The Forgotten Son's Revenge My Mother Chose Him Over Me

The year I applied to Tengan Corporation, a Fortune 500 giant, a new hurdle appeared out of nowhere: an English proficiency score of 700.

I scored 699. That single point cost me everything.

One year later, my adopted brother, Nathan Whitmore, breezed through the same doors.

At the celebration banquet I hosted for him, the atmosphere was thick with forced cheer. Zoey Finch, one of Mom's colleagues, swayed slightly, wine glass dangling from her fingers. She clapped a hand on Mom's shoulder.

"Emily, you really spoil the boy. You knew Nate didn't hit the 700 mark, so you just scrapped the requirement altogether."

I forced a polite smile. "You've got it wrong, Zoey. When I took the test last year, Mom didn't play favorites. I scored 699, so I was cut. Nate got in on his own merit."

"How could that be?" Zoey blinked, her gaze unfocused and glassy. "No, honey. Last year, that requirement was added because of your mother."

I froze, slowly turning to look at Mom.

She cleared her throat, shifting in her seat. "Marcus, we're mother and son. I had to avoid any appearance of impropriety. Nate is adopted. If I didn't hire him, people would claim the Whitmore family mistreats outsiders. Besides, Nate has worked hard. He deserves a good result."

The bitterness coated my tongue like ash.

Fine. If we're so concerned with avoiding impropriety, then when I audit Tengan's taxes at the end of the year as Chief of Tax Investigation, I won't leave a single stone unturned.

——

Silence descended on the dining table like a shroud.

Zoey seemed to sober up instantly, realizing the grenade she'd just tossed. She offered a nervous, tight-lipped smile. "Wait, I'm drunk. I'm talking nonsense. Marc, forget I said anything."

I brushed her hand aside, my eyes locked on Mom in the seat of honor. "So, the clause added last year really was your doing."

Mom remained silent, her expression unreadable.

Beside me, Dad tugged at my sleeve. "Marcus, don't start an argument with your mother."

I jerked my arm away. "Why shouldn't I? I scored 699, and she set the bar at 700. She deliberately blocked me!"

"I told you, I have to avoid conflicts of interest!" Mom snapped, her voice rising. "You are my biological son. If I hired you, imagine the rumors!"

I stared at her, incredulous. "Mom, 'conflict of interest' implies using authority to give relatives an unfair advantage! If I was unqualified, fine. But I placed first in the written test and the interview! What exactly were you avoiding?"

I gestured toward my brother. "On the contrary, Nate didn't even break 600, yet you removed the requirement for him. Who exactly are you protecting here?"

A glass struck my forehead, shattering on impact. Pain bloomed across my temple.

Mom stood up, chest heaving. "You've really grown a backbone, haven't you?"

Guests scrambled to separate us, pulling me to the left and Mom to the right.

Nathan's eyes welled with tears—a perfect performance. "Brother, please don't upset Mom. Hurry, apologize to her!"

"Look at him, then look at yourself!" Mom scowled, pointing a shaking finger at me. "Nate studied for three solid months. Why shouldn't he be rewarded? Everyone knows he's the orphan of my benefactor. If I don't help him, the world will say the Whitmores are heartless! Why can't you think of the family for once instead of your own selfish interests?"

"Selfish interests?" I let out a hollow laugh. "Mom, I prepared for a year. Who rewarded me?"

She froze.

"Do you know that because you blocked me, I lost my girlfriend?" Her frown deepened. "We were together for three years. We planned to introduce our parents the day I got the job. But she got in, and I didn't. We ended up a thousand miles apart. We had no choice but to break up."

My voice cracked. "Are you happy now, Mom?"

I grabbed a glass from the table and hurled it to the floor. Shards exploded outward.

Nathan threw himself in front of Mom, playing the shield. "Brother, what are you doing?"

Dad stepped forward to restrain me, but I ignored him, staring at her with burning eyes.

Mom looked genuinely shocked.

Suddenly, Nathan lunged at me.