1 Inside the equestrian center, the adopted younger brother, Ken, was clinging precariously, almost thrown from the horse, his life hanging by a thread. My birth parents rushed to me, their voices raw with panic. “Go save him! Only you can calm that horse!” I pulled back the thin blanket covering my legs, revealing the heavy cast beneath. “Save him with what?” I asked, my voice disturbingly calm. “With this leg, the one you personally broke?” … A thud. My birth parents, Ashton and Sarah, fell to their knees before me, perfectly synchronized. “Adrian! Please, son! I’m begging you!” Sarah’s voice was choked with tears. “Please save Ken, he’s barely holding on!” “Just save Ken, and your father will grant you anything you ask!” Ashton’s arrogant pride crumbled, his forehead pressed against the ground, his voice trembling. They would go to such lengths for an adopted son, someone who shared no blood with them. To kneel before their own flesh and blood… the irony was a bitter taste in my mouth. In the two years since they’d “found” me, had they ever truly treated me as their son? Ken and I shared the same birthday, but they found me coarse and feared I’d embarrass them, forbidding me from attending the party. I didn’t push it, only asking if they could come home early to share a birthday cake with me. They promised. Instead, they flew Ken to Paris, throwing him a lavish birthday bash beneath the Eiffel Tower. I, meanwhile, waited alone in the sprawling mansion until midnight. The noodles turned to mush, and I never even got a “Happy Birthday” from them. When they returned, seeing my hurt, Sarah even scolded me: “Why are you so insensitive? Can’t you be more considerate of your brother?” “Ken has always been delicate; isn’t it natural for us to dote on him more?” Yes, of course. Because I was their biological son, I was destined to be sacrificed, neglected, and merely a prop for Ken. “Adrian! You’re being absolutely ridiculous!” A sharp, angry female voice cut through the air. It was my fiancée, Cassy. She strode toward me, her gaze imperious, and pointed an accusing finger. “Your aunt and uncle are on their knees! How can you be so heartless? Aren’t you afraid of shortening your own life?” Her beautiful face was etched with disappointment and scorn, as if I’d committed some unforgivable sin. Sarah immediately seized the chance, weeping as she spoke: “Cassy, don’t blame Adrian, it’s all our fault, we wronged him, it’s understandable he’s angry…” Her words sounded like a defense, but in reality, they placed me on an impossible moral high ground. It was as if she were saying: See, we’ve knelt and admitted our wrongs, yet you still refuse to help; you’re simply unfilial and wicked. The surrounding relatives immediately began whispering and pointing. “What kind of child is he? So cold-blooded.” “Exactly, they’re his own parents, after all. There’s no grudge that can’t be forgotten.” “Ken is such a sweet boy, how could he be so cruel…” I watched the unfolding drama with detached eyes, my heart unmoving. “Ah! Help!” In the center of the arena, Ken’s screams grew more desperate, his body swaying precariously, as if he’d be thrown and trampled to death at any second. The sound struck Ashton and Sarah like a heavy hammer. They abandoned all pretense of dignity, frantically bowing their heads to me. “Adrian! Please, son, I beg you! Save Ken!” “I’m bowing to you! Have some mercy!” Cassy was thoroughly enraged by the sight. She stepped forward, gripping my shoulder, and snarled in a commanding tone: “Adrian! I told you to go save him! Did you hear me?” I slowly lifted my eyes, my icy gaze piercing her like a blade. “If you want to save him, go yourself. I won’t.” Cassy recoiled, startled by my stare, and instinctively released her grip. I turned my head, my gaze falling upon the two pathetic figures on the ground, a faint curve playing on my lips. “If you want me to save him, fine.” 2 In an instant, all eyes were fixed on me. Ashton and Sarah jolted their heads up, as if clutching a last straw of hope. “Tell us! Anything! We’ll agree to any condition if you save Ken!” Slowly, I articulated my terms: “First, all shares of the Gosling Corporation will be immediately transferred to my name.” “Second, Ken will be removed from the Gosling family registry.” “From this day forward, you will never acknowledge him again.” My words hung in the air, plunging the entire scene into an oppressive silence. Everyone stared at me as if I were a madman. They hadn’t expected such greed, such utter ruthlessness. The hope on Ashton and Sarah’s faces froze, replaced by shock and disbelief. “You… what did you say?” Sarah’s voice trembled. “Adrian! So, you are after the Gosling family fortune!” Cassy was the first to react, pointing a finger at my nose, her face contorted with scorn and fury. “I never realized until now that you were such a materialistic man!” She seemed to think she had caught me, her voice laced with menace. “Go save Ken right now, and I can pretend none of this happened.” “Otherwise, we’ll break off our engagement immediately!” She truly believed I still cared about that ridiculous engagement. I looked at her and suddenly chuckled. “Alright.” I answered crisply. “We’ll break off the engagement.” The triumphant smirk on Cassy’s face stiffened; she couldn’t believe her ears. “You… what did you say? Adrian, have you been wanting to break up with me for a long time?” My smile widened. “Congratulations, you got it right.” Her face instantly flushed, her body trembling with rage. “Ah—!” Ken, on the horse’s back, let out a final, desperate shriek, his body tilting precariously, on the verge of falling. “Ken!” Sarah cried out hysterically, nearly fainting. Ashton’s psychological defenses completely shattered. He gritted his teeth, forcing out words as if through a vice. “Fine! I agree! I’ll agree to anything!” I smiled, satisfied. From a nearby saddlebag, I produced the pre-prepared share transfer agreement and a declaration of disinheritance. “Words are worthless. Sign them now.” Everyone was shocked anew by my foresight. Seeing my preparations, Sarah pointed at me, too furious to speak. “Adrian! You… you’re utterly heartless!” “Sign it.” I waved the documents and pen in my hand, urging them. “Any later, and I can’t guarantee he’ll still be alive.” The two exchanged glances, seeing the struggle and pain in each other’s eyes. Ultimately, their affection for their adopted son won out. Their hands trembling, they took the documents and pen, and under everyone’s gaze, signed their names. Each stroke seemed to drain them of all their strength. I took the papers, carefully checking the signatures and fingerprints. Once confirmed, I tucked them away with a satisfied air. Three copies: one for me, one for them, and one notarized by a lawyer. Completely foolproof. “Alright, now can we go save him?” Cassy glared at me, seething, as if she wanted to devour me whole. Ashton and Sarah, too, had risen from the ground, their eyes fixed on me with hopeful anticipation. “Of course.” I smiled, placing my hands on the armrests, making a motion to stand. Everyone held their breath. And in that moment, I pulled back the thin blanket covering my legs, revealing the heavily bandaged cast in its entirety to everyone. Then, I offered them an apologetic, innocent smile. “My apologies.” “My leg is injured. I can’t save him.” 3 Time seemed to freeze. Everyone’s expressions were etched into masks of disbelief. “Adrian! You tricked us!” Cassy was the first to react, lunging forward and swiftly snatching the signed agreement from my hand. She glanced down at its contents, a twisted, triumphant smile spreading across her face. “Adrian, you are utterly despicable! For money, you’d abandon your own brother’s life!” She held the document aloft, shouting to everyone: “Look, everyone, this is the true face of the Gosling family’s biological son!” “He never intended to save anyone; he was just blackmailing his own parents!” With that, she crumpled the document savagely and stuffed it into her pocket. Then, she turned, displaying her agile figure, and rushed into the equestrian center without hesitation. “Ken, don’t be scared! I’m coming to save you!” Facing the frenzied horse, she remained fearless, even demonstrating remarkable horsemanship. To protect Ken, her arm was grazed by a hoof, leaving a bloody mark. She successfully reined in the horse, helping the thoroughly shaken Ken down from its back. A classic damsel-saves-distressed-man scenario, and the entire arena erupted in thunderous applause and admiration. “Miss Cassy is amazing!” “So brave! Now that’s a true heroine!” “Compared to a certain heartless man, it’s like night and day!” The applause and praise felt like stinging slaps across my face. Then came a real, solid slap. Ashton stood up, walked to me, and with all his might, delivered a blow to my cheek. It left me dizzy, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of my mouth. “You ungrateful wretch! You viper!” He pointed a trembling finger at my nose, enraged. “How could the Gosling family produce something so utterly heartless!” Sarah rushed over, her eyes burning with venom. “Adrian, I truly regret taking you back! You don’t deserve to be my son!” They all swarmed around Ken and Cassy, fussing over the hero and the pretty boy. Cassy supported Ken, basking in the crowd’s adoration. Ken leaned into her arms, looking utterly pitiful, tears streaking his pale face, a picture of vulnerability. “Brother…” He looked at me, his voice as soft as a feather. “Brother, we’re family, how could you be so cruel, watching me on the brink of death and refusing to help…” He paused, then added, with deliberate implication, “This horse, I remember you always trained it, brother.” “It’s usually so gentle; why would it suddenly act like this today? Brother, were you trying to hurt me on purpose?” 4 His vague, manipulative words instantly ignited everyone’s fury. “My God! So, he was behind it all!” “How devious! He’s a modern-day villain!” “To steal the inheritance, he’d even harm his own brother!” I became the target of all their scorn. Seeing her objective achieved, Cassy dropped her pretense. She embraced Ken, her gaze triumphant, and announced loudly: “Everyone, I officially announce today that I am breaking off my engagement with Adrian!” “A man as venomous and materialistic as him is unworthy to be my husband, Cassy Stratt, and certainly unworthy to be a Gosling!” She turned to Ashton and Sarah, speaking with deep affection: “Ashton, Sarah, Ken and I are truly in love.” “Before, due to the engagement, we had to keep our feelings hidden. Now, I hope you can bless our union!” Ken bashfully lowered his head, his cheeks flushed, tacitly agreeing to everything. What a performance of undying love. Ashton and Sarah, after a brief moment of shock, immediately concurred. “Yes! Yes! Cassy, we bless you both!” Sarah, her voice brimming with emotion, took Cassy’s hand. “It’s Ken’s blessing to be with you!” Ashton looked at me with an expression of utter disappointment. “Adrian, you have disappointed us beyond measure! You conspired against us, you tried to harm your brother; you don’t deserve the Gosling name!” “From today on, I, Ashton Gosling, have no son named Adrian! Get out of this house!” They spoke in unison, eager to cast me out and make room for the loving couple. The surrounding guests also cheered them on. I watched the entire charade with cold detachment, waiting until their performance concluded before slowly smiling. “What’s the rush? The one who should be leaving the Gosling family isn’t me, it’s Ken!” My voice was soft, yet it instantly silenced the noisy scene. I let out a whistle, and the “mad” horse obediently walked towards me. Everyone gasped and recoiled several steps. Black Beauty affectionately nudged my palm with its head, emitting a contented rumble. I stroked its glossy black mane and spoke leisurely. “Doesn’t anyone find it strange?” “Why did this horse, which was supposedly ‘frenzied,’ immediately become so docile after Ken was rescued?” “And my dear brother, after being dragged around by a wild horse for so long, didn’t even get a scratch.” “Could it be… that you, too, brother, possess hidden talents and are a horse whisperer?” I fixed my gaze on Cassy’s rigid face. “Cassy, you clearly had the ability to subdue the horse immediately. Why did you wait until my parents signed the agreement before intervening?” “And why did you insist on forcing a man with a broken leg to rescue someone?” My string of rhetorical questions were like pebbles thrown into a calm lake, stirring ripples. The people present weren’t fools; their expressions began to shift to curiosity and suspicion. Ken and Cassy’s faces instantly turned ashen. “You, what nonsense are you spouting!” Cassy shouted, her voice laced with fear. “Nonsense?” I scoffed, pulling out my phone from my pocket. “This horse is my darling, my treasured companion since it was a foal. So, I specifically installed a 24-hour surveillance camera in its stable.” I pressed play, pointing the screen towards the crowd. A clear video appeared before everyone.
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