Chapter 2

Today was the day my parents got divorced, and the day our custody was decided.

In the courtroom, Arthur didn't hesitate to choose Brandon. Victoria immediately chose Chloe.

Once their choices were made, they fell into a tacit silence. Their eyes only lingered on their chosen children, filled with warmth and expectation.

I sat alone in the corner of the bench, like a piece of forgotten luggage.

Watching this, my nose stung, and my chest felt so tight it ached.

The judge fell silent for a moment, flipping through the files. He frowned and asked, "What about... the other child? Ethan?"

Hearing my name, my heart skipped a beat. I looked at Arthur and Victoria with a tiny, desperate shred of hope.

But their brows instantly furrowed. Their eyes filled with undisguised disgust.

Victoria curled her lip and turned to Arthur. "Arthur, you have a massive estate. You should take Ethan. You have enough money to feed stray dogs, so you can't tell me you can't afford your own son. It’s just adding another plate to the table!"

"Victoria! You really have a slick tongue!" Arthur’s voice shot up as he snapped.

"Raise him? He’ll only drag Brandon down and ruin my company’s reputation! You gave birth to him. You raise him. I’m not spending a single dime on him!"

The two of them immediately started screaming at each other, tossing me back and forth like a piece of unwanted garbage.

Their toxic words stabbed deep into my heart.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I stood up and screamed at them, my voice cracking with tears, "Dad! Mom! What did I do wrong? I'm your child too!"

Faced with my question, they looked embarrassed for a split second, which quickly morphed into furious rage.

"Look at yourself! Do you really have no self-awareness?" Victoria’s face twisted as she shrieked, "How dare you speak to us like that? Is that how you show respect? You ungrateful little brat!"

Arthur pointed a finger right at my nose. "A useless waste like you should have never been born in the first place!"

My heart died right then and there. Since they saw me as nothing but trash, why should I beg for their scraps?

I turned directly to the judge. "Your Honor, I want to apply for legal emancipation. I don't want either of them to have custody over me."

The judge looked at my parents, who showed absolutely no objection, and sighed before granting my request.

Leaving the courthouse, I watched the two happy little families walking ahead of me. I said coldly:

"This is the last time I will ever call you Mom and Dad. I remember telling you before that I have a luck aura."

"Everything you have right now—your wealth, your success—was because of me."

"Now that you’ve thrown me away, don't come begging when your business goes bankrupt and your careers are ruined!"