Nine

Last night, Nicaise called her and Caleb to meet him in their friend's club. Yes, they can enter the club even though they're not at their legal age but because their parents are well-known plus the owner of the club is a friend of them. Basically, they're on the list of the VIP.

The three gathered together to a private room where Nicaise told them and he talked about what just happened. He talks about how he feels being betrayed by his own dad and being unfair as a brother to Xysto. The two negotiates him and gave him advice on what he should do or how should he face his tomorrow.

"Nic, you can't just put the blame on Xysto. He doesn't deserve for you to hate him. He doesn't know anything. Besides, it's really unfair on his part. He didn't know his real family. Your dad abandoned him for what? 17 years? You two got separated. You grew up in a prince's life while your brother suffers like he is the poorest boy on the planet." Blaire blurts out and she raised his eyebrow on Nicaise.

"Blaire, I don't think so that you should stick your nose into Nicaise's business. You should let it slide. Just let them be." Caleb cuts off as he pours a mid alcoholic drink unto his glass.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Xysto is also my friend and can you please stop drinking in the middle of this conversation? We all know you're already at the legal age but please, don't expect us to take you home once you get drunk." she rolled his eyes.

Caleb puts the glass away as he was about to drink it and raised both of his hands, "Okay, mum."

"Anyways, what's your plan since your brother is back?" Caleb smirks at him,

"I have no idea. I just want the company to be mine." Nicaise responded bluntly,

"The school is under your name. Isn't that enough for you?" Blaire added,

"I don't care about that. I want the company. I worked hard for it. I invest my time and effort in that damn company and what? It will be under on someone's." he said with a pissed tone,

"He is not just someone. He is your brother."

"Still, I don't care."

Blaire already gave up and leans her head on the couch. Caleb shakes his head and drank the shot that he set aside earlier while Nicaise was looking at his friends worrying about him being a stubborn kid.

It's almost a week now since Nicaise didn't go to school because he is still thinking about what happened these past few days. As he lays on his bed while staring at the white ceiling, his phone suddenly rang. He looked at the caller and it is from Caleb. He hissed as he presses accept.

"What."

"Where are you? We haven't heard any news from you," he asked from the other line,

"Dude, I'm not in the mood. Don't call me."

Before the latter response, Nicaise instantly ended the call and threw away his phone on the edge of the bed. He is aware that everybody is worried about him but he doesn't care. He wants to be alone for now.

He sat on his bed and get his laptop from the nightstand. He decided to scroll at his social media platform when something caught his attention.

'Chen Family revealed the truth about their heirs'

'Dylan Nicaise Chen is not an only child'

'Chen brothers: Dylan Nicaise & Xysto Alexander'

'Is Xysto Alexander a Chen?!'

'Xysto Alexander: The long lost Chen'

Those were the title of every article that caught his attention. He reads every article and some of them were true and some of it was only a rumor.

"What the hell," he murmurs to himself.

He suddenly closes his laptop and put it away. There's a lot of things he missed when he skips school. Wonder what Xysto has been doing since everybody knew about him. Nicaise felt pity for his brother but his pride and anger were eating him. He is still mad about what happened. From now on, Xysto is just a brother to him and not a friend anymore.

He went downstairs to take a peaceful breakfast before he goes to school. After finishing his meals, he entered his private elevator leading to the parking lot. Not that long, he arrived at his school and he is late, as usual. He was walking to his next class when he saw Xysto walking nearer to him. The boy smiled at him while he gave a blank face.

"Hi, how are you? We missed you so much and you haven't returned any of my calls. Are you okay?" his brother asked him with a smile,

"I'm good. I just want you to stay away from me," he responds coldly and he walked passed by him.

Xysto stared at him with a confused face as he walks away, "What just happened?" he asked himself. He shakes his head as he goes to a different path to look for Chris but the other is nowhere to be found.

While finding his other friend, some of the students were staring at him and he hears gossips about him.

"Oh! Look, it's the nerd who turned from rag to riches,"

"I'm pretty sure he only pretends to be poor so that he will catch the people's attention,"

"Yeah, right. Maybe that's why he got the scholarship because he is a Chen,"

"Ugh, I like Nicaise more than him."

He looked down while walking after since he doesn't want to hear any rumors about him. It's not his fault that he passed the scholarship or maybe they did it on purpose to give him the scholarship because he is a Chen. But still, he has no idea until his father told him.

When the news leaked on the media and the press, Xysto gets a lot of attention not only inside their school but also outside their school. He heard a lot of fake statements about him every day and students were teasing him. Too much tease that he feels like he's been bullied.

As he looked for Chris, he saw Caleb with Blaire. He was about to turn around when Blaire saw him. She called the latter and Xysto walked in front of them, shyly.

"Hey, why are you alone? Where's Chris?" Blaire asked him,

Xysto cratches his nape, "Uh, I don't know either."

"Hey, B. I got to go. See you later." Caleb snorted as he patted Blaire's shoulder and walked away,

"Where are you going?"

"Uh, is it me, or does everybody is ignoring me?" Xysto stated as he tilts his head on Blaire.

Blaire shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know what's wrong with him but anyway, let's go find Chris?"

The latter nodded and smiles. They both went to the library hoping that Chris was sparing his time.

As soon as they saw Chris, the three spends their time together since they don't have a class and the other students were picking on Xysto about the news. Blaire and Chris told him that he should stand up for himself and use his power as a Chen but the other refuses and let it slide but Blaire and Chris are the ones who always get in trouble since they always stood up for their friend and they're both popular and one of the elites so no students can cross their way.