I soon picked up Colin and Mila's conversation through the phone.

After putting Jasper to bed, Mila tiptoed over to scope out where our bedroom was. Making sure we were asleep, she whispered, "Colin, do you really think your parents will forgive you and just hand over this apartment?"

Colin nodded. "Back when they sold a property and Dad was hospitalized, I thought they were deep in debt, so I left. Five years on, their lifestyle hasn't dipped at all. I'm starting to think they pushed me out on purpose, making me struggle while they lived comfortably."

It was clear Mila was just like Colin. They were birds of a feather.

Mila bought into his theory. "It adds up. Their business problems popped up just when you graduated and needed money to start your own venture. And once you left, their debts magically cleared up."

Colin snorted. "Exactly, so I had to come back. They chose to adopt me, so they've got to own up to that. They didn't give me a dime for my wedding. Now with Jasper about to start school, I need to secure their apartment during this holiday."

Mila nodded, pausing before adding, "Your parents seem pretty hard-hearted, especially your dad. Plus, he seems to do whatever your mom says. I doubt you'll easily get the apartment."

A grim look crossed Colin’s face. "I'll give them two months. If they don't forgive me or start coughing up some cash, I'll just..."

He mimed slashing his throat. "I'm their only family, after all. Everything will eventually be mine."

Colin sneered and continued, "Don't think I'm being cruel. I'm doing this for my kid."

Mila seemed taken aback, but after a glance at Jasper, she nodded.

Grant nearly passed out from anger, and had to pop a few nitroglycerin pills to steady himself.

He was ready to confront Colin right then and there, but I stopped him. "Don't do that. You'll just end up making yourself sick, and that won't help anything. Now that we know what they're up to, I've got a plan."

I whispered a quick plan to Grant. He hesitated, but eventually nodded in agreement.

In the following days, Colin and Mila did everything they had promised when Colin was kneeling at our door. They took great care of us and did everything we asked.

Grant and I pretended to be moved by their actions. One night after dinner, I hugged Colin, tears in my eyes. "It's so good to have you back, Colin. Your dad and I have really missed you these past few years."

Colin was also tearful. We ended up crying together, looking like a family that had genuinely made up.

We spent the entire night in tears. The next day, I put on a show of making a tough decision. I sat Colin down in the living room, laying out some IOUs and a rental agreement.

I began, "Colin, all these years, your dad and I really wanted to reach out to you. But with all our debts, we didn't want to drag you into it. I wanted to forgive you right when you returned, but I was scared the creditors would come after you. You know... I was at a loss."

I dabbed my eyes with a tissue I'd secretly prepared by rubbing it with onion, making myself cry more convincingly. "But you and Mila are right. We're family. We should clear the air, no matter the misunderstandings. You two coming back to take care of us shows you're good kids. It would be wrong to push you away now."

Grant also dabbed his eyes, pretending to wipe tears. "Actually, our apartment lease is almost up. Could you help us out with the rent?"

Colin's face fell the second I finished my first sentence.

Mila looked even sourer. She'd spent the last month trying to please us by cooking and doing laundry. I bet she was regretting it now.

Mila and Colin exchanged a look before Colin stood up and asked, "Mom, Dad, are you serious? Are these IOUs and the rental agreement real?"

Indeed, they were. Actually, the apartment Grant and I were living in had been sold to settle some debts. It just so happened that the investor who bought it had no intention of living here and rented it back to us.

Grant nodded. To convince Colin, Grant pulled out the original contract and the payment records and showed them to Colin.

The more Colin read, the angrier he seemed to get.

Finally, he snapped. He threw the IOUs and rental agreement at us. "So, you knew you were broke and you still made us wait on you hand and foot?"

Grant and I feigned deep hurt. "Colin, how can you say that? We may not be related by blood, but we raised you all these years. We've had a tough time these last five years and never meant to bother you. If you hadn't come to us, we wouldn't have asked for anything."

Mila sneered, "You're barely getting by and yet you kept us in the dark. If you really cared about Colin and Jasper, you should have come clean about your finances from the get-go."

I chuckled awkwardly, pretending to be embarrassed. "Weren't you the one who was kneeling outside, saying you came back to take care of us?"

Colin gave me a scornful look. "Come on, you're an adult. Use your brains. You're not my biological parents. Why should I have to support you?"

Grant dramatically clutched his chest, feigning hurt. "Then why did you come back?"