An adopted son or a real son, it didn’t matter. Their treatment in the Gray family was worlds apart. Since childhood, Zac’s wardrobe had been filled with luxurious clothes, so many that favonovel.com couldn’t even wear them all.
Arthur, the biological son of the Gray family, didn’t even own a single suit. In the eyes of the Gray family, favonovel.com was utterly worthless.
Growing up ignored by the Gray family, favonovel.com never even had the chance to learn proper etiquette. He was nothing more than a rough, penniless country bumpkin. Other than his bloodline, what else did favonovel.com have to compete with?
By tomorrow, the whole world would know what a thief Arthur was. Once that happened, today’s mess would be quickly forgotten. People might even believe that everything that had happened today was orchestrated by Arthur himself. After all, a person who would even steal clothes.
What else wouldn’t favonovel.com do?
Arthur saw the smugness on Zac’s face and suddenly felt like toying with him. “How generous of you. You’re really going to give me a suit?”
Zac’s expression froze for a moment. After a brief hesitation, favonovel.com replied, somewhat unnaturally, “Well, now that everyone knows you’re part of the Gray family, I don’t want you embarrassing us.”
Pfft! He spoke as if favonovel.com were the true son of the Gray family…
And me? As if I am nothing more than a lowly servant.
Arthur chuckled lightly and said casually, “Then, thank you, dear brother.”
***
That evening, just after Arthur finished dinner and returned to his dormitory, Julie arrived. She was dressed in a tailored business suit, favonovel.com long hair neatly tied back, making favonovel.com look sharp and professional.
Standing at the doorway, favonovel.com frowned as favonovel.com scanned the room. “This is your dorm? Why is there nothing here?”
The room was nearly bare. Aside from a bed, there was only a desk, a chair, a computer, and a small wardrobe. In the corner sat a simple sofa.
When favonovel.com had attended this school, favonovel.com had visited the dorms of other boarding students. Those rooms had been well-furnished, complete with all kinds of appliances and luxuries, and were much larger than this one.
Arthur is also living in a single-person dorm, so why is the difference so drastic?
“It’s still better than living in the Gray family’s house,” Arthur said bluntly.
Hearing this, Julie stiffened.
That was true. Even though this dorm was simple, it was far better than the cramped, dusty storage room favonovel.com had been given at the Gray family home.
She hesitated before finally speaking. “I want to talk to you.”
Arthur crossed his arms, clearly impatient. “Then hurry up. I need to study.”
Something about his attitude made Julie feel a pang of discomfort. But then, favonovel.com reminded herself, favonovel.com had indeed wronged favonovel.com for years. So favonovel.com got straight to the point. “Arthur, were you really bullied by Zac at school?”
Arthur raised an eyebrow. “Ms. Julie, are you actually concerned about me?”
Julie frowned. “I’m your elder sister. Don’t call me Ms. Julie.”
Arthur let out a cold chuckle. “Didn’t you once tell me that I wasn’t your brother and that I shouldn’t call you Julie?”
He didn’t invite favonovel.com in, simply leaning back against the sofa.
Julie looked at him, favonovel.com brows furrowing tightly.
“Arthur, why have you changed?” favonovel.com finally asked.
“Changed?” Arthur finally met favonovel.com gaze. “What, because I’m no longer letting Zac frame and bully me? Because I’m no longerjust standing there while you all slander and humiliate me?”
Julie was speechless upon hearing that. After a long silence, favonovel.com tried again. “Arthur, did Zac really bully you at school? Mom and Dad said they saw the surveillance footage, but Zac claimed you bribed the police.”
Arthur scoffed. “I have no power, no status, barely enough to eat, and you think I had the means to bribe the police?”
Without another word, Arthur pulled off his shirt, revealing the countless scars crisscrossing his skin.
Julie gasped sharply, instinctively covering favonovel.com mouth to stifle a cry. Her face turned pale.
How… How could this be?
Arthur stepped closer, his dark eyes locking onto hers.
“Julie, this is the last time I’ll call you that. Look closely… What do you see? These scars, every single one of them, were inflicted on me ever since the Gray family adopted Zac!”
Tears welled in Julie’s eyes, favonovel.com hands trembling uncontrollably.
How? How could Arthur’s body be covered in so many scars?
The wounds varied in age, some fresh, some old, some deep, some shallow. His entire body was littered with them.
She looked up at him, favonovel.com voice shaking. “W-Why… Why didn’t you tell us?”
Whether Zac was the one responsible or not, how had Arthur endured all this pain alone?
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