Chapter 1

On the day I was released, Dad personally drove over to pick me up.

He wore a crisp suit, and his hair was slicked back with wax.

He looked like he was celebrating some huge happy occasion.

He even held a bouquet of flowers out to me.

“Congratulations, son, you successfully passed Dad’s stress test.”

“From now on, Dad won’t test you anymore, because you’ve matured.”

I felt as if I had fallen into an ice cellar, and I said, “Thank you so much, Dad!”

A crowd of reporters and gossip-hungry onlookers surrounded the prison gates.

Dad was an influencer and a PhD in psychology.

More than that, he was a self-help success expert.

He had always treated me like a lab rat to test whether I had the traits of a successful person.

Facing the reporters surging toward him, Dad looked like a hawk spotting prey.

He held a microphone and spoke smoothly to the crowd.

“My son is undoubtedly outstanding, and he inherited my powerful genes.”

“He can stay calm in extreme situations and resolve crises.”

“He was sent to prison by his own father and still holds no resentment, which shows an extremely strong mind.”

I clenched my fists tightly, and my nails dug hard into my palms.

Dad, how do you know I hold no resentment in my heart?

Do you even know what I went through in prison?

I was wearing a prison uniform, and my face was numb.

Under my clothes were bruises and pinch marks, blue and purple all over.

The camera flashes stung so badly that I could barely open my eyes.

I used my hand to block my face so they would not see the hatred in my eyes.

This press conference lasted a full half hour.

By the time I got home, I was already exhausted.

Mom had made a whole table of good food and was waiting at home.

My younger brother had also bought a gift and was waiting for me to come back.

Everything looked so harmonious.

When Mom saw how thin I had become, she seemed a little pained.

“My sweet boy, you’re finally back, and I was worried sick about you.”

My brother poured me a drink and said, “Evan, congratulations on becoming stronger.”

With trembling hands, I picked up the glass.

“Thank you, all of you, my family!”

“Thank you for working together to send me to prison!”

“Thank you for giving me the ultimate life experience!”

The bitter liquor slid down my throat like poison.

This home was an even bigger prison.

Dad sat across from me, and his eyes were full of evaluation as he looked at me.

“Son, you’ve changed.”

“This month of training has helped you grow a lot.”

“You are the work I am most satisfied with.”

I tugged the corner of my mouth in mockery.

“Of course Dad is satisfied, because you gained ten million followers this month.”

“I’m the work you’re most satisfied with, aren’t I?”

Dad nodded and looked at my brother.

“You really are outstanding, and your brother is just a useless loser, so I’m too lazy to train him.”

Mom patted her chest and said, “Then I’m even more useless.”

“I’m not worthy of the eye of a psychology PhD like you!”

“But isn’t it too cruel for you to train your son like this?”

Something stirred in my heart, and I looked up at Mom.

“You also think it’s cruel, so why didn’t you stop Dad?”

“From the time I was nine until I was twenty-two, Dad accused me of stealing ninety-nine times, an average of six times a year.”

Mom sighed and said, “Your dad is doing this for your own good, so don’t be ungrateful.”

I was completely hopeless, because this home was truly no place to stay.