The Abandoned Heir

I closed the safe with a quiet click. My chest felt unbearably tight, as if someone had placed a heavy stone inside it.

Then, without hesitation, I took out my phone and booked a flight abroad for three days later.

Since there was no place for me in this home, I would leave.

At the dinner table that evening, my parents exchanged glances. Their silent communication didn't escape me. Though they tried to act natural, the guilt in their eyes was unmistakable.

My mother placed an entire plate of sweet and sour ribs in front of me. The aroma, once comforting, now felt suffocating. With delicate precision, she picked up a piece, deboned it carefully and placed the tender meat into my bowl.

Her hands trembled slightly.

As if afraid I would be upset, she forced a smile and tried to comfort me.

"Owen, don't worry. No matter what happens, our family's wealth is more than enough to support you—even if you can't walk again." She paused, her voice softening. "Rest assured. Your dad has already found the best doctors in the world. There must be a way to treat you."

The sheen of unshed tears in her eyes almost made me falter.

Holding onto my last shred of hope, I asked, "Can I still attend the shareholders' meeting?"

My father's expression stiffened. A barely perceptible frown appeared between his brows before he sighed and said patiently, "Owen, you haven't recovered yet. I don't want you to tire yourself out. Why don't you just forget about the proposal?"

"But, Dad, I spent a whole month preparing for it." My voice was quieter now, almost pleading. "I really want to go..."

Perhaps it was because I had never asked them for anything before. Perhaps it was because, for the first time, I was openly showing my desperation. Whatever the reason, my parents hesitated.

In the end, they reluctantly agreed.

***

Early the next morning, I went to the hospital alone for a checkup. I wanted to know the truth about my condition, whether there was still a chance for me to stand again.

I never expected to run into Ethan there.

A group of Griffith Family bodyguards flanked him in an imposing formation. Their coordinated steps, the sharp suits, the cold vigilance in their eyes—everything about them screamed untouchable authority. Ethan, dressed in a crisp tailored suit, walked ahead of them with effortless confidence.

From the side, I overheard the hushed discussions of the medical staff.

"Griffith heir, huh? Quite the entourage. I heard his checkup alone costs over a hundred grand. The Griffiths sure don't hold back, do they?"

"Yeah, he's about to inherit the company soon. Those bodyguards are on his dad's dime. They baby him. And get this—they snagged our best doc with a million-dollar paycheck just for him!"

"He had it all. Best schools, his dad's personal picks. Compared to that, we're just nothing. I guess birth really is everything..."

Every word stabbed into my heart like a dagger, leaving me breathless.

They didn't know. No one knew that Ethan was adopted.