Part 1I Refused to Pay Off My Brother’s Debt

After my younger brother, Dylan Whitaker, forged a college acceptance letter, swindled our family out of $30,000 in tuition money, and ran away, he vanished without a trace.

My parents, Patricia and Thomas Whitaker, searched for him relentlessly until the stress took a toll on their health, leaving them unable to work. With no other choice, I used my savings to open a small convenience store for them.

By the end of 2023, the pressure had become unbearable, so I chose to work overtime instead of going home for the holidays.

Just as I finished my shift in the early hours of the morning, Mom called.

“Your father’s heart condition has flared up. He needs surgery. How much money do you have left? Send it over to save your dad. We’ll pay you back once we’ve saved enough.”

My heart sank.

“Which hospital is Dad at? I’ll come home right now.”

Silence stretched over the line for several seconds before Mom finally stammered, “There’s... there’s only one hospital in Fairview. Where else could he be? And what good would it do for you to come back? Just transfer the money first. Your father really can’t wait any longer!”

Impossible.

Fairview Community Hospital wasn’t even equipped to perform heart surgery.

* * *

I had a feeling Mom was lying to me.

But this was serious, so I forced myself to stay calm and played along, trying to get more information.

“Mom, don’t panic. How much does Dad’s surgery cost?”

“Six hundred thousand dollars.

“Logan, you just need to come up with six hundred thousand dollars.”

I froze when I heard the amount.

When I’d called them two nights ago, Dad had been perfectly fine.

How could his condition have suddenly deteriorated so badly that he needed surgery costing six hundred thousand dollars?

Even a heart transplant at a major hospital in one of the country’s biggest cities cost less than a hundred thousand dollars.

Mom was definitely hiding something from me!

“Mom, I don’t have that kind of money—”

Before I could finish, she hurriedly cut me off. “If you don’t have enough, can’t you borrow some? Your father is lying in a hospital bed waiting for you! The doctor said that if we wait any longer, he might not make it!”

Hearing how close Mom was to tears, I quickly tried to reassure her.

“I’ll borrow the money right now. Don’t panic, Mom. Wait for my call.”

After hanging up, I immediately drove home.

The drive took seventeen hours, and Mom called me dozens of times along the way.

I forced myself to brush off her repeated calls with brief reassurances and drove as fast as I could to get home. But when I arrived, I found Dad sitting outside the convenience store in his padded coat, his eyes bloodshot as he smoked one cigarette after another.

He looked as though he hadn’t slept all night. His spirits were low, and he didn’t even notice me. Turning toward the store, he shouted, “Has Logan still not managed to borrow the money? Call him again and tell him to transfer it as soon as possible!”

Mom emerged with red-rimmed eyes, looking frantic.

“I can’t get through to him. Logan’s phone is switched off.”

“That ungrateful brat! Does he not care whether I live or die?”

“No, he wouldn’t do that. Logan has always been the most devoted son—”

Before Mom could finish, a mocking laugh came from inside the store.

“Why wouldn’t he? He is refusing to answer his phone. Doesn’t that mean he doesn’t want to help?

“Let me remind you again. If you can’t trick him into giving me the money, the debt collectors will come looking for me. It’s the middle of the holidays. Do you really have the heart to watch me get driven to my death?”

It was my brother Dylan Whitaker!

The moment I recognized his voice, everything suddenly made sense.

My younger brother was back.

He’d racked up a debt, and now my parents were trying to trick me into paying it off for him!

Mom covered her face and burst into tears.

“Dylan, how could you be so foolish? Why would you get involved in something as destructive as online gambling?

“Eight hundred thousand dollars! We’d have to sell everything we own just to scrape together two hundred thousand!”

Dad gritted his teeth and cut her off.

“Why are you crying? Shut your mouth!

“Dylan coming home is already a blessing! So what if he’s in debt? Just call Logan again. Tell him I’m about to die and see if he has even a shred of conscience. Does he want to save his money, or save his own father’s life?”

With a loud thud, I collapsed onto the ground. My exhausted body finally gave out.

It felt as though something was lodged in my chest, leaving me unable to catch my breath.

The whole situation was absurd. I couldn’t understand how Dad could accuse me of having no conscience.

My younger brother had disappeared with thirty thousand dollars five years ago. He hadn’t sent our family a single cent or even called once.

When my parents’ health deteriorated, I used my savings to open a convenience store for them. I paid for the inventory afterward, too. Even during the holidays, I stayed up late working overtime, hoping to earn a little more so they could live more comfortably.

And now, even though I’d suspected they were lying to me, I’d still driven seventeen hours straight home in an emergency.

I never imagined their real goal was to use the money I’d worked myself to exhaustion to earn to fill the hole left by my brother’s online gambling debt.

“Logan?

“W-When did you get back?”

Mom had finally noticed me. Her bloodshot eyes widened with panic and guilt.

I struggled to my feet.

“Just now.

“Where’s my brother? Tell him to come out and face me.”