3: 3

3

I hung up and went back into the private room, and Kerry turned to me out of nowhere.

"Alfie, what did you get me?"

Every set of eyes in the room settled on me.

I stood there, my throat dry and tight.

Locked out all night, then running around all day.

I hadn't had so much as a sip of water. Where was I supposed to find the energy to buy a gift?

When I said nothing, Kerry's eyes filmed over with tears.

"Alfie, is it that you don't want me home?"

Then my parents piled on, one after another.

"Alfred, how can you be so thoughtless? Your brother finally comes back to the country and you can't spare a single kind gesture?"

"So selfish. How can you be this petty?"

"We raised you for nothing. No sense of family at all, cold-blooded and heartless."

Zoe lifted her eyes to me, her look distant and detached.

"Alfie, what you did really was wrong."

I kept my head down and bit hard into my lip.

They welcomed their younger son home with open arms and full hearts.

They remembered a table of fine dishes for him, expensive gifts, a house bought outright, and they even remembered a special feast for the dogs.

Every single thing. Except that today was also my birthday.

After dinner, Zoe made a rare move and came to talk to me.

"Alfie, I need to tell you something."

Something in me stirred.

I thought she was going to explain why she never replied last night.

I thought she still remembered that today was my birthday.

But she hesitated a long moment, then raised her eyes to mine.

"Kerry just got back, and he's not used to the pace here yet. I'm worried he won't find a decent job."

"I want to bring him into our company through a referral."

I stood there, stunned.

Zoe's company was the top firm in the area.

The bar to get in was brutally high. Ordinary people fought for a spot and never made it.

Even I, a graduate from a top school, had to wear her down for ages just to get a referral for an internship.

An overseas-project translation post, the hours flipped by time zones, day and night blurred together.

I'd stay up until two or three in the morning proofreading drafts, night after night.

I didn't dare take a day off, didn't dare make a mistake, didn't dare let up.

I gutted it out for a full six months.

Now the internship was nearly over, and my coworkers all said that with how hard I worked, being made permanent was a sure thing.

But the company also had an unwritten rule. Each employee could refer only one person.

"Zoe, what are you getting at?"

She dropped her gaze, but her tone left no room for argument.

"Alfie, resign. Give the position to Kerry."

I'd already decided to join the Antarctic research expedition.

But quitting on my own and being forced to step aside were two very different things.

"Zoe, you know how hard I fought to get made permanent, everything I poured into it."

"And now, on your say-so, I'm supposed to just hand it all over?"

"And if I say no?"

She flushed, half-angry, half-embarrassed.

"Alfred, Kerry is your brother. Not some stranger."

"If you don't resign, I'll have the company fire you outright. Kerry studied abroad, after all. His English is better, he's more suited to the position now."

"Think it over carefully. Don't make everyone look bad."

With that she left me standing there and hurried to catch up with Kerry ahead of us.

The two of them walked shoulder to shoulder, talking and laughing.

My phone buzzed. A message from the head of the Antarctic research expedition.

"Mr. Sullivan, we depart in three days. We've put together a welcome package for you here, a full set of living supplies, cold-weather gear, and a food kit, everything included. You don't need to bring a thing, just yourself."

Two short lines, and I read them over more than ten times.

It was the only kindness, the only warmth, I received on my birthday today.

I lifted a hand and quietly wiped the tears from the corner of my eye.

It's fine. I'll be gone soon enough.

4: 4

4

The next morning I got to the office early, same as always.

After the morning meeting, Zoe walked in with Kerry in tow.

"Everyone, meet Kerry. He'll be joining us from now on, taking over Alfred's position. Please make him feel welcome."

Sympathetic glances drifted my way, some open, some sidelong.

I lowered my eyes. I'd stopped hoping for anything, and still I hadn't expected her to be this ruthless.

Back then I'd begged her, over and over, just to land a single internship.

To keep up appearances, Zoe had always acted at work like she didn't know me.

No one knew we were together.

I'd worked myself to the bone to prove I was worthy of her.

And to prove to Mom and Dad that I was every bit as good as anyone.

But now I understood. No matter how good I was, they would never see it.

Zoe came over with Kerry beside her.

"Alfred, get your work in order. You'll hand everything off to Kerry today."

I curled my hands into fists and, without a word, gave them every file I'd already organized.

At the door I glanced back. Zoe was leaning over the screen, pointing things out, walking Kerry through it step by step.

She had never once treated me like that.

I turned and left, without a shred of regret.

After that, Zoe cheerfully drove Kerry to and from work every day.

When she saw me, she didn't say a word.

The night before I left, Zoe called me, which she almost never did, and said she was waiting for me at home.

When I got there, everyone was gathered in the living room.

Kerry's eyes were red, and he was sniffling quietly.

Mom sat beside him murmuring comfort, and Dad kept sighing.

"Alfred, you're finally back. Hurry, you have to save Kerry."

It turned out Kerry, so sure of himself after studying abroad, thought his English was flawless.

He'd been sloppy and careless with his work, and on an outgoing price quote he'd typed the amount in dollars while entering it as a much weaker foreign currency.

The company lost nearly ten million.

"I don't have that kind of money. I can't fix this."

Zoe took my hand, her voice earnest.

"You don't have to pay it back. You just have to admit you wrote the proposal wrong yourself."

"You're only an intern anyway, and you've already left. Even if the company comes after you, worst case is a year in prison."

The cold went through me. I looked at Mom and Dad.

"Kerry just got back from overseas. We can't let this ruin his future."

"You've lived under our roof all these years. Don't be so selfish. Think of it as making it up to Kerry, and go confess."

"And have any of you thought about me? If I go to prison, my whole life is ruined."

Dad's brows knotted together.

"That's completely different. Kerry studied abroad. He's far smarter than you."

"You'll get married and have kids someday either way. Zoe doesn't hold this against you. One year in prison, what does it matter?"

So in their eyes, my future was worthless, my good name was theirs to trample, and my life was theirs to throw away.

I pulled my hand free of Zoe's, my mind made up.

"No. I didn't do it. I won't confess to it."

Kerry started to cry.

"Mom, Dad, don't put Brother in a hard spot. I'll just go to prison, that's all."

"It's my rotten luck. I just won't be able to stay by your side and take care of you anymore..."

Mom pulled him into her arms, aching for him, then turned and glared at me.

"Alfred, are you determined to drive this whole family to death? If you won't take the blame, I'll die right here in front of you."

Zoe clenched her jaw, like she'd made up her mind.

"Alfred, I'm begging you. Just help Kerry, and I'll agree to anything you want."

I watched Mom standing at the edge of the balcony, swaying like she might fall.

All I felt was how absurd it was, how laughable.

If I refused, there was no telling what dirty trick they'd pull next.

"Fine. I'll go first thing tomorrow."

They finally breathed easy.

The four of them chatted and laughed, already debating where to go for the weekend.

Early the next morning, I shouldered my backpack and got ready to leave.

Mom was in the kitchen making Kerry a special breakfast.

She saw me and didn't lift her head.

"Confess like a good boy. We'll come pick you up from prison in a year."

The car that had come for me was waiting downstairs.

Zoe passed me on her way in.

"Go confess at the company first. I'll come once I've calmed Kerry down."

"Alfred, I'll consider this a debt I owe you. When you get out, we'll get married."

I watched her hurry off, and there was no pain left in me.

She wanted to trade my good name, my life, and my freedom for a marriage handed out like charity.

I didn't think it was worth it, and I didn't want it.

I left the group chats, pulled the SIM card out of my phone, and dropped it in the trash can by my feet.

Then I bent down and climbed into the car.

From here on, the world was wide open, and there would be no coming back.