Financial Freedom, Emotional Cutoff

When my company went public, I received $60 million in shares and achieved financial freedom.

I went home and joked with my parents that I'd been laid off and was planning to move back home to live with them.

That same day, they transferred all their properties to my brother.

They said they'd be living with him and told me to go rent my own place.

My girlfriend also came over to break up with me.

I smiled and readily agreed to everything.

And kept the $60 million a secret.

"Mom, Dad, I came home suddenly because I got laid off. How about you support me for a while?"

I watched as my parents froze.

I was about to smile and say, "I'm just kidding! Did I scare you?"

But then I saw Dad tug Mom's sleeve.

The two of them forced stiff smiles at me:

"It's fine. Take a rest, nothing to worry about."

"Son, why don't you go rest in your room? Your mom and I need to go out and take care of something."

Then they rushed back to their bedroom.

Worried they might actually believe me and start stressing, I was about to knock and explain.

But then I heard Dad speaking in the bedroom:

"Vincent has no job now and is just lying around at home. What if he's planning to live off us?! That won't do! Honey, before he finds out how much we actually have, let's quickly transfer all our money and properties to Oliver! Better to keep it away from him!"

Mom's voice sounded hesitant:

"All the properties? But... there's one house that's technically in our name, but Vincent paid for it as our wedding home. If we just do this... is that okay...?"

Dad said urgently:

"If it's in our name, it's ours! He's got a decent job in the city, and he's the older brotherwhat's wrong with him thinking about his younger brother? As for a wedding home, he can work hard and buy one himself."

"Well, I'm just worried Vincent will think we're playing favorites."

"Playing favorites? We're his parents! We raised him! Plus, he just lost his job, didn't he? Giving everything to Oliver is actually helping him save it. Otherwise, what if he gets lazy, stops working, and wastes it all?!"

Mom thought for a moment, then finally nodded:

"Alright, then I'll tell Oliver too, so he doesn't say anything stupid."

Leaning against the door, I let out a bitter laugh and returned to my room.

I knew that my parents had always favored Oliver.

Because I was raised by Grandpa, while Oliver grew up with my parents.

Since childhood, they'd told me:

"You're the older brother. You have to give way to your little brother."

"We work very hard to earn money. We had to leave you in our hometown because we had no choice."

"Your school registration is there now. Transferring you wouldn't be good for your studies. Just stay therewe still have to take care of your brother."

I understood how hard it was for my parents.

So after freshman year of college, I never took another cent from them.

I even worked part-time to pay my brother's tuition.

After graduation, I worked hard for nearly eight years.

I finally saved enough to buy a two-bedroom apartment in my hometown as a wedding home for my girlfriend and me.

But my brother said not to waste my first-time homebuyer qualificationwhat if I had a chance to buy in the capital later? So he suggested putting it in my parents' names. Since they were family, I thought it didn't matter, so I agreed.

Never did I imagine they'd been scheming against me even back then.

I came home this time because I wanted to surprise them.

The company I'd invested in went public, and I received over $60 million in shares. Plus, I'd get annual dividends going forward.

I was financially free.

I'd been planning to come home and discuss buying a villa with my parents, getting my brother a few retail shops, buying him a car, leaving them each a few million for retirement so life would be easier, and then all of us taking a family trip together. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

So originally, I just wanted to make a joke.

First scare them by saying I'd live off them, then tell them our family had struck it rich!

I never expected I'd be the one shocked instead.

But even though hearing my parents say those things caught me completely off guard,

my brother Oliverhe wouldn't go along with it.

I'd always given him my best things first since we were kids.

I practically raised him myself. We had such a good relationship.

He definitely wouldn't agree to this selfish scheme of our parents.

Before long, my parents said to me with apparent concern:

"Son, it's okay. You've been tired for so many years. Now that you're home, just rest well. Your dad and I are going out to take care of something."

"Tonight, if you want anything for dinner, just text Mom on SnapChat."

If I hadn't overheard their earlier conversation,

I never would have imagined that these seemingly caring parents were actually scheming against me at every turn.

Just then, Mom's phone rang. I heard my brother's voice on the other end:

"Mom, what's so urgent that you need me to go to the property registry office...?"

Mom quickly walked to the side with her phone:

"Just go when I tell you to..."

Dad shifted his body to block me, smiling:

"You rest first. We're heading out."

I smiled without saying anything.

Then, making sure they didn't notice, I quietly followed them.

Sure enough, I saw them corner my brother on the street. I snuck to the corner to eavesdrop.

They told him everything they'd said earlier.

After listening, my brother frowned deeply:

"Mom, Dad, we can't do this! How can you treat Vincent this way?!"

Mom quickly tugged at Oliver's sleeve:

"Oh, Oliver, your brother isn't working and is just going to lie around at home. Who knows how long he'll rest? What if he burns through his savings and then makes us support him?! Then what will you use to buy a house and get married?!"

Dad nodded in agreement.

"Exactly! So many young people live off their parents these days. We need to be careful! And what's wrong with this? It's our stuff, the house is in our namewe can give it to whoever we want. Better to give it to you than let him waste it."

Mom spoke up again to persuade him:

"Your brother can make money in the capital. Once he knows there's nothing left at home, he'll go back and work hard again in a few days. We don't need to worry about him."

My brother still seemed hesitant:

"But what about that girlfriend of his? We've met her. Didn't they say they were going to get married? At least that apartment was supposed to be his wedding home. Are you really okay transferring it to me too?"

"Oh, wedding home, whatever! Your brother doesn't even have a job nowwhat woman would want to be with him?!"

"You're different. If you don't have money or a house in the village, it'll be even harder for you to find a wife and settle down!"

"But... but what if Vincent finds out...?"

Dad paused, then snorted coldly:

"So what if he finds out? We're still his parents. All these years, your brother has been very good to us. What we say goes."

"Besides, children being good to their parents is only natural. Even if your brother finds out, he'll understand our intentions and won't blame us. This is also pushing him to develop himself better!"

Mom chimed in:

"That's right! Young people shouldn't just rest around. Your brother should think about how hard we worked when he was in school. Even if he finds out, so what? Is he going to fight with us? That would make him an ungrateful bastard!"

At this point, Dad got even angrier.

"Really! If it weren't for the old man forcing me back then, your brother should have dropped out of school long ago!"

"What's the point of farm kids getting so much education? Boys should go out and work to earn money in their teens. If it weren't for your grandpa's stubborn temper, your brother might have made it big already."

"Exactly. Farm kids grow up fast. Oh, those years working outside were so exhausting for us."

Mom glanced at the time and said quickly:

"Oliver, let's go. Hurry to the transfer office. When we get back and see your brother, don't say anything stupid!"

I watched as Oliver's lips silently opened and closed, then finally he nodded:

"Alright, I got it. But this was your idea! My brother is probably just home to rest. What if he goes back to the capital later and makes money? I'm still hoping he'll buy me a car. Don't make him resent me!"

"Oh, do we need you to tell us? We've already thought this through!"

I watched this happy family laughing together as they walked away.

I leaned against the wall, covered my eyes with one hand, and slowly laughed bitterly...

The moment I got the money, my first thought was to come home and tell them.

We could finally live the good life.

I wanted to share this joy with them. I thought we were family.

But what about them?

They never considered me family.

Only Oliver was their child. What was I?

I was just someone for them to use! When things were fine, they'd say a few nice words to appease me, and everything would blow over.

Since high school, I hadn't spent a single cent of theirs.

I went to school during the day and worked as a waiter at night, all because I didn't want them to feel pressured and overworked.

I wore hand-me-down clothes and ill-fitting shoes every day.

And Oliver? He had more new clothes than he could wear.

They told me to understandOliver grew up in the county town and was used to being extravagant.

And I was the older brother. I should accommodate him and spoil him.

I listened. I did as they asked.

I thought because I was the older brother, I should be mature. So my parents didn't care about me because I was independent enough.

Never did I imagine they simply didn't care to waste time on me.

Originally, saying I quit my job to live off them was just a joke. But this joke made me face the reality I'd refused to acknowledge for years.

Still, realizing it now wasn't too late. At least the money was still in my hands.

...

That evening,

the whole family sat at the dinner table, exchanging glances with each other.

Then Mom spoke first:

"Vincent, you've worked hard all these years away from home. I know you came back to rest, but... our family situation really isn't good."

I kept my head down, eating without speaking.

At this moment, Dad cleared his throat and spoke:

"So... so we did some business before, but we lost all our money. This house... the house is going to be taken away too. Vincent, your mom and I have no money left. We can only move into the place your brother rented."

"But that place is too small. You... you should move out within the week and find your own place to live..."

They thought I'd be shocked, that I'd ask questions. They were ready to explain in detail.

But unexpectedly, I just said, "Mm."

"Got it. I'll pack up and move out."

I didn't care how they planned to lie to me.

After all, I didn't care anymorejust like I wouldn't tell them about my $60 million in shares.

Over the next couple of days, I packed my things.

Just as I was about to leave, my girlfriend unexpectedly showed up at my hometown.