Chapter 4 Let Him Go!

"Let him go! He thinks he's outgrown the Gray family and doesn't need us anymore!" Among the three sisters, Julie was the calmest. Sensing that something was off about Arthur today, she quickly tried to intervene. "Arthur, hurry up and apologize properly to Dad. Beg for his forgiveness before this gets worse." Rosie chimed in as well, urging him, "Yes, Arthur, just apologize to Dad already. What's so great about living at school? If word gets out, imagine how people will mock our family." Arthur found their words amusing and looked at them coldly. "Word gets out? How would it be? The outside world only knows about Zac as the Gray family's son. When have you ever mentioned me?" At his words, the room fell into an awkward silence. Over the years, because Arthur had a reputation for fighting at school and indulging in bad habits, not to mention being unfriendly toward his family, they had considered him an embarrassment and had stopped mentioning him altogether. In contrast, Zac was obedient and well-mannered, a source of pride they often boasted about. But still, Arthur was their biological son. Hearing him lay out the truth so sharply left them feeling a pang of discomfort. Sensing their wavering emotions, Zac quickly stood up, feigning distress. "Arthur, you're the one who's our parents' real son. Please, don't leave. If anyone should leave this house, it's me. Wait here, I'll go upstairs and pack my things right now." He moved toward the staircase, but his feet stopped at the base, making no real effort to climb. His words immediately extinguished any guilt the family had just started to feel. They quickly turned their attention to comforting Zac. Arthur smirked, his expression dripping with mockery. "Alright, go ahead then. Leave." Zac froze in place, disbelief written all over his face as he stared at Arthur. The other members of the Gray family were equally stunned, unable to process what they had just heard. Arthur glanced at Zac, still rooted at the bottom of the stairs. "Well? Didn't you say you were leaving? Go pack your things." "Arthur! Are you out of your mind? How dare you drive Zac out?" Susie was the first to lose her temper, screaming at him. Her voice rose hysterically. "Don't fall for his act! I bet he's just packing to scare us! He's always fighting at school, making enemies left and right. If he moves into the dorms without the Gray family's protection, he'll get beaten to death in no time! He's only doing this to drive Zac away!" She was convinced Arthur would never really choose to live at school. It had to be a manipulation tactic. After all, they attended elite schools where wealthy families all had personal chauffeurs to drive them. Boarding was something reserved for poorer families who couldn't afford such luxuries. If Arthur moved into the dorms, it would be as good as admitting to the world that the Gray family wasn't truly a powerful family. John, his face flushed with rage, bellowed, "Ungrateful brat! You're heartless! How did I end up with such a disgrace of a son?" "You've gone too far, Arthur!" Julie's usual composure crumbled completely, her reason drowned in anger. "What kind of person are you to even think you have the right to drive Zac away?" Rosie snapped, unable to hold back her fury. Raelynn's heart ached as she rushed to Zac's side, grabbing his hand in a comforting gesture. "Don't worry, Zac. This is your home. Even though we adopted you, in my heart, you've always been my son. No one has the right to make you leave." She couldn't help but turn to reprimand Arthur. "Arthur, you're not a child anymore. How can you be so thoughtless? Zac's health is poor, and if you make him leave our family, how will he survive?" "Ha," Arthur sneered. "He can't survive without the Gray family? All these years, have you ever cared about me? Haven't you been worried about whether I could survive?" Because of Zac's troublemaking, Arthur hadn't received any pocket money for many years. He had to rely on his own efforts to make a living. All his expenses were covered by part-time jobs he secretly worked! As the eldest son of the Gray family, he was so strapped for cash that he had to work part-time. If this ever got out, people would be laughing nonstop! In his past life, to preserve the Gray family's reputation, he never mentioned that he was the eldest son of the Gray family. Looking back now, he realized how foolish he had been, sacrificing himself just for others' so-called face. John, enraged, cursed loudly. "We don't care about you? Well, that's because you've been such a mess! If you had half the sense Zac has, would we have neglected you? This is all your own doing!" John's disgust was plain, and he waved his hand dismissively. "If you want to leave, then get out! Don't ever come back! Don't stay here and be an eyesore!" "Ha." Arthur sneered coldly. He grabbed his suitcase and, without looking back, walked toward the door.