I've returned to the Ashcroft family for three years. All three homecoming parties have ended in failure.

At the first party, I was accused of stealing a watch in front of the guests. Because of that, I became the entire elite society's laughingstock.

In the second party, I was pushed into a swimming pool. As such, I suffered from a high fever and was comatose for three days. It almost killed me.

In the third party, a forged paternity test was hurled in my face. My own mother announced that she had cut all ties with me on the spot.

Every party ended with the fake heir, Everest Ashcroft, bursting into tears and admitting his mistakes.

But the entire family kept telling me, "Everest is deathly afraid of you obtaining our love meant for him. That's why he threw a small tantrum.

"You're already acknowledged as a son of the Ashcrofts. Why must you keep latching onto this matter so pettily?"

In the fourth party held on the fourth year, Everest threatens to off himself. In order to save him, I fall from the rooftop, causing my right leg to suffer from a comminuted fracture.

My entire family huddles around Everest, who's obviously shaken, and keeps showering him with love and care.

The butler is ordered to pass on their message to me.

"Know your place. Do not disturb Everest when he's in bedrest."

As I caress my broken leg, I keep laughing until tears stream down my cheeks.

It's not that Everest doesn't want the Ashcrofts to give away their love to me. It's just that the Ashcrofts don't want to acknowledge me as a part of them at all.

In that case, I might as well leave this family permanently.

Having made up my mind, I was ready to leave the hospital. But as I stepped into the hallway, I ran straight into Everest Ashcroft and Bianca Ashcroft.

Everest's eyes were red-rimmed, and his voice carried a hint of worry. "Bianca, what if Leo's leg actually heals? What if Mom and Dad start favoring him again? He's their biological son, after all…"

"Don't worry. I've spoken to the doctor. His legs… He will never walk without a wheelchair for the rest of his life."

The voice that replied came from my older sister Bianca, who had always been distant and cold toward me. She was now comforting Everest with distress and gentleness.

Everest still seemed uneasy. "But… He did get hurt trying to save me…"

"You're just too soft," she cut him off affectionately. "Even now, you're still thinking of him.

"I've managed the last three homecoming parties for you, haven't I? A wild brat raised in the countryside can never compare to you, who's lived with us for 20 years. He isn't even worthy."

My legs nearly gave way, and a deafening roar filled my head.

I had thought that it was only Everest's doing, but now, I knew the truth that my most respected, beloved sister had plunged the sharpest blade in my back.

With that, I turned around and walked away, dragging my right leg still locked in plaster. Every step set stabbing pain from the fracture as if my bones were reminding me of how stupid I had been.

Three years ago, the Ashcrofts had brought me back from that poor but loving small town.

My name had been August Somerset, but they told me I was Leo Ashcroft, the true son who had been switched at birth 20 years ago.

After returning to the Ashcroft family, I was faced with Everest's countless schemes.

Every time, he would cry and apologize, saying he had just let it go to his head. And every time, the Ashcrofts would convince me to be forgiving with the same tired reasoning.

"Everest was spoiled growing up. He doesn't mean any harm."

"You're the real son of the Ashcroft family, so why are you stooping to the level of an adopted son?"

I had compromised again and again for their sake, but in the end, they were trying to ruin me.

A suffocating tightness wrapped around my chest as tears welled up in my eyes.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a new notification. Bianca had posted to her Instagram feed. "Everest had such a scare today, but I'll always protect you."

Attached was a photo of Everest looking pale and leaning over her shoulder. The irony nearly made me laugh out loud.

My fingers trembled as I scrolled through my contacts and dialed a number. Once the call connected, my adoptive dad, Henry Somerset's familiar, anxious voice came through.

"What's wrong, August? Did something happen?"

I couldn't hold it in anymore.

Crouching by the hospital gates, I wept like a child. "I want to come home, Dad."

Night had completely fallen by the time I returned to the Ashcroft residence. The living room was brightly lit, filled with laughter and chatter.

I stood at the door, dragging my crippled leg, and watched the happy family inside.

Seated in the center of the couch, Everest was shrouded in everyone's attention. A massive cake sat on the table with words iced across it. "Get well soon, our precious son."

They were celebrating his recovery from the fright, while I, the one who had fallen from a height and nearly lost my life, hadn't received a single word of concern.

It hit me then that their attention had never been meant for me.

I gave a bitter laugh before a cold voice cut through my thoughts.

"Where have you been, Leo? Don't you know that Everest was badly frightened, and everyone's been worried sick? How could you just disappear without a word?"

Bianca frowned down at me from the steps. Her gaze was sharp and carried clear disdain.

I pointed to the thick plaster around my right leg and sarcastically replied, "Take a good look, Bianca. I broke this leg saving your precious brother."

Her eyes flickered. For a second, she stood frozen to the spot before Everest's muffled wails sounded behind her.

"Don't blame Leo. This is all my fault. If it wasn't for me, he wouldn't have gotten hurt at all…

"Are you still mad at me, Leo?"

Bianca's gaze immediately darkened, and her tone turned sharp as she snapped, "If you weren't always trying to compete with Everest, none of this would've happened."

In her eyes, the fact that I had saved a life was just a tactic for rivalry.

"Are you saying that I brought this on myself?" I quietly asked.

"Didn't you?" she countered and stepped closer, pointing in my face. Every word she spoke cut deep.

"I warned you to know your place and behave in the Ashcroft family. Stop trying to fight Everest for everything.

"He's been with us for 20 years, and that bond is something you'll never replace."

She was right. 20 years of companionship and a bond could make blood ties worthless.

My biological dad, Benedict Ashcroft, glanced over with disappointment. "You should learn gratitude, Leo. We bought you back from the countryside, gave you comfort, food, and a home. What more do you want?"

Like always, I was in the wrong as long as Everest shed tears, no matter how much I suffered.

When I said nothing, Bianca took out a bank card from her wallet and tossed it at my feet.

"Here's more than enough to cover your medical bills and compensation. From today on, behave yourself and stop causing us trouble."

The card clattered onto the floor, and so did my heart and dignity.

I looked her in the eye and hoarsely said, "Bianca… If it had been Everest who fell from that height yesterday, would you have said the same thing to him?"

She stiffened as if she had never expected that question.

After a long pause, she coolly replied, "Everest isn't as calculating as you are."

I scoffed and closed my eyes, feeling the last spark of warmth in my chest vanish.

"I'm moving out tomorrow," I declared before turning around and limping painfully toward my room.

Behind me, I could faintly hear Bianca's muttered curse. "Ungrateful brat."

…

I sat numbly on the edge of my bed and curled into myself, feeling my heart ache dully. It hurt so much that I could hardly breathe.

After some time, a sudden crack of thunder jolted me awake. For a moment, I wondered if I was dreaming.

I had imagined countless times what it would be like to find my biological family, but I had never pictured such a scene.

Amid the crackling thunder, I stood up and looked around the room.

The space was technically mine, but traces of Everest were everywhere, including his discarded old models and his worn-out sneakers that filled the closet. Everything that belonged to me fit into one small suitcase.

I opened it and carefully took out an old wooden music box.

My adoptive mom, Joycelyn Wood, had made it for my tenth birthday. A tiny dancing boy spun on the lid as the tune played.

She had said, "August will shine as the brightest dancer on stage one day."

It was my most treasured possession. I was about to place it in my bag when the door to my room was pushed open.

Everest stood at my door holding a glass of milk. When he noticed that I was awake, he wore an innocent, harmless smile.

"You're up, Leo. I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd warm some milk for you. It might help you feel better."

When I ignored him and kept packing, he walked in.

After setting the glass on the table, he offered a feigned concern. "Don't be mad at Mom, Dad, or Bianca. They're just worried about me.

"I know you saved me, and I'm really grateful."

His words made my skin crawl as I coldly snapped, "Save the gratitude. Just stay away from me."

The smile finally slipped from his face. He leaned close to my ear and whispered, "Who do you think you are, Leo? You're just a country bumpkin who grew up in some rural town, so what makes you think you're worthy of competing with me?"

When he noticed my pupils constrict, his smile widened. "You're a cripple now, so let's see how you're going to fight me now."

Suddenly, his hand tilted, and the entire glass of scalding hot milk poured over my arm.

A sharp, burning pain exploded through my nerves as I grunted in pain, and my crutch slipped from my grip. I lost balance and crashed heavily to the floor.

A searing agony ripped through my leg, and cold sweat from pain soaked my back. But what broke me more was the music box that tumbled from my arms and clattered onto the floor with a crisp crack.

I looked up just in time to see Everest's foot coming down hard on the wooden box. It shattered under his force, and the tiny dancing boy snapped clean in half.

Then, he suddenly screamed before picking up a shard and drawing it lightly across his forearm. After tossing it aside, he dropped to the floor and burst into loud, dramatic screams.

"My hand hurts so much!" he wailed. "Why are you doing this to me, Leo? I know that I've messed up, but please don't hurt me…"

His theatrical wails brought the house down. Bianca was the first to burst into the room and nervously help him up, carefully inspecting the cut on his arm.

"Everest! Are you okay? Where are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," he choked and shook his head. "Leo didn't mean it. He was just upset…"

"Leo!"

My biological mom, Malinda Hopkins' roar, shook the room. "You ungrateful brat! What have you done to Everest now?'

Benedict walked over to me. His eyes were full of disappointment and disgust as he took in the mess on the floor.

"You've truly let us down, Leo. Everest kindly brought you milk, and is this how you return the favor?"

As I lay on the floor, the pain in my leg reminded me of what had just happened. No one asked if I was hurt from the fall because all they could see was the shallow scratch on Everest's arm.

At that moment, nothing mattered anymore.

Enraged by my silence, Malinda slapped me hard across the face. "I'm talking to you, so answer me!

"How on earth did the Ashcrofts raise such a vicious son? Apologize to Everest, right now!"

I covered my burning cheek and defiantly met her eyes. "I didn't do a thing, so I have nothing to apologize for."

"How dare you talk back!" She raised her hand to strike again, but Bianca stopped her and turned her cold eyes to me.

"This is my final warning, Leo. If you ever pull something like this again, you can get out of the Ashcroft family!"

Without waiting for my reply, she helped Everest up and headed straight for the hospital.