She only got that director position so young because my dad made a special exception for her.

Claire ran after me, blocking my way.

“Ethan, don’t be impulsive. Ryan’s just stubborn on the outside but soft on the inside. Don’t take him too seriously.”

I laughed. “Soft on the inside? Claire, what does your brother take me for? A walking ATM? A free nanny?”

She panicked. “It’s not like that! Ryan just wants us to get married sooner, and having a kid around would be good practice.”

I looked her straight in the eyes. “And you? What do you think?”

Claire hesitated, stammering. “I... I think he has a point...”

At that moment, my heart completely went cold.

This woman never really cared about me. To her, I was just an accessory to their family.

“Claire, we’re done.”

Her face changed instantly.

“Ethan! Don’t be ridiculous. We’ve been together for so long. You can’t just break up over something so trivial—”

“Trivial?” I stared at her panicked expression, feeling a bitter laugh rise in my chest.

“Forget it. It doesn’t matter anymore. Don’t ever contact me again.”

I walked past her just as the elevator doors opened.

Behind me, Ryan’s angry voice echoed down the hall:

“That idiot! Thinks he’s all that! Good riddance—saves my sister the trouble!”

After leaving the retreat, I blocked Claire’s number.

But she kept calling from different numbers, like she’d gone mad.

Each time I heard her voice, I hung up immediately.

Until the twelfth call finally got through—Claire’s tearful voice came through the line:

“Ethan, please! Ryan regrets everything. He booked a private dining room at the Grand Hyatt Hotel to apologize to you.”

“You know how much I love you. We’ve been together three years. Please forgive me this once.”

Her sobs made my heart soften.

Maybe... maybe she really realized her mistake.

“Just an apology?”

“Yes! Just an apology! Ryan promised he’ll never bring up money again.”

I hesitated for a long time before finally agreeing.

But when I pushed open the door to the luxurious private dining room, I froze.

The room was packed—full of Claire’s extended relatives.

No fewer than a dozen of them.

Ryan sat at the head of the table, holding the baby with a smug grin.

When he saw me, he stood up immediately.

“Everyone, look! This is my future brother-in-law, Ethan!”

“He said he’s giving his nephew a $50,000 red envelope!”

What?!

Before I could react, the relatives swarmed me.

“What a good young man Ethan is!”

“So generous—Ryan, you’re lucky to have him!”

“So considerate—just like a son-in-law should be!”

A middle-aged woman in a floral shirt grabbed my hand, smiling.

“Ethan, your brother-in-law said you’re even letting your nephew use your school enrollment spot for when he starts school?”

Another woman chimed in:

“And since you’re well-off, you might as well buy him a house for when he gets married someday. After all, you can afford it.”

Ryan sneered from the side.

“Yesterday he acted all high and mighty, but he can’t live without my sister after all, huh?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t let you do this for free. When my kid grows up, his used clothes can go to you and my sister’s kids—to save you some money.”

Claire stood there with an awkward smile, nervously piling food into my bowl, her eyes pleading with me to just endure it.

Looking at this pack of greedy faces, the fire in my chest burned hotter and hotter.

So this was Claire’s so-called apology—using me as a scapegoat, morally blackmailing me in front of everyone.

I put down my chopsticks and stood up.

“Ladies and gentlemen, there must be a misunderstanding.”

“Everything you just said—I never agreed to any of it. I won’t pay a single cent, and I won’t let you take anything from me.”

Ryan’s face changed instantly.

He smashed a teacup to the ground and pointed at me, roaring:

“You dare play me for a fool?! You shameless man! You dare go back on your word in front of everyone?!”

The relatives’ expressions soured, whispering and pointing fingers.

“What’s wrong with this kid?”

“Can’t keep his word?”

“Claire, what kind of boyfriend did you find?”

Claire panicked, tugging at my arm.

“Ethan, stop making a scene—everyone’s watching.”

I yanked my arm free, laughing coldly.

“Claire, I trusted you this one last time because of our past. And you? You set me up with a public ambush.”

“From now on, if you dare come looking for me again, don’t blame me for taking back everything I ever gave you.”

I turned and left.

That night, just after I finished my shower, the doorbell rang.

Through the peephole, I saw Claire holding the baby, Ryan behind her with a huge suitcase.

I ignored them.

But the next second, I heard a key turning in the lock.

Damn it—I forgot to take back the spare key I’d given Claire.

The door opened and Ryan swaggered in, announcing brazenly:

“Since you won’t pay for the retreat, I’ll just live here. You can take care of me and the baby.”

He turned to Claire and commanded:

“Claire, change the sheets in the master bedroom. Ethan’s sleeping on the couch tonight.”

My blood pressure spiked. “This is my house! You can’t just—”

Before I could finish, Ryan was already striding into my bedroom.

He opened my closet and started pulling out my designer watches and suits.

“These things are too flashy. I’ll keep them safe for you.”

“Put them down!”

I lunged forward to stop him, but Claire held me back.

“Ethan, we’re family—don’t be so petty.”

I was about to argue when I saw Ryan pick up my father’s photo from the nightstand, a look of disgust on his face.

“Who keeps this creepy stuff in the bedroom? Such bad luck.”

He raised his hand, ready to throw it into the trash.

My blood boiled over.

“Stop!”

I broke free from Claire with all my strength and rushed to snatch the photo back.

Ryan suddenly dropped to the ground, screaming dramatically.

“Help! He hit me!”

“Claire, you saw it! I treated him like my real brother-in-law and he actually laid hands on me!”

Claire hurried over and pushed me hard.

Caught off guard, I stumbled back and crashed into the corner of the wall. Pain shot through my back.

Instead of checking on me, Claire crouched down next to Ryan.

“Ryan, are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?”

Ryan clutched his waist, groaning.

“My back… I think he broke my back.”

“Don’t worry, Ryan. I’ll get you to bed.”

She comforted him softly, then turned back to me, her expression ice-cold.

“Ethan, go stay somewhere else for a few days. Wait until Ryan calms down.”

I let out a short, bitter laugh.

“Claire, this is my house.”

My words seemed to ignite her rage.

Her eyes went red as she screamed—