The Prestigious Family’s Adopted Son

My entire prestigious family can hear my thoughts.
The day they brought me home, they sent their adopted son a casual thirty-thousand dollars for pocket money. They sent me two hundred.
I grumbled to myself,
Are you kidding me? Two hundred bucks? I make more than that turning wrenches on the line.
Just as their faces curdled with disdain, waiting for me to grovel like a grateful dog, they heard the rest of my thought:
So, a New York City powerhouse family gives their son a combined monthly allowance of thirty-thousand, two-hundred dollars. They couldn't even afford a square meter of thermal shielding with that.
What's the point of fighting over this paltry inheritance?
The Program is still behind on its thirty-rocket KPI for the year. Instead of wasting time on this family drama, I should be back building defenses against the alien invasion.

1.
The moment my parents and I stepped through the mansion's grand entrance, a boy threw himself to his knees in front of me.
I flinched back, startled.
He scrambled forward on his knees, his face streaked with tears. "It's all my fault! I stole the life that should have been yours, brother! I'm on my knees begging for your forgiveness. If you can't forgive me I'll voluntarily leave the Sterling family and go back to the slums! I'll do anything, as long as it makes you happy!"
In the opulent living room, my biological parents and three older sisters immediately rushed to his side.
My mother helped the boy, Miles, to his feet, her tone sharp with disapproval. "Rob, that's enough. How could you treat your brother like that?"
My father's face was grim, his eyes burning with condemnation.
My eldest sister, Chloe, scoffed. "What do you expect from someone raised in the wilds? Besides herding cattle and turning wrenches, all he knows are these pathetic little tricks to get attention."
I was too busy gawking at the mansion's interior to hear a word they were saying.
The Sterlings really are a top-tier player in the advanced materials industry. Even their home is built with the best of the best.
The anger in their eyes vanished, replaced by stunned confusion. They exchanged glances, then all stared at me.
Good thing I listened to the Director and took leave to come home for this family reunion. With me as the inside man, the Program won't have to worry about material suppliers anymore.
My father's brow furrowed slightly.
Chloe let out a disgusted snort but said nothing.
My second sister, Seraphina, shot me a look that was suddenly sharp and wary.
My third sister, Ava, glared at me. "I'm warning you," she said, her voice like ice, "we only have one brother, and that's Miles. Don't even think about competing with him for our affection, or for the company."
My father cleared his throat, addressing me in a patronizing tone. "Rob, you've been working on the factory floor for a long time. It must be difficult adjusting to the Sterling lifestyle here in the city."
He tapped a few times on his phone.
A moment later, the ancient feature phone in my pocket blared a robotic, glitchy voice announcement: "Two hundred dollars received."
"Take this for now," my father said. "Once you've settled in, I'll send you more."
Then, he turned to a teary-eyed Miles, his voice softening with affection. "Miles, we raised you. You will always be a Sterling. That will never change. As compensation, I'm raising your monthly allowance to thirty thousand, starting now. I'll send it over."
He immediately pulled out his phone to make the transfer.
Miles's tears vanished, replaced by a triumphant smile. He made a show of refusing, his gaze flickering smugly in my direction. "Oh, no, you can't. You should give my allowance to my brother instead. He grew up poor in the countryside and worked in a factory. He needs the money more than I do."
The flaunting was obvious, but I just frowned.
Are the Sterlings really this poor? Only thirty thousand a month for their son?
My father's thumb froze over his phone's keypad.

2.
Miles stared at him, confused.
My eldest sister, Chloe, let out a cold laugh. "Thirty thousand? I bet you've never even seen ten thousand in your life. Do you even understand the concept of money?"
I was disappointed.
Is thirty thousand a lot? It wouldn't even buy a square meter of thermal shielding. My workshop's weekly budget is more than that.
The smirk on Chloe's face froze solid.
Well, I guess being a little poor is fine. At least their family business is in advanced materials.
I'll ask Dad later if he can pull some strings, get his company to partner with our Program.
They are my blood relatives, after all.
Their products must be struggling to sell. Poor Sterlings, they need my help.
After a long, awkward silence, the entire familyexcept for a clueless Mileshad strange expressions on their faces.
My father finished the transfer to Miles and stalked out of the living room, his face dark.
After dinner, my mother led me to a small suite next to the first-floor dining room.
"Rob," she said coolly, "none of the upstairs bedrooms are ready. You'll have to make do and stay here for now."
Miles stood beside her, feigning concern. "Mom, this is the maid's quarters. Is it really appropriate for my brother to stay here? Maybe he should just take my room."
Before I could say a word, my mother jumped in. "Absolutely not! This cramped little room is for the help. I can't let you suffer in a place like this!"
I had to laugh.
This family is something else. The adopted son is too good for the maid's room, but the biological son isn't.
A flash of embarrassment crossed my mother's face. She shot me an angry glare before turning back to Miles. "Rob grew up in the country. He's used to dirt floors and factory dorms with no plumbing. The maid's room is a huge step up for him. But you're different. You've been raised in luxury. You could never get used to a place like this."
Tears of pity welled up in her eyes.
Miles put on a magnanimous smile. "It's okay, Mom. My bedroom was always meant to be his anyway. I've been the usurper for over twenty years. It's time I gave it back."
"Miles, don't say that! No matter what, you'll always be my precious son"
The two of them went back and forth, ending in a dramatic, tearful embrace.

3.
I surveyed the room meant for "the help."
You know, for a maid's room, it's not bad. Great soundproofing. Those two are wailing their heads off, and I can barely hear them. Dad must be dead to the world out there.
It is a bit small, though. I won't be able to move my equipment from the facility here. Guess I'll have to go back to the lab if I want to work overtime. What a pain.
My mother's crying stopped abruptly.
Thinking about work made me anxious.
I used my annual leave for this family reunion. I've got a mountain of work piling up.
Starting tomorrow, I'll have to pull a week of all-nighters. Otherwise, I'll never hit my KPI for the year.
My mother was staring at me, the tears drying on her cheeks. She looked around the small room, a flicker of regret in her eyes.
The news that the Sterlings had found their real son spread like wildfire through the city's elite circles. Everyone was watching me and Miles, hungry for a real-life soap opera.
To show that the family treated both sons equally, my father decided to throw a grand party in my honor.
The funny thing was, nobody told me about it.
That evening, after a long, grueling day at the lab, I came home. I pushed open the door to find the living room filled with the city's rich and famous, all of whom turned to stare at me with a mixture of shock, pity, and disgust.
Miles's voice boomed across the room. "Brother! Why would you come to a party dressed like that?"
I looked at him. He was preened to perfection, every hair in place, wearing a bespoke suit that made him stand out even in this glamorous crowd.
He walked over to me, his voice laced with false concern. "Didn't you like the suit Mom and Dad picked out for you? You can borrow one from my closet if you want."
His words were caring, but his eyes were overflowing with malicious glee.
As expected, the guests started whispering.
"So that's the real Sterling heir? He looks so common."
"They threw this whole party for him, and he shows up dressed like that on purpose? Is he trying to embarrass them?"
I glanced around.
Ava, my actress sister, was chatting with guests, pretending not to know me.
Seraphina stood nearby, watching the drama unfold with a detached amusement.
Chloe walked over with my parents, her expression thunderous.
"Rob," my mother hissed, "what is wrong with you? Look at what you're wearing to an important event like this!"

4.
I looked down at myself. A standard-issue work shirt and a pair of durable cargo pants. Comfortable, practical. What was the problem?
So tired. So sleepy. I didn't work my ass off all day just to come home and play-act with these people.
The aliens are about to invade, and they're wasting time with high-society drama.
I should have just stayed at the lab. With all the time they're spending on this charade, I could have run another set of simulations.
My father forced a smile for the guests. "This is my son, Rob. We just brought him back from the countryside. He's still learning the ropes. Please forgive his... naivety."
Miles quickly jumped in to "defend" me. "It's my brother's first time at a party like this. He doesn't have any experience, so please don't mind him."
The condescension in the guests' eyes only intensified.
"I heard his adoptive parents were shepherds. He grew up with sheep. It certainly shows."
"Not only that, I heard he's a menial laborer at some factory. No culture, no education. Compared to him, Miles is much more of a 'real' heir."
My parents' faces grew darker with every whisper.
Miles shot me a secret smirk, then turned to our parents. "Today is about introducing my brother. Mom, Dad, you shouldn't be angry with him."
Then he deliberately changed the subject. "By the way, brother, I heard you work at a big factory. Which one is it?" he asked, his tone deceptively innocent. "A lot of our family friends are here tonight. Maybe your boss is even in the room!"
Another wave of snickers went through the crowd.
"An electronics assembly plant is a 'big factory'? Does he not know what a real corporation is?"
"He's from the country. It's normal he can't tell the difference."
"My company would never hire someone without even a high school diploma. It would ruin our image."
The mockery was relentless. My whole family was glaring at me, blaming me for their humiliation.
Actually, Miles just gave me an idea. The Sterlings may be poor, but they're well-connected.
Satellite communications, remote sensing, new energy if I could get the titans of these industries to partner with the Program, our production capacity would skyrocket. My KPI for the year would be saved.
Our current planetary defense system isn't robust enough. We need all the private sector support we can get.
I looked around the hall, suddenly energized, and was about to introduce everyone to my work.

5.
But Chloe rushed over, grabbing my arm. "Rob, stop making a fool of yourself," she hissed. "Go change out of those disgusting clothes, now!"
She practically dragged me toward the maid's room, terrified I was about to further tarnish the family name. At the door, she let go, her voice a low warning.
"You will stay in here and behave yourself. Don't you dare do anything else to embarrass this family! I'm going into politics, and I cannot afford a single stain on my record. If you do anything to jeopardize my vetting process, I swear, Mom and Dad won't be the only ones who make you pay!"
I stared at her frantic expression.
This sister of mine has been trying to get into public service for seven years. A tortoise could've made it by now.
Are the Sterlings really so broke they can't even afford to send her to a prep course?
Chloe's face went through several shades of red before she finally exploded. "You're incorrigible! You know what? Just stay in here and think about what you've done. You're not welcome at the party anymore!"
She slammed the door and, to my surprise, locked it from the outside.
I couldn't figure out what had made her so angry, but I wasn't complaining. It gave me the perfect opportunity to review the day's test data.
But Miles, it seemed, wasn't done with his games.
A few minutes later, I heard the lock click. He stepped inside, a saccharine smile on his face. "Brother, aren't you changed yet? The guests are all waiting for you."
With no one else around, the cunning in his eyes was on full display. He saw the data sheets on my desk.
I instinctively tensed, covering the documents with my hands. This was classified information. Even a small leak could have catastrophic consequences.
"What's all this, brother?" he asked, reaching for the papers.
I pressed them firmly to the desk.
"You're being so secretive. Is it something you don't want people to see?"
Miles glanced toward the door, confirming something, and then his entire demeanor shifted. The mask fell away. He lunged across the desk. "Give them to me!"
I reacted instantly, slamming my hands down on the stack of papers. He grabbed them, his eyes glinting with a sinister light. The papers crumpled in his grip, and I felt a pang of fury. "Miles, are you insane?!"
He was about to rip the documents from my grasp. I didn't hesitate. I kicked out, aiming for his chest.
But then he did something strange. He let go of the papers and allowed my kick to send him flying backward. I didn't miss the twisted, triumphant smile that flashed across his lips.
"Miles!"
The moment I heard my mother's shriek, I knew exactly what his plan had been.
Chloe, my parents, and a crowd of guests arrived just in time to see Miles sailing through the air.
Chloe screamed, "Rob! What are you doing?!"

6.
I looked up. She was yelling at me, but her face held the faintest hint of a victorious smirk.
My father's eyes were filled with profound disappointment. My mother rushed to Miles's side, cradling him.
He leaned against her, tears streaming down his face. "Mom, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have tried to look at my brother's things. Don't blame him."
The guests who had followed them stared at me with open disgust.
"Just as I thought. A savage from the backwoods. He's barely been back a week and he's already resorting to violence."
"Growing up in poverty like that, it's no wonder his personality is so warped."
"He's probably been jealous of Miles from the start. He wants to drive him out."
Miles, sobbing, added fuel to the fire. "It's because I stole his life that he's so unhappy. If he doesn't want me in this family, I'll just leave"
My mother looked up at me, her face contorted with hatred, as if I were some monster, not her son. "Rob! You've gone too far this time! Apologize to Miles, right now!"
I scoffed internally.
Chloe locks me in the room, and then Miles shows up with a key to steal my work. This brother-sister act is worthy of an Oscar.
If Miles went into acting, our sister Ava might have some serious competition for her Best Actress award.
Across the room, Ava choked on a cough.
The fury on my mother's face wavered. She unconsciously loosened her grip on Miles. My father's gaze shifted to Chloe, who nervously wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead.
Miles was oblivious, still deep in his performance. "I was just worried he was going to do something to harm the family! I saw his papers, they had all this stuff about alloys and data I didn't understand. I just wanted to see what it was, but he reacted so violently. He didn't even graduate high school, how could he possibly know about this stuff? And our family company develops advanced materials, I was just worried he was"
His words all but spelled out that I was a corporate spy. Under the weight of his accusations, my father's expression grew grim. He walked toward me, his hand outstretched. "Give me those documents."
I clutched them tighter, wary.
His patience snapped. He lunged for them. Thankfully, I was ready and pulled them out of his reach.
Like father, like sona bunch of thieves.
You must have a hankering for a prison sentence. Daring to grab a state secret.
Is Chloe really sure she still wants to get into politics after this?
Chloe's face went white. She quickly stepped between us. "What is this stuff?" she demanded. "If you don't give us an explanation, you are not leaving this house ever again!"

7.
I was silent for a moment.
That's not going to work. I have to be at the lab early tomorrow to turn some more wrenches.
If someone has to go to prison, I'm voting for Miles.
I pulled him out of my mother's arms, held up one of the data sheets, and pointed to a specific line. "Read this."
He was reluctant at first, but with everyone watching, he stumbled through the words.

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