A Broken Trust

The air in the house was heavy when Xu Kai arrived. He stood at the doorway, shifting awkwardly as Grace opened the door.

"You really came," she whispered.

Xu Kai nodded, hands in his pockets. "I said I would."

Juan sat in the living room, watching him like a hawk. Joseph peeked from the hallway, not trusting a single word that came out of Xu Kai's mouth.

"Sit down," Grace said, motioning to the couch.

Xu Kai hesitated but obeyed. The house felt different—warmer, more like a family. Something he never really had growing up.

"Do you mean it?" Grace asked. "Are you really going to be responsible?"

Xu Kai leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "I'll try."

"Trying isn't enough," Felix's voice came from the kitchen doorway.

Everyone turned to him. Felix's presence was commanding, his arms crossed, his sharp eyes pinned on Xu Kai.

"If you're here, you better mean it," Felix continued, stepping forward. "Because if you hurt my sister again, you won't get a second chance."

Xu Kai clenched his jaw but didn't argue. He had already learned the hard way that Felix wasn't someone to cross.

Grace swallowed, looking between them. "I just want us to figure this out. I don't want my baby to grow up without a father."

Xu Kai sighed. "I know."

For now, he was here.

But could she trust him?

Late at night, Felix locked himself in his room. His laptop screen glowed in the dark as he scrolled through animation tutorials.

He had started watching them months ago—at first, just out of boredom. But then, he realized he was good at it.

Really good.

His YouTube channel had started small, but now, it had over 100,000 subscribers.

No one in his family knew.

He had been secretly making money from it, enough to pay for the bills, the rent, and even Joseph's school fees.

Felix exhaled, rubbing his temples.

He didn't care about fame. He just wanted to survive.

And right now, with everything happening, it was the only thing keeping him sane.

A week later, Grace had her first ultrasound appointment.

Xu Kai sat beside her, stiff and quiet. Felix, Joseph, and Juan waited outside.

"Are you nervous?" the doctor asked.

Grace nodded, gripping the hospital bed.

The doctor smiled, turning the screen toward them. "Look."

A tiny, flickering heartbeat appeared on the monitor.

Grace gasped, covering her mouth.

Xu Kai sat up, his eyes widening.

"That's… that's our baby?" he murmured.

Grace nodded, tears forming in her eyes.

For the first time, Xu Kai didn't feel like running away.

Xuan showed up, leaning against the wall next to him.

"So, how's babysitting duty?" Xuan teased.

Felix scoffed. "Shut up."

Xuan smirked. "You know, you could just tell them what you do."Let them think I care about this family?"

"You do care," Xuan said. "More than anyone."

Felix stayed silent.

He didn't need to say it out loud.

Three Weeks Later – The Truth Comes Out

Felix had planned to keep his secret forever.

But then, Joseph found his laptop.

"Felix?" Joseph's voice was soft, hesitant.

Felix turned, seeing his little brother standing in the doorway, laptop in hand.

"What is this?" Joseph asked, showing the YouTube page.

Felix froze.

Juan, Grace, and even Xu Kai were in the living room, watching.

"You… you've been making animations?" Grace whispered.

Felix sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Yeah. So what?"

"So what?" Grace's voice rose. "Felix, you've been paying for everything, haven't you?"

Felix shrugged. "Figured someone had to."

Juan stepped forward, tears in her eyes.

The truth was out.

And for the first time, his family saw him for who he really was.

Not just the rude, mean, and stubborn Felix.

But the brother who had sacrificed everything for them.