"What? What? What do you mean?" the boss said, stunned.
"You heard me," Drew's uncle replied. "I just investigated. I was lucky I got let go. The school he's attending is not some ordinary public school."
The boss frowned, silent.
Drew's uncle continued without pausing, his voice tense.
"Now that I think about it… who even needs a scholarship for a public school? It's an elite high school. Not just any elite school—the only school bold enough to call itself that and still compete with Crownside High."
He swallowed hard.
"And when my men tried to investigate further, they got a warning from the school.
Their systems were hacked. I'm still dealing with the fallout. Thank God they saw us as nothing and didn't retaliate properly I doubt he is a schoolrship student his father probably related to the school or has influence to use that school connection."
There was a long silence.
"How… how is that possible?" the boss finally asked, his voice shaking slightly.
He didn't think Drew's uncle was lying. He could hear it in his tone—the panic, the fear.
Drew's uncle exhaled sharply.
"He's probably a rich kid pretending to be poor… or an illegitimate child from some powerful family. That's all I know."
Then his voice dropped cold.
"But we're screwed. I'm already ruined like this. I'm in debt already."
"I'm only warning you—don't act recklessly and implicate me."
And with that, he ended the call before the boss could respond.
Drew's uncle sat up slowly on the hospital bed, staring into space.
"It's fine… it's just money," he muttered to himself. "As long as I'm alive, I can recover it."
"Twenty-eight million zen… I can pay it back. I'll just borrow if I have to."
His breathing gradually steadied.
Then his eyes drifted to the phone resting beside him.
Prim's phone.
A flicker of realization crossed his face.
"So he really left the evidence…"
His expression changed. It seems prim doesn't want to bother him anymore and had let them after he paid which showed he didn't value the song script to him it was nothing how didn't he realize this if someone can sell this song for scrap of money it means he didn't lack money and him asking for the 28 million zen is probably to get his revenge on him sending men to his grandparents house as far as he avoid prim everything is fine.
If prim knew that drew uncle has made prim a young masters in his head who is an illigetimate son his father still provides for he would say he has rich imagination.
And no one can blame drew uncle for having such imagination as prim is the only schoolerhsip students in that school even some students and teachers and dean don't know it is the owner of the school and three other that know as they are the one that let him in and and sponsor him no matter how brilliant students how that want to use schoolerhsip or call their self genius could not pass the exam itself to win half a schoolerhsip and if they did can they afford the half fees noo but prim brain was in another level.
"Are you okay?" his wife asked.
Since he woke up, he hadn't said a wordjust took his phone and called someone sweating and shaking like he had seen something dangerous from his tone about debt avoiding someone elite highschool she was worried.
"I'm fine," Drew's uncle replied sharply. He took his phone and quickly typed a message to drew.
Stay away from Prim. Don't do anything to him yet. I've already stolen the music—that is enough. Move on.
He sent it.
Then he immediately contacted someone else.
"Monitor Drew. If he tries to investigate Prim, stop him."
He ended the call and set the phone down, pulling his frightened children into a tight hug.
They were shaken by the sudden outburst, still confused by what had just happened
Drew's uncle's expression darkened.
If Drew wasn't useful, he would already be dead, he thought coldly. Drew is lucky he still has value… otherwise what he would have done to him as he is in this situation would be bloody.
After paying 13 million zen for the medical robot and treatment plan for his grandfather, Prim was left with 15 million zen.
He immediately rented a house in a secure upper-middle-class neighborhood.
The house had three bedrooms, an open kitchen, two bathrooms, a spacious living room, and a balcony.
The rent cost 10 million zen for two years.
The remaining money stayed safely in his savings account.
When Prim returned home that evening, his mother was already waiting for him in the living room, dressed in a silk nightgown.
"Where have you been?" she asked coldly.
"You went to the hospital this morning."
Prim lowered his gaze.
"I sold a competition spot for some money and used it to buy Grandpa the medical robot."
It was a lie.
A calm and soft lie.
His mother's expression instantly darkened.
She walked forward.
Slap!
The sound echoed through the room.
The force turned Prim's face to the side.
"Kneel."
Her voice was calm.
That made it worse.
Prim immediately dropped to his knees.
"You sold your spot?"
"Which competition?"
"It better not be an important one."
Her voice rose with every sentence.
"Are you trying to ruin all my hard work?"
"Every competition counts."
"Every skill counts."
"Every grade counts."
"Has your success finally gone to your head?"
"You sold a valuable opportunity for a dying old man?"
"He's already old. He's practically one foot in the grave."
"Only the wealthy live to one hundred and eighty."
"Are you planning to support him until then?"
"Do you have the money to maintain his body?"
"His medicine?"
"His treatments?"
"His immune system?"
"His healthcare?"
Her eyes burned with disappointment.
"Are you crazy?"
"Wasting that much money on him?"
"Even if you buy that robot, where will you put it?"
"That old house?"
"It'll be stolen."
"And don't forget that old hag of a mother of mine."
"She'll probably sell it to support her precious son and his family."
Her chest rose and fell violently.
"I raised you better than this."
Prim kept his head lowered.
"Sorry, Mom."
"The competition wasn't important."
"It only guaranteed admission to a university."
"A university that wouldn't even make the top hundred schools."
"You wouldn't even spare it a second glance."
"I sold the spot because I was building connections."
"Just like you taught me."
He paused before continuing.
"And the remaining money..."
"I used it to rent a house for you."
That finally made her pause.
Prim continued softly.
"I know this apartment belongs to us."
"But you've always said reputation matters"
"The new house is in an upper-middle-class neighborhood."
"It's much better than living here."
"I already paid two years of rent."
"I'll continue paying for it in the future."
"I won't let you down."
His voice softened even further.
"Please let Grandpa stay here for now."
"At least until he's healthy enough to move."
"Please."
His mother slowly closed her eyes.
Then opened them again.
"If you ever do something this important without asking my permission again..."
She pointed at him.
"You'll regret it."
"I'm doing all of this for your own good."
"Everything should follow my plan."
"Do you understand?" She asked
"I don't want you struggling for money like some beggar."
"As long as you keep studying,Building your reputation,Making connections ,Learning more skills ,Adding more talents,Being the perfect boy,Staying away from trouble,Smiling,Being polite,Working hard."
"I've never complained when you earned money from competitions."
"Or worked on projects with your friends."
"That builds connections."
"That's acceptable."
Her eyes narrowed.
"But if you start acting small-minded, people will think you're some country bumpkin."
She folded her arms.
"As for your grandfather..."
"I'll let it slide this time."
"They can stay here for two months." She paused before continuing
"No longer."
"After that, they're leaving."
"I'm renting this apartment out."
"And don't get too close to my family."
"They're low-class people who know nothing."
"I need you to succeed."
"I need your father's family to regret letting him run away and marry that rich woman."
She turned around.
"But you're still being punished."
"No dinner."
"No breakfast tomorrow."
"Go study."
Without another word, she walked back to her room.
The bedroom door slammed shut.
Prim slowly stood up.
Then calmly walked into the kitchen.
He poured himself a glass of water.
Stared at it for a moment.
Then sighed.
"It seems I'll be filling my stomach with water tonight."
He pouted slightly before drinking it.
Then he returned to his room.
Calm.
Quiet.
As if none of it bothered him.
But Prim understood something better than anyone.
His mother wanted his father back.
And hated him.
She hated his father's family.
Yet desperately wanted their approval.
She hated her own relatives.
Yet loved showing off in front of them.
She enjoyed their envy.
Enjoyed their praise.
Enjoyed hearing people talk about her perfect son.
She dated wealthy men.
She slept with men who looked like his father.
Then hated them the next morning.
The contradictions never ended.
But one thing never changed.
She wanted Prim to be perfect.
The obedient son.
The gentle son.
The caring son.
The talented son.
The smart son.
The son who excelled at everything.
The son who could make connections.
The son who won competitions.
The son who never caused trouble.
The son who studied endlessly.
The son who smiled endlessly.
The son who made her proud.
Yet she hated him working part-time.
Hated him associating with the wrong people.
Hated him eating unhealthy food.
Hated him talking to people she considered beneath him.
He had to earn money.
But not focus on money.
He had to be kind.
To be warm and good with words
He had to build connections.
But only with the right people.
He had to be perfect.
Always perfect.
And somehow...
Never disappoint her and always obey .
The next morning was Wednesday.
Prim came out of his room dressed casually.
An oversized pastel-blue zip-up hoodie hung loosely over a white crew-neck T-shirt. Baggy white cargo pants covered his long legs, paired with chunky white sneakers.
His dark hair was styled in a messy wolf-cut variation of a two-block hairstyle.
At 5'10", with a slim and elegant build, he looked like he had stepped out of a magazine.
His skin was smooth and fair, almost unreal.
A delicate oval face.
Light-blue fox-shaped eyes that always seemed warm, gentle, and smiling.
Thin brows.
A straight nose.
Soft pink lips that naturally drew attention like call of siren.
Dark hair as smooth as silk.
A beauty mark near the corner of his mouth.
Another beneath his eye like a tiny teardrop.
Combined with his sunny expression, he looked less like a person and more like a ray of sunshine.
His mother was already awake.
Several movers were carrying new furniture in and out to their new house while she directed them over the phone.
She barely glanced at Prim as he entered the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water.
After ending her call, she finally looked at him.
"Let's go to the hospital and discharge your grandfather."
She stood up.
"I'll do the talking. I'll be busy arranging the new house afterward, so you have the rest of the day free."
She picked up her handbag.
"If you're done drinking water, let's go."
Prim quietly rinsed his cup and placed it in the sink before following her outside.
The two took the elevator down.
Before heading to the hospital, they stopped at a nearby fruit store and bought several baskets of fruit.
Then they drove to the hospital.
When they arrived, Prim's grandmother was already there.
So were his uncle, Edward Varel, Edward's wife Brigid, their son Cassian, and Cassian's girlfriend Penelope.
The moment Prim and his mother entered, every eye turned toward them.
Prim ignored everyone.
He walked directly to his grandfather's bedside.
The old man was already awake.
Prim sat down and opened one of the fruit boxes, handing him some freshly cut fruit.
His grandfather immediately smiled.
Just as he was about to eat, Prim's grandmother spoke sharply.
"Buying fruit for that old man again?"
She glared.
"What about your grandmother? No sense of respect at all."
Before Prim could answer, Sadie spoke first.
"Then fall sick too."
The room went silent.
Sadie crossed her arms.
"When you're hospitalized, I will buy fruit for you as well."
Prim's grandmother stared at her daughter in disbelief.
She opened her mouth.
Unfortunately, Sadie had no intention of letting her speak.
"I already paid thirteen million zen for the medical robot."
Sadie's voice was cold.
"Dad already paid for his own treatment."
"I paid for the robot."
Her gaze swept across the room.
"What exactly did the rest of you contribute?"
Nobody answered.
Sadie sneered.
"Nothing."
"You all stood around taking up space while complaining about the cost."
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Even Edward's expression darkened.
Meanwhile, Prim quietly continued feeding fruit to his grandfather as if the argument had nothing to do with him.
His grandfather happily accepted another piece.
The old man clearly preferred the fruit over joining the family battle.
"How can you talk to Mother like that?" Edward snapped. "Just because you have a little money now, it's gone to your head. I would've paid if necessary, but taking such an expensive machine to Father's old house is practically inviting thieves to rob it again. Father can stay at my house instead."
Even as he spoke, greed flashed in his eyes. The medical robot alone was worth a fortune.
Sadie laughed coldly.
"So you can sell the machine?"
She looked him up and down with undisguised disgust.
"You must be high on drugs."
"Mom and Dad will stay in my house for two months. I've already moved out anyway."
Her gaze shifted toward her mother.
"And if anything goes missing from my house, Mom, I'll sue you."
"If you let Edward and his family move into my house, I'll sue you too."
"Every single one of you can get ready to pay compensation."
Sadie knew her mother's character too well.
Her mother always favored her son over her daughter even her husband.
She would gladly empty an entire house to support Edward and his family.
That was one of the many reasons Sadie despised her relatives.
Without another word, she reached into her handbag and pulled out a stack of documents.
She tossed them onto the bed.
"Sign it."
Everyone looked down.
The document clearly stated:
Only Mr. and Mrs. Varel were allowed to stay in Sadie's house.
The arrangement would last for two months only.
No additional relatives would be allowed to move in.
After two months, Mr. Varel would either move back to his own house, live with Edward, or be placed in a retirement facility.
The medical robot would remain under Sadie's ownership and supervision after that two months
The robot could visit weekly for treatment if necessary.
If anything happens to the robot they will pay triple the money
Sadie's eyes were cold.
"If you don't sign it, I'll take all of you to court."
She pointed directly at Edward.
"I'll sue you for neglect."
Then at her mother.
"And you too."
"You've both failed to do your part as family members."
"I'm not interested in arguing. Sign it."
Brigid's expression changed immediately.
"We're family! You can't do that!
Sadie didn't even look at her.
"Watch me".
Mrs. Varel exploded.
"You ungrateful bitch!"
"I should've killed you instead of giving birth to you!"
"Your own family is struggling, yet you're helping your ex-husband's family!"
"What kind of daughter are you?!"
The entire hospital room fell silent.
Sadie's expression didn't change.
She simply took out her phone.
"If you're finished screaming, I'll call the police tosy the charges."
Before the argument could continue, a pen scratched across paper.
Everyone turned.
Cassian had already signed.
He tossed the document onto the bed.
"Enough."
His voice was irritated.
"Grandpa already signed."
"Stop making a scene. It's embarrassing."
As he spoke, his eyes drifted toward his girlfriend.
Penelope wasn't looking at him.
She was staring at Prim.
Again.
Cassian's face darkened instantly.
His grip tightened around the pen.
And for the first time that morning, he glared directly at Prim.