Part 3The Favorite Twin Stole My Admission Letter

She thought I was finally broken. She thought I was ready to submit.

Instead, I tilted my head up, looked her dead in the eye, and spoke clearly.

"And what if I say no? Are you going to hire more thugs to beat me?"

Her eyes darkened. She didn't say a word.

Her silence was a yes.

I let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh.

"Jasmine, I never understood why you played favorites."

"Oliver and I are both your brothers. I literally saved your life in that fire..."

"Enough."

Jasmine cut me off, her face turning ice-cold.

"Stop bringing up ancient history like I owe you my life. It was years ago."

"Oliver is bright, cheerful, and he knows how to make me laugh. He brings life into our house. Of course I favor him."

"Unlike you. You just skulk around the house wearing that hearing aid, trying to make me feel guilty. You are so manipulative for your age."

The blood in my veins turned to ice.

Our parents moved overseas to expand the business right after we were born. To me, Jasmine was my only real family.

During the fire, I didn't hesitate for a single second before throwing my body over hers.

When the doctors told me my hearing was permanently gone, I was so terrified of making her sad that I voluntarily moved to a boarding school. I only called to share good news, hiding all my struggles.

I only went home during winter and summer breaks.

I never imagined she despised my presence that much.

She harbored a deep, irrational resentment toward me. No matter what I said, she would only see it as a manipulation tactic.

I nodded, accepting the reality.

"Fine. I understand."

"I'll buy a bus ticket out of state tomorrow. I'll get as far away from you as possible."

"Felix, why do you have to be so incredibly unreasonable?!"

Jasmine snapped.

She opened her mouth to yell at me again, but her phone suddenly rang.

The moment she looked at the screen, the ice in her eyes melted into pure warmth.

"Hey, Ollie. How was your first day? Are you settling in okay?"

"If any of your classes are too hard, just call me. I can help you."

Oliver's voice chirped happily through the speaker. "Don't worry, Val! Everyone knows I'm your brother. Nobody dares to mess with me."

"I just got to the penthouse you bought for me near campus. Can you bring me a slice of strawberry shortcake? I want a midnight snack."

Jasmine laughed, the sound dripping with affection.

"You greedy little pig."

"Give me ten minutes. I'm on my way."

Oliver continued to whine and act cute, and Jasmine happily indulged him.

I sat on the cold pavement, completely alienated from this picture-perfect family dynamic.

I started to push myself up to leave, but then I heard Oliver casually drop a question.

"By the way, how is Felix doing in the Vocal Performance program?"

Jasmine frowned and glared at me.

"He isn't nearly as obedient as you. He threw a tantrum and ran off this morning."

Oliver had always been perfectly obedient to Jasmine. Because everything she ever demanded of him only benefited him.

Oliver let out a theatrical sigh.

"I just wanted to build his character and test his resilience."

"If he actually manages to become the deaf Beethoven of our generation, at least he won't be a total embarrassment to the family anymore."

Oliver's grades were terrible. He had to rely on Jasmine's money just to get accepted into the Arts program. But he desperately wanted the prestige of the Finance industry.

Yet he spun his selfish theft into a noble sacrifice for my own good.

A cold laugh escaped my throat.

"I have zero musical talent."

"I got into the Finance program based on my own academic merit. If you actually cared about my future, you would give me my rightful spot back."