1

This afternoon at a fairly large company, a 27 year man was pacing back and forth in front of the photocopier. He was carrying piles of files.

The plain shirt he was wearing seemed to be rolled up at the sleeves, showing off his strong, sweaty arms from the heat of the photocopier.

And even after the files had been photocopied and delivered to their proper place, the man with the handsome face was still pacing back and forth, this time to the pantry to make coffee.

People would think the man was an office boy if they saw what he did, but in fact he wasn’t. He is Reid Cliffton, the first son of the owner of the Cliffton family company who is actually treated like an office boy by his own younger brother, Liam Cliffton.

Liam even told other employees not to hesitate to treat Reid the same.

“Just tell him to make coffee or polish your shoes. He’s used to doing things like that at home,” said Liam during break time, when he and several other employees were in the canteen.

“There’s no way we would dare do that. The director will definitely doesn’t like seeing it,” answered one of the employees. The employee named the director as none other than Reid and Liam’s father, Daniel Cliffton.

But Liam just laughed. “You are wrong. Dad will actually be grateful if you treat him like that, he really deserves it. Dad really hated Reid. Even when Reid was little, Dad thought about putting Reid in an orphanage.”

Liam’s words certainly attracted the attention of many employees at the canteen table. So far, they have always thought that their boss has a perfect personal life because he is blessed with a beautiful wife and two equally handsome sons, but this is the first time they have heard an interesting story from the boss’s son directly.

It’s only this year that Liam and Reid have joined the company. Liam immediately took a high position as manager, while Reid was only a lowly staff member.

The placement of this position alone has actually surprised many employees. Why does the boss treat his two sons differently? Especially for the first son, doesn’t the first son usually get greater rights?

“Why does Mr. Daniel hate Reid?” asked one of the employees, taking courage.

“Because he and his mother are outcasts,” Liam said scornfully. “We are not siblings. Reid is the son of Dad’s first wife. Reid’s mother died while giving birth to Reid. The problem is, Reid’s mother has no clear origins. He has no family at all. It is even said that before she married our father, she worked as a prostitute. Disgusting. That’s why Dad’s relationship with Reid’s mother was opposed by Dad’s extended family. I don’t know what the reason was that my father wanted to marry Reid’s mother.

“It wasn’t until Reid’s mother died that my dad regained consciousness, then married a woman in his class—my mother—and lived happily. Reid could be said to be a stumbling block, a remnant of Dad’s dark past.”

Liam snorted as he said, “That’s why you guys don’t have to hesitate to order him around. Just treat Reid like an office boy, because that’s the only job appropriate for him. He’s a clueless idiot. It was only because of my mother’s generosity who persuaded my dad to treat the so called my older brother well that Reid was hired in this office, even though he was stupid and couldn’t do anything at all. If he looked for work on his own out there, at most he would only be accepted as a waiter at a fast food restaurant. Completely useless. Different from me, you know that I was the best graduate at my university, right? Many big companies scrambled to recruit me but I chose to be loyal to my dad. I will help Dad develop this company into a giant company.”

Liam continued to brag in a loud tone, deliberately so that many employees at the other tables would hear. He didn’t care even if he badmouthed his own brother, in fact he felt satisfied because he had done that.

Meanwhile, the person Liam was talking about was currently in his cramped work cubicle. While all the employees were having lunch, Reid was busy with the report he had to complete. He even ignored his hungry stomach because Liam said this report had to be finished before lunch time ended because Liam would present it at the meeting place.

Yes, this report is the report that Liam was supposed to do.

Yes, Liam has been lying all this time.

It’s been a habit for a long time—even since elementary school—Liam always told Reid to do his schoolwork. They are one year apart in age but entered school in the same year so they have always been classmates.

Starting from Liam’s homework from elementary school to high school, his college papers, and even his thesis, Reid did the work. Liam just had to read the results and then admit it was his creation.

That’s why even though Reid wasn’t liked by his biological father—he was always ignored—but his education was guaranteed until postgraduate, majoring in Business Management, because Liam needed Reid to stay by his side doing his academic work.

If it weren’t for this, Reid would have dropped out of school long ago because Daniel never wanted to be busy taking care of his first son.

Daniel certainly doesn’t know about this problem, that the academic achievements that Liam has achieved so far are actually the result of Reid, the first son he neglected.

So far, Daniel has always praised Liam in front of his business partners and said that Liam is a genius because he was able to graduate cum laude. Meanwhile, Daniel had never mentioned Reid to anyone else, Daniel even felt embarrassed to have a child like Reid, who he thought was just a useless idiot.

In fact, on the contrary, Reid has above average intelligence. It’s just that Reid had to hide it all this time because he was constantly pressured by his stepmother and his stepbrother.

Abigail—Reid’s stepmother—fully supports Liam’s fraudulent actions to rack Reid’s brain. It was even Abigail who first noticed Reid’s talent and used it to her own son’s advantage.

Even Reid wasn’t allowed to show off his intelligence. Every school assignment submitted in Reid’s name could only get an average grade or if necessary the grade would be destroyed altogether.

Since childhood, Abigail has closely monitored Reid’s grades, and if Reid gets an A, Abigail will punish him at home, not hesitating to give physical punishment such as beatings.

Only when doing Liam’s work Reid can use his intelligence, that’s Abigail’s rule.

Since he was little, Reid could only obey his stepmother’s rules, remaining silent even though he was abused and tortured. Reid couldn’t protest or fight because he didn’t have anyone on his side, his biological mother was gone, while his biological father didn’t care about him.

A few moments later, finally the report that Reid was working on was finished. Reid hurriedly printed it then rushed to deliver it to Liam’s room.

It would be easier if Reid just sent the report via email, but Liam didn’t even bother printing it himself and wanted to get the full results.

Reid knocked on Liam’s door.

“Come in,” said Liam’s voice from inside the room.

When Liam saw who opened the door, he immediately chuckled impatiently. “The report is finished, right?”

“Yes, I—“

Before Reid could finish his sentence, Liam had snatched the folder containing the report. Liam read it quickly, his impatient expression turning into a satisfied one, but it didn’t last long. A moment later, his face turned vicious again.

“Why did it take you so long to finish? You should have given this report before lunch, so I would have much time to study it. You stupid idiot. What’s so difficult about writing material like this?”

Reid pursed his lips. He wanted to reply that if the report was so easy, why did Liam ask Reid to do it? Why not just do it yourself?

But Reid had learned from experience that replying to Liam’s words – even if the reasons were strong – would only prolong the problem. Moreover, spoiled Liam will definitely complain to his mother and later at home Reid will definitely receive harsh insults.

Since Reid grew up, Abigail no longer tortured him with physical violence. Maybe because Abigail knew that if she cornered Reid too much, Reid could fight back. And it’s clear that Reid is now physically much stronger than Abigail. Reid was no longer the little boy who would cower in fear when hit. Reid has grown into a tall young man with a masculine body.

Even though Abigail couldn’t use physical violence anymore, Abigail always had other ways to torture Reid. Abigail would complain about something wrong to Daniel, and Daniel would then step in and punish Reid with a slap.

While in front of his step mother and his step brother, Reid sometimes still dared to fight, in front of his father he didn’t move—don’t know why. Maybe because part of Reid still hoped that his biological father would love him too.

That’s why at this time Reid chose not to reply to Liam’s words.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll go first. I still have a lot of work to do,” said Reid.

“Yes, quickly wash those plates and glasses, you disgusting office boy,” replied Liam in a condescending tone.

Reid clenched his fists holding back his emotions. If he didn’t remember that Liam was his younger brother, Reid would feel like punching Liam’s nose until it broke.

Reid chose to leave the room. He returned to his small cubicle, with a pile of work files that were too easy for him.

Suddenly Reid looked at the small box next to his keyboard. The box contains the ring he will use to propose to his girlfriend, Nancy.

They had only been dating for 3 months, but Reid was already sure about his feelings for Nancy. He also wanted to be serious and not delay any longer.

Since getting to know Nancy, Reid has only felt happiness. Feeling loved, something Reid never got from his family.

Reid smiled.

Tonight he will propose to Nancy.

Unfortunately, what happened tonight was very different from his plans. Reid would never have thought that his romantic plans would actually lead him to find out that the only woman he thought truly loved him, was actually cheating on him with Reid's own half-brother.