After the company went public, I, Brian Farrow, got 60 million dollars in dividends and achieved financial freedom.

I went home and joked with my parents that I was laid off and would live on them.

Unexpectedly, on that day, they transferred all their properties to Benjamin Farrow, my younger brother.

My parents said they lived in Benjamin's house and asked me to rent a home.

My girlfriend broke up with me.

I snorted and readily agreed to their requests, not telling them that I had 60 million dollars.

——

"Mom, Dad, I came back because I was laid off. Can you support me for a while?" I said and looked at my parents, who were stunned.

I was about to say, "I was just kidding. Did I scare you?" when I saw my dad tugging on mom's sleeve.

Then, they gave a twisted smile and said, "It doesn't matter. Just take it as a vacation. Don't be afraid.

"Brian, go back to your room and rest for a while. I'll go out with your mom and have something to do later."

Then, they hurried back to the bedroom.

At that time, I was afraid that they would take it seriously and worry about me, so I wanted to explain to them.

When I was about to knock on the bedroom door, I heard their conversation.

My dad said, "Brian lost his job, and he will stay at home. Does he want to live on us? No! He doesn't know how much we have. Let's give all the money and properties to Benjamin, or Brian won't scramble for it."

My mother's voice sounded a little hesitant. "All the properties? One of the properties is in our name, but it is the wedding house that Brian prepared for himself. How can we..."

My dad said anxiously, "The owners on the certificate of title are our names, so the house belongs to us. Brian has a decent work in a big city. As the eldest son, he has to help Benjamin. Anyway, he will work harder to earn money to buy a wedding house."

My mom sighed, "I'm just worried that Brian will feel that we are biased."

Upon hearing this, my dad snorted, "So what? We are his parents, and we raised him. Besides, he is unemployed now. Giving the property to Benjamin is a way to help Brian save it. Otherwise, he will be a slacker and sell the house."

My mother thought about it and finally nodded.

"Okay, I'll talk to Benjamin and remind him not to talk nonsense."

Outside the bedroom, I leaned against the door, snorted at myself, and went to my room.

When I was a child, I knew that my parents preferred Benjamin.

It was just because I grew up with my grandmother, and Benjamin grew up with my parents.

My parents told me since I was a little child, "You are the eldest brother, and you must give in to Benjamin no matter if he is right or wrong.

"We work hard to make money and bring you up, so we have no choice but to leave you in the hometown.

"You have been studying there for several years. It would not be good for your studies if we transferred you to another school. So just stay there. We still have to take care of Benjamin."

I understood my parents.

After freshman year, I didn't ask them for money again.

I even worked part-time to earn money and paid for Benjamin's tuition.

After graduation, I worked hard for almost eight years and finally had the money to buy an apartment with two rooms and one living room in my hometown as a wedding house.

But Benjamin told me that buying a house in a small city was a waste of the first-time house-buying preferential policy on the house property tax, so he asked me to write my parents' names on the certificate of title.

I thought I would probably buy a house in Westwood in the future. I believed my family, so I agreed.

However, I never thought that they had prepared to plot against me at that time.

I suddenly came back this time because I wanted to give them a surprise.

The company I invested in went public, and I got 60 million dollars in dividends. What was more, there would be dividends every year.

I achieved financial freedom.

This time, I went home to discuss buying a villa with my parents. I even planned to buy a few stores and a car for Benjamin and leave a few million for my parents to use for their retirement so that their lives would be easier. Then, I wanted to go traveling with my family. What a great plan.

I just wanted to make a joke.

I intended to scare them by saying that I would live on them and then tell them that I was rich.

Unexpectedly, I was the one who was frightened.

I was shocked to hear what my parents said.

But I believed that Benjamin was on my side.

I gave him the best things I had since I was a child.

To some extent, I brought him up, and we had a good relationship.

I was sure that Benjamin would not agree with my parents' selfish behaviors.

Not long after, my parents said to me with concern, "Brian, it doesn't matter. You've been working hard for many years. Take a good rest at home. Your father and I are going out on business.

"Just message me if you have something want to eat tonight."

If I hadn't just heard their conversation, I would never have thought that my parents, who had cared about me so much, would be scheming against me.

Just then, my mom's phone rang, and I heard Benjamin's voice.

Benjamin said, "Mom, what got you in such a hurry? Why did you ask me to go to the real estate registration administration?"

My mom quickly walked away with the phone in her hand. "Just go there as I told you..."

My dad stepped aside to block my view and said with a smile, "Take a rest. We have to go."

I smiled but didn't say anything.

Then, while they weren't noticing me, I quietly followed behind them.

As I expected, I saw them blocking Benjamin on the roadside, and I sneaked round to the corner to eavesdrop.

I heard them repeating what they had said before to Benjamin.

Benjamin frowned after hearing this.

He said, "Mom, Dad, we can't do this. How can you treat Brian like this?"

My mom tugged his sleeve and said, "Benjamin, Brian lost his job and would stay at home. We don't know how long he will be unemployed. What if he spends all his savings and lives on us? Then you will have no money to buy a house and get married."

My dad nodded in agreement. "Your mom is right. Many young people live off their parents nowadays. We have to be aware of it. The house is in our names, and it belongs to us. We can give it to whoever we want. It's better to give it to you than to let Brian squander it."

My mom continued, "Brian can make money in Westwood. When he knows that our family has nothing left, he will go back to work after a few days. There is no need for us to worry about him."

Benjamin was still a little hesitant when he heard this.

He said, "But we've met Brian's girlfriend, and they're going to get married. The house is their wedding house. How can you transfer it to me?"

My dad said, "Getting married? Brian has lost his job. No woman would be willing to be with him.

"You are different. Without money and houses in the village, it will be even more difficult for you to get married."

Benjamin hesitated, saying, "But... What if Brian knows about this..."

My dad paused and then snorted coldly, "So what if he knows this? We are his parents. Over the years, He has been very filial to us.

"Besides, he has an obligation to support his parents. Even Brian knows about this, he will understand us and won't blame us, not to mention that we are encouraging him to develop well."

My mom echoed, "Yeah, how can young people stay at home and rest? To afford the education for Brian, we worked hard to make money. What could he do if he knew about this? Dare he quarrel with us? If he does, he's really ungrateful!"

At this point, my dad got even angrier. "Humph! If your grandfather hadn't forced me to keep him at school, Brian would have dropped out of school long ago.

"He is just a farm boy. He should have made money earlier, instead of going to college. If it weren't for your grandfather, Brian would have made so much money."

My mom nodded. "Children in rural areas have to work early. We were exhausted from working for a few years."

She glanced at the time and said, "Benjamin, let's go and transfer the property. Don't say anything in front of Brian when you come back."

I saw Benjamin parting his lips as if he wanted to say something. However, in the end, he nodded.

He said, "Okay, I got it. This was your idea. I'm still waiting for Brian to buy me a car. I don't want him to hate me because of this matter. He might just come back to rest, and he probably will make a lot of money in Westwood in the future."

My mom chuckled, "Don't worry. We've already thought about it."

I watched them walk away with a smile on their faces.

Leaning against the wall, I covered my eyes with one hand and smiled bitterly.

The moment I got the money, my first thought was to go home and tell them that we could live a good life.

I wanted to share this happiness with them because they were my family.

However, they had never considered me a family member.

In my parents' eyes, only Benjamin was their son. What did they take me for?

I was just a cash cow for them. They thought I would not get angry with them as long as they said something nice to coax me.

Since high school, I hadn't spent a cent from my family.

I went to school during the day and worked as a waiter at night because I was afraid that my parents would be too pressed.

I wore the old clothes and unfit shoes given by others.

As for Benjamin, he had a wardrobe of new clothes.

My parents asked me to be considerate and left me in the country. Benjamin grew up in the county town, and they doted on him.

I was taught to give in to Benjamin and pamper him only because I was an older brother.

I listened to them and did as they wished.

I thought I was the older brother and that I needed to be sensible, so my parents ignored me because I was independent enough.

Unexpectedly, I never thought that they didn't even bother wasting their time on me.

What I said about being fired and relying on my parents was just a joke, but this joke let me realize the reality that I didn't want to admit for many years.

However, it was not too late to realize it now. After all, the money was still in my hands.

...

At night, we sat at the dining table. My parents and Benjamin looked at each other.

Then, my mother spoke first. "Brian, you've worked hard outside for so many years. I know you want to rest at home, but... the situation at home is really not good."

I looked down and ate without saying a word.

My father coughed and said, "We ran a business before, but we lost all the money. This house... The bank is going to take it away. Brian, we have no money left, so we can only live in the house Benjamin rented.

"But that place is too small. You... Maybe you should move out this week and rent a place to live by yourself..."

They thought I would be surprised and ask them, and they were all ready to talk to me in detail.

Unexpectedly, I just gave a hum.

"I understand. I'll pack up my things and move out."

I didn't care how they would try to trick me,

After all, I didn't care anymore, just like I wouldn't tell them that I got 60 million in dividends.

In two days, I packed up my things.

When I was about to leave, my girlfriend suddenly came to my hometown to see me.