The Son They Never Wanted Became the One They Needed Chapter 04

The Son They Never Wanted Became the One They Needed Chapter 04

That evening, I came home with the money from my summer job.

Mom was crouched beside Logan’s suitcase, packing everything he would need for Disneyland.

As she packed, she kept reminding him,

“The sun’s going to be strong these next couple of days. Remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours.”

“Vanessa, keep an eye on your brother. It’ll be crowded there. Don’t let anyone bump into him.”

Vanessa nodded and stuffed two large bags of Logan’s favorite snacks into his backpack.

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect him.”

“I won’t even let him lose a single hair.”

Logan sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes wandering around the room.

Then they landed on the baseball cap sitting on my desk.

“Mom, that cap looks pretty cool.”

“I’ll look great wearing it in pictures.”

Without even looking up, Mom grabbed the hat and tossed it into his backpack.

“Ethan, you’re not going anyway.”

“Just let your brother borrow it for a couple of days.”

I opened my mouth.

Then closed it again.

I was leaving soon anyway.

Some words weren’t worth saying.

That night, after everyone had gone to sleep, I pulled an old suitcase out from under my bed.

It had a faded Ultraman Tiga design on it.

Logan had insisted on buying it when he was little.

After he got older, he decided it was childish and dumped it on me.

I quietly packed a few of the clothes I wore most often.

Then I opened the drawer in my nightstand.

Inside was an acceptance letter.

The dark burgundy folder reflected the light.

The gold-embossed words—

Ashford University.

I laid it across my knees.

Again and again, I traced the letters with my fingertips.

Early the next morning, Natalie Brooks pulled up outside our house.

She leaned out the car window.

When she saw me, she hesitated.

“Ethan, why don’t you come with us?”

Just then, Vanessa walked out of the house and overheard her.

Her face immediately filled with annoyance.

“Why bring him?”

“We’d have to wait forever to get another ticket.”

“What if Logan gets heatstroke?”

Logan slipped comfortably into the front passenger seat.

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

“Do you want to come too, Ethan?”

“But I’m used to sleeping alone.”

“If you come, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

Natalie looked at Logan.

Then she looked at me.

In the end, she pressed the gas pedal.

“Well…”

“Ethan, stay home and take care of yourself.”

“I’ll take you somewhere next time.”

“Okay.”

I stood there, watching the car disappear into the morning rush-hour traffic.

Then I turned around and went back upstairs.

Looking at the empty house.

I didn’t feel the slightest bit of attachment anymore.

I pulled the suitcase out from under my bed.

Then I called a cab and headed straight for the train station.

The moment I boarded the intercity train, my phone started vibrating nonstop.

Logan had created a new group chat called Disneyland Adventure.

He’d even gone out of his way to add me.

Photo after photo flooded the chat.

【Too bad Ethan didn’t come. I heard there’s a fireworks show tonight.】

Vanessa replied almost instantly.

【Who cares about him?】

Natalie didn’t say anything.

Instead, she posted a new photo on Instagram.

In the picture, Logan, dressed in a white shirt, had one arm wrapped protectively around her.

The caption read:

【No one is more excited for your eighteenth birthday than I am.】

I looked through every photo without saying a word.

Then I opened Natalie’s profile and blocked her.

Next came Logan.

Then Vanessa.

Then Mom.

The moment I left the group chat, the intercity train began picking up speed.

I watched the trees outside blur past the window.

For eighteen years…

My life had been tied to theirs.

Finally,

It wasn’t anymore.