The next second, a massive force kicked me hard against the wall. Clover had kicked me right in the stomach. Blood mixed with the food I had eaten earlier came spewing out of my mouth. While Mom and Dad were stunned, Clover scoffed disdainfully. "Don't let him fool you; that's probably just fake blood. "All the money in this family belongs to me anyway, so who does he think he is to take that much money away?" The pain was so intense that I couldn't even straighten my back. Left with no choice, all I could do was crawl forward amid the filth and grab the hem of Dad's pants. "I just need… 200 dollars… Please… Just give it to me…" I was still the son Dad raised, after all. For a moment, he looked like he was about to soften, but Mom snatched his wallet away and sighed. "Our money has to go toward Clover's tuition, Moron. He won't be able to go to school if we're short by these 200 dollars. "Stop making a scene and behave. Do you really have the heart to see him end up like you, doing dirty jobs and getting looked down on everywhere he goes?" I looked at her in shock. So, did that mean I deserved to live a wretched, lowly life? On my phone, my doctor, Benedict Cummings, was pressing me for the next chemotherapy payment. "I've done my best to delay your payment until tomorrow, Mr. Shaw… You need at least two rounds of chemotherapy for it to have any effect." I clenched my teeth and decided that after Mom and Dad fell asleep, I would sneak in and steal the 200 dollars. But their bedroom door wasn't closed, and through the tiny crack, I overheard their conversation. Mom said, "Honey, I don't know why, but tonight I couldn't stop feeling like the steak would've been a complete waste if Moron ended up eating it. I'd rather feed it to our dog! "Also, none of Clover's clothes cost less than 2,000 dollars, but whenever I think about giving Moron money, I feel miserable even if it's just 200 dollars. Why do you think I feel that way?" I let out a bitter laugh. It all came down to blatant favoritism anyway. Dad replied, "It's not your fault, honey. Clover is smart, charming, and naturally lovable, while Moron makes me sick every time I see him acting all timid and pathetic. "We should've listened to the doctor back then and aborted him. He's nothing but a cursed, annoying leech." My eyes turned red-rimmed. Having been raised poor, I never fought back when other kids beat me up because I feared my parents wouldn't be able to afford the compensation. Everyone at school knew that there was an idiot who wouldn't fight back or argue when insulted. Even stray dogs on the street seemed to dare to kick me around. Yet now, Mom and Dad blamed me for acting all timid and cowardly. … In the end, I didn't steal the 200 dollars. Instead, I sold the only birthday gift Mom and Dad had ever given me. It was a camera—a piece of junk Clover had discarded, but it still managed to fetch 3,000 dollars. When I went to the hospital to pay, Benedict's face lit up with joy the moment he saw me. "Mr. Shaw, right? Fantastic! I have great news!" Chapter 3 Benedict excitedly announced, "We've just received word from the upper management that Shaw Group is funding treatment for stomach cancer patients. Each doctor gets one slot to nominate a patient, and I've decided to submit your application! "There's always a light at the end of the tunnel. Even God thinks you're too young and refuses to let you die!" For the first time in what felt like forever, my grim expression finally broke into a genuine smile. I left the hospital humming a quiet tune and headed back home. On my way, I spotted a stray kitten and gently scooped it up, cradling it in my arms. "You're so cute, little kitty. I'm going to be saved now, and so are you." But the moment I stepped through the front door, a slap landed on my face and sent me crashing to the floor. " Dad pointed at my bedroom and furiously roared, "Where is it? Where did you put Clover's camera? Who gave you permission to touch his belongings?" Clover stood there with his hands on his hips and spat right in my face. "You pathetic thief! How dare you steal from me! You're disgusting!" I stared at Dad in disbelief. "Wasn't it the birthday present you gave me after he didn't want it anymore? That was my camera!" Mom frowned at my words. "What do you mean, your camera? Everything in this house belongs to Clover, and we've just let you borrow it. Did you really think you own it?" That was when I broke down and snapped, "On what grounds? What's mine is mine! "For all these years, I've lived on scraps and saved every penny just to give it back to this family. Meanwhile, Clover never contributed a single thing, so why should he—" I stopped mid-sentence. My eyes widened in horror as tears of despair spilled down my face. Mom clutched the tiny kitten I had just brought home and dangled it out over the balcony railing. "Do you get it now? Everything in this house belongs to Clover, and that includes this cat. Don't you ever try to compete with him for anything." Desperate tears streamed down my face as I nodded mechanically as hard as I could. "I get it now. I won't take anything from him… "Plese just spare my… No… Please just spare his cat…" Seeing my compliance, Mom reached into her bag and pulled out an asset waiver agreement. I panically pressed my thumbprint onto the paper, and only then did she give a satisfied nod. Carefully stepping forward, I reached out to take the kitten back. The next second, Mom suddenly let go. My kitten plummeted from the 26th floor, her agonizing, piercing shriek echoing in my ears. Mom whispered like a devil, "Oh, I forgot to mention that Clover is allergic to cat fur. That thing had to die anyway." "Ah!" I screamed at the top of my lungs and violently shoved her away. It was all my fault… I thought if I just behaved and obeyed, Mom and Clover would let the kitten go. I never realized that to them, the kitten's life was nothing but a pledge of loyalty to ensure that I would never pose a threat to Clover. Mom looked at me with deep disgust. "Enough. Stop crying over some stupid cat. "Your and Clover's birthdays are next month, and we have some amazing news to tell you. When the time comes, you can buy as many cats as you want, okay?" I cried through the entire night. Mom and Dad tried to pacify me at first, but when I wouldn't stop, they simply gave up. At last, when Dad walked out of my room, he turned to Mom and proudly said, "He may be crying right now, but when he hears the great news next month, he'll be smiling from ear to ear. Just watch." A few days later, I was woken up by a phone call from Benedict. After throwing on a jacket, I sprinted straight to the hospital, only for him to shoot me with a barrage of curses and insults. "What the hell is wrong with you? I did everything I could to help you, but it turns out you're here to sabotage me! "I can't believe your stomach cancer is fake, and to think I genuinely tried to save your life! "You're young and healthy, and instead of doing something useful with your life, you pull such a stunt. Now they're accusing me of falsifying medical records to scam for money. "The hospital fired me, and my critically ill wife is still counting on me. Are you happy now?" Chapter 4 Though I was stunned by the slap, I quickly caught onto the key point in Benedict's words. "What do you mean? Why was the application canceled?" Benedict let out a cold laugh and said, "The chairman of Shaw Group and his wife said that you faked the whole thing, and now you're still playing dumb! "Get out! Don't ever let me see you again!" My whole body started shaking violently. Shaw Group… That was my parents' company, and they hadn't left me a single way out. Benedict had lost his job because of me. He was one of the only two people who had ever shown me kindness. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" Crushed by an overwhelming sense of guilt, I fled the scene in a panic. As soon as I stepped out of the hospital, I spotted a disheveled man sitting miserably on the curb and froze. It was Timothy Clarke, a famous, wealthy heir from my high school days, and the only person who had never been mean to me. To protect my pride, he would always pretend to be annoyed while giving me food because I couldn't afford a meal… and he did that for three whole years. But now, how had he ended up in such a miserable state? When Timothy saw me, a flicker of light flashed in his clouded eyes. He noticed my pathetic state and pulled out all his cash to hand it to me, the way he had done back in high school. "Live well, my man. Don't end up like me." I didn't understand the meaning behind his words until I saw the news the next day. Timothy had jumped from a building and taken his life. I cried for three days straight and couldn't understand how the once proud, brilliant Timothy could have been driven to the point of suicide… It was only because of the money he gave me that I could continue my chemotherapy, though there was barely any effect. … On my birthday, a month later, the pain became so unbearable that I could barely breathe. The doctor told me I had a month left to live at most. Mom and Dad excitedly grabbed my hands and led me into a five-star hotel. The employees who used to look down on me and order me around now bowed obsequiously toward me. "Good evening, Mr. Shaw!" We walked into a private room, where the manager had already set up a Truth-or-Dare wheel to liven up the party. "Come on, everyone. Let's spin! "Whoever it lands on has to tell the truth!" The wheel landed on Dad for the first spin. He cleared his throat and announced, "The truth is… our family is actually worth hundreds of billions of dollars." Mom and Dad immediately started applauding in response. Seeing my lack of reaction, they scoffed and said, "Look at Moron. He's completely dumbfounded by the good news. "You idiot! You're a rich heir from now on, and you'll never have to work again! We'll give you a lavish lifestyle and take care of you for the rest of your life, as long as you don't fight Clover for any of the company's shares!" The second spin landed on Dad again. This time, he said, "Do you remember Timothy? Your mom and I had his dad's company destroyed, and I heard he was sold off to work in an illegal coal mine when he was 17." Their words ended with a proud cackle. For the first time all night, the dead, indifferent look in my eyes finally cracked. I snatched a beer bottle off the table and smashed it at him. No wonder Timothy had turned out that way… Rage nearly swallowed me whole as I screamed, "Why? What right did you have to do that to him? "You knew he was the only person in class who was kind to me! I talked about how amazing he was all the time!" When Dad saw me lose my temper, he erupted, too. "So what? I just wanted you to understand that only our family treats you best, and everyone else can't be trusted! The more you praised him, the harder I ruined his family!" I froze. It turned out that I was the reason for every tragedy Timothy and Benedict had suffered. I had completely failed the people who sacrificed everything to save me. My whole life was a joke! My head spun violently as Mom and Dad's voices sounded as if they were echoing from miles away. "Are you seriously throwing a tantrum with us over strangers? "Don't be an idiot. From today onward, you're a rich heir with all the wealth and luxury you could ever dream of. Everyone else is just a stepping stone for your future!" Without a moment's hesitation, I threw the window wide open and leaped down.