Chapter 4

I wanted to laugh, but I passed out instead.

When I woke up again, it was already the day of the award ceremony.

My fingers and lower limbs were wrapped in bandages, and my throat was also covered with gauze.

Mom squeezed my palm tightly, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Xavion, you're awake? The doctor said you'll get better soon, don't be afraid."

Her phone beside her was streaming a live video of the award ceremony.

On the screen, John, dressed to the nines, was arm in arm with Dad and Sister, his smile radiant and charming.

Seeing my dejected expression, Mom quickly turned off her phone and wiped away her tears.

"Are you hungry? The doctor said you can only have liquids for the next few days. Would you like Mom to buy you some soup?"

I nodded, and after she left, I opened my phone to watch the live stream.

On screen, facing various questions from reporters, Dad and Sister staunchly defended John, shielding him behind them.

When asked about my plagiarism, they glossed over it, releasing a statement about my retirement from the industry on my behalf.

John stood on stage, belting out my creation "Xavion's Void at the Ocean Floor," as if he were truly the Triton singing at the bottom of the sea, utterly mesmerizing.

As the judges presented him with the award, my heart felt like it was being torn apart.

It was my work, yet not a single person believed me.John unexpectedly mentioned in his acceptance speech that his dad had helped polish the lyrics of this song, and his dad smilingly acknowledged it.

He personally presented the award to John, praising him as his pride and joy.

I bit down hard on my lip, tears falling.

The lyrics of this song, which clearly told the story of my time in the orphanage, had become their achievement.

Even sister solemnly told the media, "Ten years ago, our whole family was on a sea vacation. I went surfing and encountered a tsunami. In that life-or-death moment, it was Nolan who jumped in without hesitation to save me. He gave me his life jacket to wear, nearly getting swept away by the waves..."

"Nolan gave me a second chance at life. As his sister, I'll do everything in my power to protect him! To let him be the happiest Triton, singing freely."

I laughed through my tears.

John can't even swim, how could he have saved you?

I gave you my life jacket, was battered against the rocks by the massive waves, my back torn and bleeding, nearly losing my life. And now it's become John's heroic deed?

I wiped away my tears and, with trembling hands, sent a message to a long-forgotten number.

[Does your promise from back then still hold?]

The reply came instantly, [Of course. A pearl like you shouldn't be tarnished by them.]I've recently seen all the news. They've been framing and hurting you for the sake of that adopted son. You don't need to stay with them anymore. What do you want me to do?]

I clumsily typed out a few lines with my palm, and the door to the hospital room was pushed open.

Mom saw the words on my screen, and her expression changed drastically.

"Xavion, who are you messaging? Where are you going in three days?"

I closed the screen and flipped open the calendar to show her.

It was clearly marked with four words: [My birthday.]

Mom let out a sigh of relief and lovingly stroked my head.

"Wherever you want to go, we'll all go with you!"

I typed out an address, which was exactly where the whole family had vacationed by the sea ten years ago.

Since everything began there, let it end there too.

Three days later, the whole family rented a yacht by the sea to celebrate my birthday along with John's.

During the ten years since I was found, he always seemed more like the sole protagonist at every birthday party.

Pampered by his parents and adored by his sister since childhood, he knew how to act cute and vulnerable to win everyone's favor.

But I, having grown up in an orphanage, was reserved in nature and not particularly likable.

This time was no exception.

He deliberately had the cake made two meters tall, then looked at me in the wheelchair with a guilty expression:

"Big sister, I'm so sorry!I forgot you couldn't cut the cake with me anymore..."

Mom, Dad, and my sister quickly comforted him, saying it wasn't his fault, and that he should cut it in my place this year.

Amidst everyone's well-wishes, John smugly sliced into the massive cake.

He even had the sick humor to cut the miniature doll of me on top in half.

As he handed it to me, he leaned in and whispered:

"See that? Your parents and sister like me better. If you dare to compete with me again, I'll make sure you end up just like this doll!"