Giving up After 99 Bad Omens

Dylan's eyes had reddened by the time he was done talking, and even his breathing was unsteady. It was obvious he felt bad for me.

Everyone in our circle knew I had spent three years chasing after Clara without getting anything in return. Yet the moment Caleb came back to Corvia, I was kicked out of my own home, and even Clara was snatched away from me.

They were all waiting for me to make a fool of myself.

I gave an indifferent laugh and comforted him instead, "Relax. I'm marrying Selene Shaw. When that happens, they're going to be choking on their own envy."

The Shaw family's empire sat on a foundation far deeper than ours. Rumor had it that they had connections in politics, too, and that made them practically untouchable in Arland.

At that thought, Dylan immediately gave me a look that said I had better not forget him once I made it big. "True. When that happens, you'd better slap the smug looks right off their faces!"

He suddenly brightened, pointing at a white suit displayed behind the glass window. "Try that one on. I bet you'll look like Prince Charming in it."

I looked over, and something stirred in me. But in the next second, a voice I couldn't stand came from behind us, "Clara, that suit looks amazing!"

Dylan and I exchanged a look of pure exhaustion. We turned to find Caleb and Clara standing right there, just as we had expected.

Caleb had the sales associate take the suit down, but Dylan stepped in to stop them. "Hey, we saw it first!"

Caleb immediately put on his puppy eyes, tugging at Clara's arm with an upset face. "Clara, can you convince Lucas to let me have it? I really want that suit for the homecoming party."

So, Dad was actually throwing him a formal party to acknowledge him.

Bringing him into the family so publicly was an insult to both Mom and me, but thankfully, Mom would be divorced soon, so I couldn't be bothered to care anymore.

Just then, Clara spoke, her voice as cold and detached as ever, "Lucas, let him have the suit. Next time you go to the tarot studio to draw a card, I'll let you have an extra turn."

I scoffed at her words. She made it sound like she was doing me a huge favor.

"No, thanks. It's not like anyone actually wants it," I said.

A flicker of shock crossed Clara's icy features, as if she hadn't expected me to refuse.

I then asked the sales associate to bring me another suit with a notched lapel.

Meanwhile, Dylan glanced at Caleb and snickered. "Good call. This suits you better anyway. Cute has nothing on sexy."

Behind us, Caleb's face turned red with anger.

…

Soon, the day of the engagement party arrived.

As I stepped out of the car, I realized there was another event being held on the first floor. It was the homecoming party Dad had organized for Caleb.

Not wanting to be anywhere near their mess, I headed straight for the elevator, but Caleb's smug voice caught me from behind.

"Lucas? What are you doing here? Did you finally come to apologize to Dad and welcome me into the family?"

I turned around and looked at Caleb in disdain. "I told you not to act like we're chummy with one another."

His face flushed as he immediately shifted into his victim act. "Are you here to stop Dad, then? I just want a family. Why can't you just accept me?"

Clara appeared behind him, her expression cold. She held his hand and comforted him for a moment before turning her displeased gaze on me.

I pressed the elevator button and waited. By now, Caleb was holding it in so hard that it seemed he would collapse right then and there.

"Lucas, please. I'm begging you. I just want a little bit of Dad's love. I'm not asking for anything else!"

Sick of listening to him, I gave him a firm shove to get him out of my way. "Move. I don't care if you join the family or not, and I'm not here for your party either."

He collapsed onto the floor as if I'd struck him, playing the victim for the growing crowd of onlookers.

Clara's expression turned thunderous, anger darkening her eyes. "That's enough, Lucas! Apologize to Caleb right now, and accept his place in the Quinn family!"

I stepped into the elevator and looked at her, a smile spreading across my face. "As I said, I'm not here for his homecoming. I'm here for my engagement."