Mom's voice trembled with tears, but it only fueled the rage building inside me.

I couldn't hold back any longer and yelled, "Yes, Uncle Terry helped us! But how much did you give his family when Dad was alive? You handed them all the money Dad worked so hard for, so they could buy houses and cars!

"When I had that fever, yes, he covered the bills, but then he turned around and told everyone that you were holding him back. In the end, you felt indebted to him, so you paid him back ten times over!

"He didn't get that job transfer because he didn't have the skills! He failed the assessment! But he came back and made you feel guilty by telling you it was to take care of us. He just wanted you to think you're indebted to him for life!"

I roared it all in one breath. Each word was like a blade, slicing through the hypocrisy wrapped in "familial love".

Mom froze and stared at me in disbelief.

Tears flooded my face, and I cried out, "Mom, if you feel like you owe him, then pay him back yourself! Why do I have to be dragged into this? Why do you have to use my future and happiness to pay your debt?"

I suddenly turned to Melanie.

"And you, Melanie Johnson!" I pointed at her with a trembling finger.

"You only get a few days off each month, and you always make excuses not to be with me. Do you think I don't know Mom has been secretly setting you up with Wilson? And you think you have the right to decide which college I should go to?"

As soon as I said that, the room fell dead silent.

Mom clutched her chest. Her lips quivered, but the words simply wouldn't come.

I could see the guilt flash across Melanie's eyes.

Suddenly, Wilson dropped to his knees in front of me.

"Charlie! I'm sorry! It's all my fault!" He cried out while banging his head on the floor.

"I shouldn't have come to bother you! I'll leave right now! I'll never come back! Please, just stop arguing. It's all my fault…"

He seemed like he'd been wronged beyond measure, as he was lying on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Wilson!"

Melanie lunged forward to steady him, but Wilson suddenly clutched his chest and coughed violently. His face turned deathly pale.

She snapped her head up and glared at me. The guilt in her eyes was instantly replaced by a blinding fury.

She marched right up to me and raised her hand.

I met her gaze without flinching and spoke calmly. "Melanie, if you slap me, it's over between us."

Her hand froze in midair, as if she were paralyzed by the emptiness in my eyes.

The next second, Wilson's coughing intensified, followed by the agonizing sound of him retching.

The last shred of hesitation disappeared from Melanie's face.

"You're impossible!" she snarled, and her hand came crashing down.

It was harder and louder than Mom's slap.

The force sent me stumbling backward, and I crashed into the edge of the dining table. A sharp pain shot through my side, and a metallic taste flooded my mouth.

Wilson immediately grabbed Melanie while crying. "Melanie, I-I'm fine. Don't blame Charlie."

She pulled him into her arms, her face full of pain. "He's done this to you, and you're still defending him? You're too kind."

Mom shot me a vicious glare. "Charlie, get on your knees and apologize to Wilson!"

I let out a bitter laugh and gave one last look at the "family of three" huddled together.

All the feelings I had left for them died at that moment.

Stumbling to my feet, I ran out of the suffocating house.

I ended up sitting by the sea for what felt like forever.

I pulled out my phone and found a message Melanie had sent me six months ago.

Melanie had said, "You've always wanted to see the snow in your dad's hometown, right? The colonel says I'll be transferred to the northern military district in six months. When you go to Valmore College, we can go see the snow together and walk through it until we grow old."

At the time, I was so moved I almost cried.

It was clear now that it was only ever my dream, and mine alone to realize.

I stayed by the sea until dawn before finally heading home.

That entire night, neither Melanie nor Mom bothered to ask where I had been.

The only thing that kept updating was Wilson's social media. He posted videos of them surrounding him, trying to cheer him up.

When I got home, I opened the door and found my blanket and pillow thrown onto the living room floor.

Mom coldly said, "If Wilson spends another night in that room with you, you'd probably bully him to death. From now on, you're sleeping in the living room."

Melanie's eyes were bloodshot as she walked over to me. "Mrs. Holland is right. Your temper needs some work. If you're still like this when you come with me to the army after we get married, no one will let you have your way anymore."

Ignoring them both, I bent down to pick up my blanket and tossed it on the couch. I crawled under it and closed my eyes.

I didn't sleep a wink that night. All I wanted was some peace and quiet.

Mom scoffed. "You're just like your late father, stubborn as hell."

Smiling, she hooked her arm through Wilson's. "Come on, Melanie and I will take you shopping for new clothes. You're going to college soon. You need to look sharp."

With that, the three of them left happily, not sparing me a second glance.

I didn't wake up until the afternoon. The house was eerily silent.

My throat felt parched, so I went into my bedroom and took two large gulps from my thermos.

By the time I tasted the mango, it was already too late. My breath caught in my chest, and a rash spread across my body.

Panicking, I searched desperately for my allergy medicine, but the medicine box was empty. Instead, I found mango juice in Wilson's backpack.

I didn't have time to think. Clenching my teeth, I called for an ambulance before losing consciousness.

When I woke up, I saw Mom sitting next to my hospital bed, her face filled with irritation.

"You really can't stand to see me have a peaceful day, can you? You actually tried to kill yourself?"

I quickly shook my head. "Mom, I didn't! It was Wilson! He poured mango juice into my thermos on purpose!"

The next second, a sharp slap landed across my face.

"Bullshit! You've been bullying Wilson since he moved in. He would never do something like that! How did I end up with a son like you?"

With that, Mom stormed out of the ward, leaving me in tears.

Just then, the door slammed open again, and Melanie walked in. She looked at me with a touch of pity.

After a sigh, she said, "I admit I haven't been paying enough attention to you lately, but Mrs. Holland asked me to take good care of Wilson. I couldn't say no. She's watched me grow up. I can't break her heart.

"I promise, once you're both in college and Wilson has his own friends, I'll spend all my time off with you, okay? Please, don't cause any more trouble."

I stared into her eyes and asked, "Will you believe me if I say it was Wilson who got me into the hospital?"

I shoved my phone in her face, showing her the picture I took of the mango juice in Wilson's bag, along with the purchase receipt.

Melanie's brow furrowed.

For a moment, a spark of hope lit up in my chest. I wanted her to believe me just this once.

But the next words out of her mouth made me feel like I had been dumped into an ice-cold pit.

Melanie said, "Maybe he forgot about your allergy. I'll apologize on his behalf."

She then avoided my gaze and continued, "Let's not let your mom know about this. Wilson's been through enough. If even your mom starts having issues with him, how is he supposed to stay with us? He only has us now. Just let this slide, okay? Don't hold it against him."

Let this side.

Those three casual words wiped away all my pain and resentment.

I just nodded.

I really shouldn't expect anything from them anymore.

…

After I was discharged from the hospital, I found a part-time job that included meals and lodging, and didn't return home.

I only went back the day the admission letter arrived.

When I opened the door, the house was filled with harmony.

Melanie and Mom were crowded around Wilson, who was wearing brand-name clothes. They hugged him excitedly.

"Wilson, you're going to be a college student now. I'm so happy for you!" Mom exclaimed.

Melanie praised, "You're so smart and handsome. I'm sure you'll have so many ladies chasing after you."

Wilson blushed as he held her hand. "No one's better than you, Melanie. You're the most beautiful in my eyes!"

But the moment they heard me come in, their laughter died down.

Mom shot me a glare. "You've been gone for so many days. I thought you'd died outside."

When Melanie saw how much weight I had lost, a hint of concern flickered in her eyes. She quickly came over to take my hand.

"I'll help Mrs. Holland cover some of your and Wilson's tuition. You don't have to work so hard to pay for it."

I jerked my hand away and coldly replied, "No need for that."

Without another word, I started heading for my bedroom.

"Charlie," Melanie called, her tone softening, "since you've got the admission letter, how about I drive both of you to the campus? You can get familiar with the place."

"Really? That sounds great!" Wilson immediately hugged her shoulder, his eyes shining. "Melanie, you're the best."

But the next second, his expression dimmed. He carefully glanced at me and said, "Charlie still seems upset with me. He probably doesn't want to come, so maybe you two should go. I'm fine either way."

His words drained me.

Before Mom could start berating me, I spoke first. "You guys go ahead. I have something else to do."

Frowning, Melanie instinctively took a step forward to grab my wrist. "Charlie—"

Mom immediately stopped her. "Melanie, he's acting all sulky. He'll just ruin the mood. Let's just go. Don't worry about him."

Wilson lowered his head, muttering, "Melanie, don't force Charlie. He probably really doesn't want to come with me."

Melanie's hand froze mid-air. A wave of frustration and anger rose in her.

She pulled back her hand and stepped toward me. Her voice dropped into a low, heavy tone as she said, "Charlie, I'm giving you one more day to throw a tantrum. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the campus. Just the two of us."

She paused for a moment before adding, as if commanding, "Tomorrow, I want to see the Charlie who used to smile whenever he saw me, not this petty version of Charlie. Got it?"

I let out a chuckle and stepped into my bedroom.

The old Charlie was never coming back.

After they left, I gathered my few belongings, grabbed the admission letter from Valmore College, and took the train ticket I had bought in advance. Then, I headed straight for the rail station.

Before I got on the train, I took one last look at this southern city I had lived in for 18 years.

Then, without a second glance, I set off toward my dreams.