The Son They Never Wanted Became the One They Needed Chapter 07

The Son They Never Wanted Became the One They Needed Chapter 07

That night, three hashtags dominated the trending page.

#StateValedictorianNeglectedByParents

#JusticeForEthanCarter

#TheBalconyBedroom

The comments poured in by the second.

Someone posted a nine-photo collage comparing my room to Logan’s.

The replies were filled with outrage.

“Left behind at Disneyland at seven. Isolated by his entire family at eighteen. That’s not favoritism—that’s abuse.”

“He was smart enough to become State Valedictorian, but he deliberately kept his grades down. Why? Because doing well would’ve made his brother feel bad?”

“One kid got the full Apple lineup. The other got a free Spanish learning tablet. Have these people no shame?”

That same night, people dug up Logan’s TikTok account.

His pinned video was a Disneyland selfie with the caption:

Wrapped in Love.

The comments exploded from a handful to thousands.

Every single one questioned exactly how he’d been so “loved.”

Vanessa’s phone wasn’t any better.

Her text messages were flooded.

High school classmates.

College roommates.

Even cousins she hadn’t spoken to in years.

Every message asked the same thing.

“Did your family really treat your brother like that?”

She read two of them before turning off her phone.

While Brookhaven was in complete chaos.

Life in Ashford City remained peaceful.

The moment I stepped onto Ashford University’s campus, my schedule became packed.

The best students from all over the country studied here.

No one hid their abilities.

Everyone displayed their talent openly.

No one had to dim their own light.

No one had to deliberately score lower just to make someone else feel better.

That evening, I walked out of the library carrying a heavy stack of textbooks.

A slender figure suddenly stepped into my path.

Natalie Brooks.

The cheerful, polished woman I remembered was gone.

Dark circles hung beneath her eyes.

Bloodshot veins spread across them.

She looked exhausted.

Almost unrecognizable.

She grabbed my wrist so tightly it felt like she was trying to crush the bone.

“Ethan.”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me you got into Ashford University?”

“And why did you block me without a word?”

“Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you?”

Pain shot through my wrist.

I yanked my arm free and took two steps back.

“What are we to each other?”

“Why would I owe you an explanation about where I got accepted?”

Natalie froze.

Disbelief filled her eyes.

“Are you still upset about what happened at the bubble tea cafe?”

“I wasn’t thinking.”

“The Spanish learning tablet, I handled that badly.”

“I’ll take you shopping right now.”

“I’ll buy you a brand-new laptop.”

“An iPhone.”

“Whatever you want.”

“I’ll make it up to you.”

I let out a quiet laugh.

“So you knew.”

“You knew giving me a free promotional tablet was humiliating.”

“Then why hand it to me yourself?”

Natalie opened her mouth.

No words came out.

I looked at her helpless expression.

Then answered for her.

“Because you wanted Logan to like you.”

“You wanted to win his favor by putting me down.”

“You’re years older than he is.”

“There’s no way you couldn’t see through his helpless act and all his little manipulations.”

“You just chose to pretend you didn’t.”

“You were willing to play along.”

“Again and again.”

“And every time, I was the one you stepped on.”

Natalie trembled.

The color drained from her face.

She couldn’t deny a single word.

Hurried footsteps sounded behind us.

Vanessa strode over.

Her tone carried the same self-righteous certainty it always had.

“Ethan Carter.”

“Have you made enough of a scene yet?”

I turned to face her.

She glared at me.

“So you got into Ashford University.”

“Good for you.”

“You’re impressive.”

“You’ve got a bright future.”

“But you disappeared without saying a word.”

“You blocked our calls.”

“You left the family group chat.”

“Mom got surrounded by reporters downstairs for over an hour because of you.”

“Do you even think of us as your family anymore?”

I smiled.

“Before I answer that…”

“Answer one question for me.”

“If I’d shown you my Ashford University acceptance letter back then…”

“Would you have genuinely congratulated me?”

“Or would you have torn it up on the spot.”

“So Logan wouldn’t feel embarrassed?”

Vanessa pressed her lips into a thin line.

I looked at her silent expression.

Then I let out a cold laugh.

“You already know the answer.”

“So stop pretending.”