Chapter 5

A sheen of cold sweat broke out over Morgan's back and soaked through his shirt when Hayden dialed the police hotline. He knew where Charlotte's missing jewelry had gone. He had stolen those pieces of jewelry so that he could make some extra money off them. As a bonus, he could pin the theft on Hayden too. It wasn't as if Charlotte cared about the jewelry. The Sterlings had money, and the trinkets she bought every month were worth millions. She had so many of them that she never bothered to keep track. But just as Morgan was about to speak up, Francis growled out, "Do you want to humiliate us in front of outsiders?" Only then did Hayden raise his icy gaze. He stared at Francis evenly and gave no reply. Francis continued frigidly, "If you want to leave, do it. But don't even think about taking whatever isn't yours. Who do you think you are to call the cops? "Hand over the things you stole if you're so high and mighty. At least I'd have some respect for you!" Hayden threatening to leave home was nothing more than a joke to Francis. He would never leave the family on Francis' watch. Everyone else sneered when they realized what Francis was implying. They cast condescending looks at Hayden, silently daring him to hand over the jewelry. If he coughed up the jewelry and money he stole from them, he wouldn't have enough to sustain himself outside the family. If he refused to hand over the stolen goods, they would take it upon themselves to investigate. By then, he wouldn't be able to defend himself. Hayden took one look at their scorching gazes and knew what they were up to. But it didn't matter, not when the Sterling family meant nothing to him. He had no reason to stay in a place that had destroyed his life. No sentiments held him back, and he wanted nothing more to do with these people. Without another word, Hayden turned back into his room. Morgan feigned surprise as he cried, "Wait, did Hayden actually steal money from us? No way!" He was more contemptuous than shocked. He might have planned on planting the stolen jewelry and money inside Hayden's room, but he didn't expect the latter to have committed actual theft. The rest of the Sterlings were not so amused. Their faces were grim, and their gazes were frosty. They had to keep the theft a secret and settle it within the family, lest word of it got out and their reputation was tarnished. "That useless, no-good punk! He's our greatest embarrassment!" Francis snarled, clenching his fists and wishing he could beat some sense into Hayden. Seconds turned into minutes before Hayden finally emerged from his room, still without jewelry or money. He held only a piece of paper, on which were written neat rows of fine letters. He said calmly, "Let me make myself clear. I did not take anything of value from the Sterling family. Since moving in here, whatever money I spent has been from my savings. "You have not given me an allowance and did not provide me with anything beyond a roof over my head and three meals a day. I wrote this disclaimer myself. Just sign here, and we'll wash our hands off each other from now on." He handed Francis the piece of paper. When the older man read the heading, his eyes widened. Everyone else who read the heading couldn't help gasping. "Agreement of severing family ties?" Hayden had even stated that he would leave without taking any money from the Sterling family and that he was willing to be held accountable for his words. He also proposed getting the police involved to track down the missing items. If the Sterling family chose not to investigate, he would leave and cut them off for good. "Do you think this piece of paper will have any bearing on the blood that flows in your veins?" Francis was livid and practically breathing fire. He looked as if he might punch Hayden the next second. Morgan's eyes widened as he cried, "Dad, don't sign the paper! I don't want Hayden to leave! I don't want him to move out! He only did all those things because he's young and doesn't know any better! "Please don't sign the paper, Dad. If anyone should go, it would be me. I'll leave right now!" He sounded like he was pleading Hayden's case, but in truth, he was hurrying things along so he could get rid of Hayden. To make a show of it, he turned and began to head out the door. Charlotte and the others immediately rushed over to stop Morgan. The house seemed to shake with the outburst that followed. "Y-Y-You!" Francis was so furious that he was shaking, and he could hardly form a coherent sentence. He couldn't believe Hayden would be so firm on his decision to leave that he would write down his intentions to sever family ties with them. "I'd like to see how you would fare without us! Go, if you must! I can't wait for you to crawl back here and beg for me to take you back into the family!" Francis barked, his frustration winning over his hesitation. He signed the paper with a flourish, brushed his thumb over the bleeding gash on Hayden's forehead, and stamped the paper with a bloody thumbprint. "Bye, then," Hayden said impassively and left with his battered suitcase and ratty backpack. His footsteps were lighter than they had ever been, and his strides were longer, too. It was as if he had been waiting for this day for a long time. Darkness greeted him when he opened the front door, but the moon's faint glow illuminated the street before him. Inside the Sterling residence, Francis and the others kept their eyes on Hayden's back, none of them saying a word. A deathly silence filled the living room as they watched him disappear into the darkness beyond the front door. They would never see him again. "I don't believe it. How could Hayden just walk away like that? I don't have a brother anymore. This is all my fault! He left because of me!" Morgan sobbed, wiping his crocodile tears as he continued his act. Consistency was key to wrapping up a show, after all. "He's no brother of yours. He's just an outsider, so don't beat yourself up over it," Lily comforted with a sigh, ruffling Morgan's hair. "He'll come back," Julia said icily, her words full of implication. "He will?" Morgan stiffened, growing anxious. "Julia's right. He'll come back once he realizes he needs our support. He's nothing without us, and he'll learn it the hard way once he ventures into society alone!" Francis heaved a sigh, still angry. Charlotte was unaffected by Hayden's departure as she led Morgan back to the dining room. "Don't worry about it, Morgan. He'll come back." The Sterling family livened up once more with unbridled laughter and lighthearted chatter. They seemed happier now that they had gotten rid of an outsider. Meanwhile, Hayden walked along the moonlit street. He glanced at the houses lining the street, noting the bright windows and the families dining together. He was an outsider looking in, and his silhouette seemed forlorn in the night. And yet, his eyes glittered with excitement and indescribable emotions. "The Sterlings are not my family. My real family is waiting for me back home!" he told himself. In his mind was a path he had walked a thousand times, and muscle memory brought him back to a dilapidated five-story apartment building in a humble residential area. This place was a far cry from the Sterlings' fancy villa. Hayden arrived at the first block and checked the unit number before slowly making his way over. It took him a while to get to the fifth floor, but he was not winded at all. At last, he stopped before a thick security door and gently knocked on it. The door opened from the inside to reveal an elderly couple whose faces were lined with age. Their wizened eyes were full of shock as they registered that it was Hayden. "Mom, Dad, I'm home," Hayden announced, his voice breaking as tears sprang to his eyes.