After My Parents Abandoned Me

The enemies of my parents, seeking revenge, declared they would tear their son limb from limb.

To protect their adopted child, they took all the bodyguards, leaving me, crippled and unable to walk.

Before the killer murdered me, he made a bet.

He told me to call my parents, and if they came for me, he would spare my life.

The moment the call connected, I desperately pleaded:

"Im held captive in the South End, can you please come and save me?"

But the bodyguards voice came through:

"Mr. Forrester said you'd surely lie about being in trouble to gain attention."

"Your father has already had a dozen of your distress calls hung up today. Haven't you learned your lesson?"

My father snatched the phone, his tone impatient:

"Can't you be more sensible? If we only care about our biological child and ignore our adopted one, people will call us hypocritical and heartless. What about our reputation as outstanding entrepreneurs?"

"Besides, Leo is easily frightened. How can we possibly leave him home alone?"

Later, the killer dismembered me and threw my remains into a septic tank.

A month passed, and my parents held a celebration, reveling in their adopted sons safety.

On that very same day, a horrifyingly disfigured male corpse was discovered in a septic tank on the outskirts of town.

1.

When my parents were about to leave to protect Leo, I tried to stop them.

"The killer's target is me, not Leo."

"You're going to protect him, but have you ever considered my safety?"

My mother pushed me away, her face etched with disappointment.

"Leo may be adopted, but he's our son too! Who knows if the killer might target him instead!"

"If we only care for you and not your brother, people online will call us hypocritical and cold-blooded! What about our reputation? What about the company's honor and stock price!"

I listened to her words, utterly incredulous.

"But your enemy is Leo's biological father! Why would he ever hurt Leo?

Youre choosing to protect him for good PR, disregarding your own son's life! What kind of 'goodness' is that?"

A sharp, stinging slap sent me sprawling to the floor.

My father's eyes blazed with fury, pointing a finger at me:

"You're absolutely out of line..."

My mothers face was grim. She held my father back.

"Alaric, it's not that we don't care about your life.

You've been recovering in the sanatorium for years because of your illness. Leo has been with us, attending events as our son. Everyone knows Leo is our son; they don't know you exist."

"Moreover, the nominations for this year's National Outstanding Entrepreneur Awards are coming up soon! If something were to happen to your brother now, both our personal and corporate reputations would be ruined!"

"Can't you think of your father and me?"

Hearing this, I gave a bitter, hollow laugh.

I pointed to my legs, limp and useless on the floor.

"Think of you? Isn't this the result of thinking of you? Isn't this enough?"

A flicker of guilt crossed my parents' faces.

Five years ago, Leos father, a man named Marcus King, caused the deaths of hundreds of workers, absconded with their hard-earned money, and vanished.

The victims families came seeking revenge, but mistook me for Leo and abducted me instead.

In that perilous moment, Marcus pulled the detonator on the explosives strapped to his chest.

He shouted, demanding to know from my parents who, between Leo and me, was the son of the monster who stole their hard-earned money!

Instinctively, my parents pointed at me.

The moment the bomb exploded, my parents rushed forward, shielding Leo.

I was held by Marcus, and the blast shattered my legs.

That year, I had earned a scholarship to a prestigious university through my excellent grades.

While I lay in a coma, my parents used their connections to steal my spot and give it to Leo.

When I awoke, I wept, demanding to know why they had done this to me.

My parents explained:

"When we adopted Leo, we publicly stated to the media that we wouldn't let past grievances affect him, and we swore we'd treat him better than our own son"

"With so many reporters present, if we had chosen you, wouldn't our previous statements have been discredited? Your mother's and my reputation would have been completely ruined"

My mother tried to persuade me:

"You're disabled now; we can't let you go off to school alone. Your father and I want you to stay with us, so we can take good care of you!"

"As for that scholarship it would be such a waste to let it go unused, better to give it to Leo that way everyone will praise your father and me for treating everyone equally"

But later,

I underwent more than a dozen surgeries in the hospital, completely alone.

Meanwhile, my parents proudly hosted grand graduation parties for Leo,

even taking him to visit university administrators, asking them to look after him.

All I wanted was for them to help me contact a specialist for my bomb injuries, to perform surgery.

But they scolded me, calling me thoughtless.

"No! If the media found out, they'd say your mother and I were abusing our power and misusing public resources!"

"Your father and I are at a crucial stage. Are you happy to ruin our reputation?"

Because I never received proper surgery, my legs were permanently crippled.

My parents' silence gave me a flicker of hope.

But before I could speak, Leos muffled sobs came through the phone.

"Dad, Mom, don't come! Brother is right, I should have been the one whose legs were blown off that day!"

"If something happens to me tonight, I deserve it... just consider it me repaying you with my life!"

He hung up right after.

My parents, who had been hesitating, instantly changed their expressions.

"Alaric Forrester! Look what you've driven your brother to!"

"You'd better pray he's safe before we get there! Otherwise, we will never forgive you!"

I was numb.

"And if something happens to me? Will you forgive him then?"

My father, furious, kicked my wheelchair over, roaring:

"How could I have such a selfish, inconsiderate son?"

"If I could, I'd rather not be your son."

My words only earned me the sound of my parents storming out, slamming the door.

"Fine! You don't want to be our son! Then don't enjoy the conveniences we provide!"

"We're taking all the bodyguards! You can just stay here by yourself!"

Leo posted an update on his social media, tagging me:

"Brother, don't be angry with Mom and Dad because of me. I apologize."

Aunts and uncles who knew me sent messages, urging me:

"Alaric, how can you be so thoughtless?"

"Leo has accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Forrester to events, taking on many risks for you. You should be grateful to Leo, not squabbling with him during such a dangerous time."

But I found it laughable.

To adopt Leo,

they moved my registration to my grandmothers house in the countryside and never checked on me.

In contrast, they fully supported Leo, traveling with him around the world, attending events.

They even encouraged him to open social media accounts, becoming an influencer on the strength of being the Forrester Group heir.

I had questioned my parents about their favoritism towards Leo.

Their explanation to me was always:

"You are our son; you'll have a good life no matter what.

Leo has no parents to care for him, he's so pitiful, so we naturally have to be a little more biased towards him"

So I became obedient and sensible, no longer competing with Leo. But what was my fate?

If my father hadn't kicked me over, perhaps I could have rolled my wheelchair away and hidden.

But now I was sprawled helplessly on the floor, letting the vengeful man who had burst through the window drag me away.

My broken fingernails scraped trails across the floor.

He tied me to the back of his car like a dead dog, dragging me to a dilapidated warehouse in the South End.

Ten miles of dirt road, and Id shredded half my body, broken an arm.

At the height of the pain, I was close to passing out,

but I still fought with all my might, desperately dialing for help.

One emergency call after another, each one hung up.

The moment the car stopped, I sent one last desperate text.

"The killer is in the South End. Save me."

This time, my mother finally answered my call.

Hearing my muffled shouts on the phone, my mother paused.

But then she angrily demanded:

"Alaric Forrester! Don't you know everyone is waiting for clues to catch Marcus King tonight!"

"You've been constantly dialing the emergency line, tying it up, just to squabble with your brother.

Do you realize that if someone calls in with a tip during this time, you'll be responsible for the delay!

What's the difference between your behavior and that monster Marcus King's!"

She said coldly:

"You don't need to call anymore. We've had all emergency hotlines block you! No one will listen to you!"

Suddenly, a wave of resentment and anger filled her voice:

"Now everyone knows our biological son is abusing the hotline and interfering with the arrest operation, all because of sibling rivalry.

You've completely shamed your father and me!

How could I have given birth to such a malicious and selfish son!"

Her words were cut short as the killer stomped on my phone, crushing it.

I watched the scarred, grotesque man before me, trembling uncontrollably, filled with despair.

He stomped on my fingers, breaking all ten of them.

My screams were drowned out by the storm.

He hung me from the rafters, detailing years of hatred for my parents.

With each grievance, he carved a fresh wound into my flesh.

When he spoke of his biological son, Leo, a flicker of light shone in his eyes. He looked at me with a triumphant smirk.

"My son has become a man of consequence."

"And you, you pathetic worm, will soon be a pile of rotten flesh, thrown into a septic tank."

He grew excited:

"I never would have guessed! Your parents are so good to my son! Just because he said he was scared, they took everyone away that very night! That's how I got my chance!"

"You're their biological child, yet they don't even care if you live or die!"

I struggled to ask:

"So, you and Leo teamed up"

He grinned hideously:

"So what? Blame your parents. If they cared about you, you wouldn't have fallen into my hands."

Blood soaked my entire body. I was too weak to struggle,

only able to whimper softly, begging him to let me go.

He tossed a phone at my feet, a triumphant grin on his face.

"Tell you what, call your parents. Tell them to come here and save you."

"If they truly believe you, I'll spare your life."

The phone rang, once, twice, until it was nearly hung up before it was answered.

My voice was hoarse as I whispered:

"Dad"

In response, I heard the sounds of a lively celebration and a bodyguard's voice.

"Alaric? Looking for your father? He's busy looking after your brother!"

"Marcus King didn't show up tonight, so your brother is safe. He twisted his ankle in excitement, and your parents are absolutely heartbroken."

Numb with heartache, I forced out:

"Help me Marcus King kidnapped me and took me to the South End"

Uncle Davids hesitant voice replied.

"But your father said you've been filing false reports all day, lying to get attention."

"He told us not to answer any of your calls for help today, no matter what you said. We weren't to help you."

"Still your voice sounds so hoarse. Is something really wrong?"

Before I could continue, my father snatched the phone. His voice was cold.

"Alaric Forrester, it's almost dawn. Haven't you caused enough trouble?"

"Thankfully your brother is fine today. He said he forgives you and won't hold a grudge, but you need to apologize properly to him, otherwise we won't pay for your rehabilitation therapy!"

Uncle David also tried to persuade me:

"Alaric, you kept calling the emergency line yesterday, and it caused your parents to be questioned.

You should be more sensible, apologize to them and be nice. Can you please stop making trouble?"

I forced a bitter smile, tears streaming down my face.

"Just believe me this one time"

"Mom, Dad, please come to the South End?"

"I'm really kidnapped. If you don't believe me, you can"

"Your brother twisted his ankle! He can't even walk, and you show no concern for him! Do you really want us to indulge your foolishness?!"

My mother suddenly exploded, snatching the phone and shouting at me:

"The South End is so far away! You're a cripple, without money, how could you possibly get that far!"

"Even now, you're still trying to lie and deceive us!"

"Do you only care if your father and I are completely shamed?!"

Leo gently tried to comfort my mother, then feigned concern for me:

"Enough, brother, please stop talking. Don't you know the reporters are live-streaming here right now! Everything you're saying is being broadcast!"

"Your reckless behavior, wasting police resources, will damage Mom and Dad's reputation!"

"Hurry and apologize to everyone!"

"Leo! You don't need to try and persuade him!"

My father, utterly disappointed, delivered his final words:

"It is my failure as a parent to have raised such a son."

"From today onwards, I disown him."

"My only son, from now on, is Leo."

He roared into the phone:

"Alaric Forrester! Do you hear me?!"

He seemed to wait for me to say something.

But I couldnt say anything.

The killer had slit my throat, and I was convulsing.

My father, waiting for my response for a long time, let out a heavy sigh.

"Alaric Forrester, you truly disappoint us"

The rusty iron knife hacked at my limbs. I no longer had the strength to resist.

Warm tears mixed with blood splattered on my face.

In the last moments of my life, the only thing I could do,

was to swallow the wristband that had been continuously recording.

Let me do one last thing.

Let my death help those innocent victims, to catch this villain who has been on the run for over a decade.