Chapter 4Left Behind on Purpose, I'll Chase My Own Light

Caleb's POV

When I woke up the next morning, it was already 10:00 am. I didn't even bother putting on shoes before leaping up and rushing for the door.

But the moment I opened the door, I ran straight into my parents and my siblings who had just returned from the photoshoot.

As I collapsed to the ground in despair, my leg was cut by a shard of broken glass on the floor. Blood gushed out, yet I felt no pain. All I felt was regret and self-blame.

Carina glanced coldly at the blood on the floor and said mockingly, "You've even resorted to self-harm just to get out of taking a photo with us? Caleb, your hypocrisy and callousness have just sunk to a new low!"

With that, she ignored me and went straight back to her room.

My parents also let out a deep sigh and went off to busy themselves with their own affairs.

Carson, however, kept telling me all the interesting things that had happened during the photo session.

He even tried to comfort me, saying, "Caleb, I know you're upset about missing the family photoshoot, but I thought of something that might make you feel better! We can have you edited into the photo! What do you think?"

He sounded like he had my best interests at heart, but his eyes were full of mockery and smugness.

For some reason, I suddenly thought of the glass of milk from the night before. I shot up from the floor and grabbed Carson's arm. "Tell me, did you put something in that milk? Is that why I overslept?"

Carson's face went pale instantly. "Caleb, what are you talking about? I don't understand a word you're saying!"

In the midst of the standoff, I glanced up and spotted the security camera in the corner of the living room. My eyes lit up at once.

I pushed past him, rushed into the study, and pulled up the surveillance footage from last night.

What I saw made my heart stop. Carson had crept into the kitchen, dropped a white pill into the milk, and brought it to me.

My anger peaked in that instant. So my repeated oversleeping had never been an accident. Just like the family group chat, it was all Carson's doing, just so he could have all the attention.

Overwhelmed by shock, I swayed and nearly fell, accidentally bumping the mouse with my arm.

The surveillance progress bar was dragged back to two weeks ago. Once again, the footage showed Carson adding something to my milk. The blood in my veins instantly ran cold.

Two weeks ago was the day of the college entrance exam! It was one thing for him to sabotage my chance at the family portrait, but he had actually tried to ruin my future as well?

Fortunately, I had an upset stomach that day, so after drinking the milk, I kept running to the bathroom, thus flushing the sleeping pill out of my system. I had narrowly avoided tragedy.

Furious, I took the evidence to my parents. But unexpectedly, they didn't seem at all outraged. In fact, they didn't even utter a single harsh word. They just said to Carson indifferently, "Don't do anything like this again in the future, okay?"

Then, they turned and scolded me. "No real harm was done! Do you really have to make such a big deal out of it? You've scared Carson half to death!"

They tenderly rubbed Carson's back and comforted him in soft voices. Carina also came over and said, "Exactly. We're family. Must you really be so petty? Even if Carson really did something wrong, don't you share any of the responsibility?"

I looked up at the three people I had once considered the most important in my life. They had thrown all sense of right and wrong out the window just to protect Carson. What blatant favoritism.

I couldn't help but laugh. I laughed so hard that tears streamed down my face.

My parents shot me a look of disgust. "It's just a family photo! Why are you making such a big deal out of it? We'll retake it tomorrow if that's what you want!"

I stopped laughing and said calmly, "No need for that."

There was no need to retake the family photo, and I would never return to this home again.

I quietly went back to my room, took out my suitcase, and packed every last meager belonging I had in the house. I blocked every family member's number, left the family group chat, and walked out the door without looking back.

Then, I boarded a southbound train. From here on, we would go our separate ways, and I would never dwell on the past again.