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Novel Catalog
Some years ago, Gerard had managed to amass a fortune through shady dealings in the sale of illegal CDs. His hands had been stained with the profits of those actions, but in the end, it had granted him a house in the county, and a car—symbols of his success. But those years of wealth and indulgence had not lasted. His fortune had dwindled as swiftly as it had been acquired, and he now lived on the remnants of his past glory—his savings still amounted to several tens of thousands, enough to keep him comfortably above the middle class but far from what one would consider truly wealthy.
Gordon watched Gerard carefully, his eyes narrowing as he saw the shock in his brother’s expression. Carlisle had indeed guessed right. Gerard had made a fortune—no question about it. But now, with his recent job loss hanging over him like a dark cloud, Gerard’s prideful facade wavered. Who knew? Maybe, in his current desperate situation, his brother might even allow him to work for him, though the chances of that were slim. Still, Gordon knew that in times of need, one had to swallow their pride for the sake of family.
Gerard took a slow sip from his cup, the drink swirling in his hand as his lips curled into a rueful smile. “I didn’t make much,” he said nonchalantly, though the twinkle of arrogance in his eyes betrayed his words. “Just enough to afford two Santanas!”
His words hung in the air, heavy with implication. Two Santanas were worth almost five hundred thousand dollars—far more than the average person could ever dream of spending on a car. Gordon’s eyes widened, his mind racing as he tried to mask his envy. “What kind of work did you do to earn so much money?” he asked eagerly, his voice almost pleading. “Why don’t you let me join you? We could really make something of ourselves!”
Gerard chuckled, a low, almost mocking sound. “Didn’t you also earn a small fortune? You hadn’t bought a car when we met last year, had you?”
Gordon’s smile faltered, and he sighed deeply before finishing his drink in one go. Then, with a touch of embarrassment, he confessed. “I… borrowed this car from my supervisor.”
Maria couldn’t hold back her laughter at that. “So it was all an act, wasn’t it?” she teased, the laughter cutting through the room like a sharp knife. At first, she had believed Gordon was doing well for himself, but now, the truth was clear. He had been pretending all along.
Gordon flushed, his face turning crimson, but he tried to cover it with a forced laugh. Maria’s words stung. “You should own up to it, Gordon,” she said, her voice laced with mockery. “What’s the point of acting like you’re wealthy? You might fool some, but not everyone. Especially not your son!”
Hilda’s face burned with frustration. She glared at Gordon, mortified by his actions. Gordon could be shameless in front of others, but what about her and their son? What about their dignity?
Trying to brush off the tension, Gordon turned his attention back to Gerard, who had been watching the exchange with a faint, knowing smirk. “Is there any way we could work together?” Gordon asked, almost pleading. “We could go big, make a lot of money. That way, people from our hometown would finally stop looking down on us!”
Gerard’s smirk deepened as he stared at Gordon with quiet disdain. “Gordon, I think you’ve misunderstood. The truth is, those people don’t look down on us—they look down on you.” His words were like daggers, cutting deep, and he took another slow sip of his drink, almost savoring the discomfort in the air.
Gordon’s face fell, and a forced smile stretched across his lips. “We’re brothers,” he said, his voice weak. “Can’t you just help me out?”
Gerard was unmoved. His tone was cold and detached. “Your fate is in your own hands. I’m not here to hold yours.”
Carlisle, who had been quietly observing the exchange, felt a wave of discomfort wash over him. His father, who had always been a man of integrity and pride, now seemed so small, diminished by the weight of his financial struggles. It was painful to watch Gordon’s dignity slip away in front of his eyes.
For years, Gordon had instilled in him the belief that one could be poor but never give up on life. But now, with their family facing such hardships, Carlisle saw that all of his father’s strength and principles seemed to have crumbled. And that stung more than anything.
Carlisle silently swore to himself that he would change their lives. He would become the kind of person who could lift his family out of this pit of poverty. No longer would they have to be humiliated in front of Gerard and his family. No longer would they have to bow their heads in shame. He would work tirelessly, build a fortune, and allow his parents to live with dignity once more.
“I’m not here to gloat,” Gerard said, his tone softening ever so slightly. “I just thought I could inspire you. There’s nothing wrong with working hard, you know. If you can’t make it in university, I have some connections in factories. You could train there and still make something of yourself.”
Carlisle met Gerard’s gaze, his expression unwavering. “I don’t need your help, Uncle Gerard,” he said calmly, his voice firm. “I’ll make it to Riverland University on my own.” His words were more than just a promise—they were a declaration.
Gerard raised an eyebrow in surprise, and Carlisle could see the doubt in his eyes. “Do you really think that’s enough?” Gerard asked, his voice tinged with skepticism. “Do you honestly believe that just getting into university will change your fate? University doesn’t guarantee success, you know.”
Carlisle didn’t flinch. “As you said, my fate is in my own hands. And I’ll control how I live my life. Not you, not anyone else.” He looked Gerard directly in the eye, not backing down.
Gerard’s face darkened, but he chose not to argue further. Instead, he simply nodded and turned away. “I see. Well, good luck, kid.”
As Gerard and his family departed for the hotel, Gordon and Carlisle dropped them off at the entrance of their complex. Gerard lit a cigarette, the smoke curling around his fingers as he turned to Carlisle. “Remember what I said. You can always fall back on training at a factory if things don’t work out.”
Carlisle’s gaze was unwavering. “Don’t worry about me, Uncle Gerard. I’ll be fine.”
Later, as the night settled in, Gordon stood by the balcony, lost in thought. He lit another cigarette and exhaled slowly. His voice was heavy with guilt as he turned to Carlisle. “I’m sorry, son. For everything today.”
Carlisle’s voice was calm and reassuring as he placed an arm around his father’s shoulders. “It’s okay, Dad. We’ll make them regret looking down on us. We’ll show them that we can rise above it.”
Gordon smiled, his shoulders relaxing slightly, though his eyes were still clouded with worry. “You’re right, Carl. I’ve always believed that only the competent can succeed. You’ll show them, won’t you?”
Carlisle grinned, his confidence shining through. “Dad, who says you’re incompetent? In the future, I’ll make sure everyone knows just how capable you are.”
As the father and son walked into the night, their bond strengthened by shared dreams of success, Carlisle’s mind was focused solely on one thing: proving himself. No longer would he let his family’s struggles define him. He would make a name for himself and build the future he knew they deserved.