Two Dollars and a Fortune

Logan immediately @-mentioned Vivian and me in the family group chat.

Logan: [@Cassian @Vivian What do you mean by this? Why did you kick Mom out of your house?]

After sending the message, Logan posted a photo of the suitcase in the group.

Logan: [Just because Mom won a million dollars in the lottery and gave Sienna and me 500 thousand dollars each, but only gave you two dollars, you got upset and kicked her out?]

Logan: [Do you two even have a conscience?]

Right after that, the group chat erupted into a trial against me.

[Cassian, you and Vivian have gone too far! How could you treat your mother like this?!]

[The eldest son is like a father. Isn't it your responsibility to help your younger siblings? Why are you being so stingy?]

[Exactly! Besides, your mom still gave you two dollars, didn't she? It was at least a gesture. Why are you two making such a big deal out of it?]

Sienna quickly added her voice.

Sienna: [Cassian, I know you're just unhappy that Logan and I didn't take care of Mom.]

Sienna: [Mom has lived with you for seven years, but her health hasn't been good during that time. Honestly, she was probably made sick by the stress you caused.]

Sienna: [Since it happened under your roof, shouldn't you be the ones responsible to the end?]

Watching the two of them twist the truth so brazenly made my entire body tremble with anger.

I was just about to post the evidence and fight back when, in the very next second, Vivian and I were removed from the family group chat.

Just then, my phone rang.

"Are you okay, honey?"

My wife's voice sounded steady, as if nothing that had just happened had affected her at all.

I gradually calmed down.

"I'm fine, sweetheart. Don't take what they said to heart."

"I know. It's just…"

She paused.

"I already had someone come change the door locks."

Right. Mother had a key to our house. Logan and the others would definitely try to bring her back.

"I'm sorry. I just can't face them calmly right now."

I knew Vivian was doing everything she could to hold herself together.

"You did nothing wrong," I said softly. "Let's stay somewhere else for a few days."

Not long after I hung up, my phone rang again—this time more urgently.

It was Mother.

I took a deep breath and answered.

"Cassian, what's going on? Why won't the door to your house open?!"

Mother's sharp voice came through the phone, making me frown.

"Mom, since you felt wronged living in my house, from now on, you can stay with Logan and Sienna.

"I don't care about the one million dollars anymore. And as for you—I don't want you either."

I spoke coldly. On the other end, Logan immediately exploded.

"Cassian, have you lost your mind?! Mom raised you all these years, and now you're cutting ties with her?!"

A cold laugh rose in my chest.

"Not just Mom. From now on, you two have nothing to do with me either."

The next second, Sienna's shrill voice cut in.

"Cassian, you're trying to dump Mom on us so you and your wife can live an easy life, aren't you?! I'm telling you right now—no way in hell am I gonna let that happen! If you insist on ruining our lives, don't expect us to let you live peacefully either!"

Facing her threat, I clenched my fists.

So, they knew perfectly well how much time and energy it took to care for an elderly parent. They had always known. Yet, not only had they never said a single word of thanks, they even accused Vivian and me without shame.

"Fine. Then none of us will have peace!"

With that, I hung up the phone.

I had finally seen the true faces of the three of them, and I no longer had any reason to endure it.

After calming myself down, I buried my head in my work again, hoping to numb myself with it.

But before long, the receptionist rushed in, looking flustered.

"Mr. Harper, something's wrong! Your brother and sister are outside the company with your mother, making a huge scene!

"They're saying you're selfish and domineering, that you bully your younger siblings—and even abuse your own mother! They're demanding that you come out and give them an explanation!"

"What?!" I shot to my feet, fury blazing in my chest, and hurried toward the door.