Chapter 3Dreams Beyond the Stars

Not long after Caleb left, a flash of lightning split the sky, followed by a torrential downpour.

The System finally came back online. Host, Caleb doesn’t have an umbrella. You could bring one to him. It’s a great opportunity to improve your relationship.

“In your dreams,” I snapped, rejecting its suggestion. I was about to head upstairs when I heard a knock at the door.

Hmph. It had to be Caleb, coming back for shelter.

I deliberately took my time, then sauntered over to the door, leaning against the frame with a practiced smirk, ready with a few sarcastic remarks.

“Ca— Mr. Herman?”

The middle-aged man in a black suit bowed respectfully. “Young Master,” he said, then stepped aside, gesturing for me to look behind him.

A black sedan was parked in the driveway. Standing beside it, holding a large black umbrella, was Logan. I hadn’t seen him in three months. He stood tall and imposing, wrapped in the unmistakable air of someone in charge.

He must have felt my gaze, because the umbrella tilted up, revealing a pale, exquisitely handsome face. Right now, it was as dark and stormy as the twilight sky behind him.

I shivered involuntarily and walked toward him, getting into the car without a word.

“What took you so long to open the door?”

I looked down, guiltily rubbing my nose. “I was asleep. Didn’t hear the knock.”

“Is that so?” He turned, his eyes landing on my face. They lingered for a beat before he suddenly leaned in, his fingers closing around my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Asher… are you seeing someone?”

His cold thumb brushed over the bite mark on my lip, rubbing it with what felt like deliberate malice. “Your little girlfriend plays rough, I see.”

Staring into his intense, pressuring gaze, I stammered, “No, I—I just bumped into something.”

He let go, his eyes dark and unreadable. I couldn’t tell if he believed me. His voice cooled as he got back to the point. “It’s the family dinner tonight. I’m here to take you home.”

I mumbled under my breath, “Why do I have to go? None of them even like me.”

“You spend all your time chasing girls and hanging out in bars,” Logan said, his voice like ice. “When you act like such a good-for-nothing, of course no one will like you.”

It was the first time he’d ever been so blunt.

I never used to understand it. Every other member of the Shaw family was exceptional. They excelled in academia, business, politics—whatever they touched turned to gold. Logan, the best of them all, was practically born a king. I was the only exception. I was useless at everything. No matter how hard I tried, I was doomed to be mediocre.

Now I finally understood. I wasn’t a Shaw at all. They were born with silver spoons in their mouths, while I was just trash. Even thrown into a golden nest like the Shaw family, I was still just trash.

I had never, ever belonged.

As expected, the second half of the dinner turned into another one of their lectures about me. Usually, Logan would step in and defend me, but tonight he just sat there, his mouth set in a grim line, silent.

As they threw around phrases like “spoiled brat” and “useless degenerate,” I drank glass after glass of wine. Finally, I staggered to my feet, turned my glass upside down, and poured the last of the red wine onto the pristine white tablecloth.

While they stared in stunned silence, I took out my cochlear implant, blocking out the noise I knew was about to erupt.

“Enjoy the rest of your meal, uncles,” I said, my voice clear and steady. “I won’t be joining you.”

As I turned to leave, Logan grabbed my wrist. His mouth moved, but I couldn’t hear him. I just shook him off and walked away.