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David stepped out into the early morning light, the cool breeze brushing against his face, a small, worn-out bag slung over his shoulder. He looked around, taking in the familiar sights one last time. It was the home he had grown up in, the place he had shared countless memories with Melanie. But now, it was time for him to leave it all behind.

Despite the heaviness in his heart, David felt a sense of relief. He was no longer under Shiela’s constant scrutiny, no longer bound by her unreasonable expectations. He was free to shape his future and carve out his own path. The first thing he had to do was find a safe place to stay.

Over the years, he had been prudent enough to hide away a modest amount from the various odd jobs he took up around town. The money wasn’t substantial, but it should be sufficient to afford him a few nights at a hotel.

A rush of excitement began to well up inside him. The idea of spending a few nights in solitude, away from the constant barrage of Shiela’s barking and scolding, sounded amazing. He could rest and strategize his next steps in peace.

The only problem was that there weren’t any hotels nearby. He was on the outskirts of Dalton, and the only hotel he actually knew of was located somewhere in the heart of the city, several miles away. He had never ventured further than the convenience store where Melanie worked, but this was as good a time as any to explore, and perhaps he would find a better life there.

Filled with anticipation, David headed towards his destination, the Rising Phoenix Hotel. He had heard of it from Shiela a long time ago. Apparently, it was where she had met his parents for the first time. It was a long shot, but maybe he’d find some clues about what his parents were like if he stayed there. At the very least, he could pretend he was staying in a room that his parents once did.

As he made his way to the heart of the city, he allowed himself a small, hopeful smile. He knew that there would be challenges ahead, but he was ready to face them. If he could survive the loss of his parents, being left at a god-awful orphanage, and living under Shiela’s roof, he could survive this as well.

“Daviiid!” Shiela’s voice rang through the house, piercing the stillness that had settled. The annoyance was evident in her tone as she demanded David to clean the floors to make up for the ‘scene’ he had caused. She was oblivious to the reality of David’s absence; he was no longer there to answer her calls or clean the home.

She waited for a moment, expecting to hear the familiar shuffling of David’s feet, the soft murmur of his apology. But the house remained eerily quiet, except for the clock’s ticking that grew louder and more pronounced in David’s absence.

The silence irked her. She was not used to being ignored, especially not by David. Confused and irritated by his apparent disobedience, Shiela decided to take matters into her own hands. Marching down the hallway, her mind was already forming a string of reprimands for David’s lack of response.

As she reached David’s room, she was met with a sight that completely shocked her. The room was empty. His bed was neatly made, and his few belongings were all gone. The room looked untouched, abandoned.

For a few moments, Shiela stood frozen at the doorway. She had thought that David’s talk of leaving was nothing more than a teenage tantrum, a momentary lapse of judgment. She had never believed that he would actually leave.

The realization hit her like a freight train. David was gone. He had left, just as he said he would. As the truth sunk in, Shiela felt a pang of regret for the first time in a long time. She had lost her servant, the target of her frustrations, her personal punching bag. What now?

Seething with anger, Shiela paced around the empty room.

“Ungrateful brat,” she muttered. “Doesn’t he realize how much I’ve done for him?”

Her words filled the room with disdain and resentment.

“I gave him a roof over his head, food to eat, a place to belong. And this is how he repays me? By leaving?” she scoffed. Her voice rose with each word, the sting of betrayal evident in her tone.

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

“He was nothing before I took him in. Nothing but a burden, a charity case,” she spat, as if the words had left a rancid taste in her mouth.

She let out a bitter laugh.

“And to think I thought he’d at least be helpful with caring for the home. Hoped that he wouldn’t be completely useless. But he’s just trash. Worthless, ungrateful trash. He’s just like his parents, always doing what they want without any crumb of consideration for me.”

Her voice was filled with venom. But beneath the surface, there was a flicker of regret and longing. Every corner of the house echoed with David’s absence, and the unsettling feeling of emptiness gnawed at her. David’s departure had brought to light a reality she was not ready to face: her dependence on him.

As David’s footsteps echoed down the hall, Melanie sank to the floor, her knees weak from the emotional turmoil. She watched the empty doorway, half-expecting David to come back and tell her it was all a joke. But the house remained silent. The hollowness was a reminder of the reality: David was gone.

She wrapped her arms around herself, tears welling up in her eyes. The room felt colder now; empty. It wasn’t just the physical absence of David, but the laughter, the shared secrets, the comforting presence—all gone. It was as if a piece of her had left with him.

But as the tears spilled down her cheeks, she remembered David’s words. It was true, he did deserve better. She had always known he deserved better. She just wished that their bond as brother and sister was enough for him. But, in the end, nothing she did could ever undo her mother’s constant contempt and lack of restraint with her words.

Melanie thought back on their childhood, when her mother had first adopted David. She remembered how excited she was to have an older brother, to have a friend.

Those first few weeks were so much fun. Every day, they would go to the playground and play made up games until the sun went down. They would color and play house and stay up way past their bedtime. She even remembered her mother buying them more toys and snacks, too, so they could keep playing and having fun.

But then, something happened. Melanie didn’t know it at the time, but apparently David had come from a really rich family, and her mother had thought that by adopting David, she would receive the wealth that he was supposed to inherit. Melanie wouldn’t find out until much later that the day Shiela received the bankruptcy notice was the day that everything changed.

That day, her mother’s lack of restraint wasn’t just with her words. Melanie had never been so scared in her life. All she could do was cry and scream as her mother beat David relentlessly until he lost consciousness, his body bloody and broken. If someone hadn’t overheard the screaming and called the police, David might not even be alive today.

With a deep breath, Melanie stood up. This was probably for the best. No matter how much she wanted her older brother to stay, the painful truth was that he should have left a long time ago. She had tried for years to change her mother, to convince David that things would get better, that he belonged. But, deep down, Melanie knew that he had only stayed because of his sense of duty and care for her. Now that he was gone, she’d have to take care of herself. He wouldn’t want her to be moping around all day. He’d want her to be strong.

“I’ll miss you, David,” she whispered into the empty room.

She wiped away her tears, a newfound resolve in her eyes. David’s departure was a wake-up call. She couldn’t let her mother’s bitterness define their lives. She had to stand up, not just for herself, but for David too. His brave decision had shown her that they both deserved better.

With a final glance at David’s room, Melanie stepped out and trudged back to her own room. Although David was gone, she knew he was with her in spirit. His resilience, his kindness, his resolve – they were a part of her now. And she would carry them with her.

As the dust settled from David’s shocking announcement, Melanie followed him into the small room he had been crammed in for so many years. The hard light from the hanging bulb fell upon David’s face, casting long, melancholy shadows. Melanie studied him, her heart aching at the sight of her closest friend, her brother, preparing to leave.

“David…” she started to say, her voice trembling, reflecting the fear and sadness that wrestled within her. “You can’t go. This is your home.”

David turned towards her. He was trying to look calm, but Melanie could see the sorrow in his eyes.

“Mel,” he said softly. “You know I don’t belong here, just as well as I do. Not with Shiela treating me the way that she does.”

Melanie shook her head.

“But David, we grew up together here, in this house. You’re a part of this family as much as I am.”

David gave her a small, sad smile.

“I wish that were true, Mel. But Shiela doesn’t see it that way. To her, I’m nothing more than a servant or slave.”

Melanie felt a lump forming in her throat, her voice beginning to break. She swallowed hard, forcing the words out.

“I know, David...I know. But it’s not just about Mom. I don’t want you to leave. You’re my best friend, my family.”

David reached out, his hand gently squeezing hers.

“I don’t want to leave you either, Mel. But I can’t stay in this house and continue living like this…I deserve better. We both do.”

Melanie looked at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

“I know. You’re right, you do deserve better. You deserve to be appreciated.”

But, I appreciate you…

Melanie saw how selflessly he took care of the home. He cooked most of their meals and tried to work whenever he could to help pay the bills. She had stood up for him every time her mom berated him, but it wasn’t enough.

She took a deep, shaky breath, her hand tightening around his.

“And maybe...maybe you’d find that life somewhere else. Maybe you will be happier…But please, promise me you’ll come back once you’ve found what you’re looking for. Promise me that you’ll remember all the good memories, not just the bad ones.”

David nodded, and Melanie saw tears beginning to form in his eyes as they met her’s.

“I promise, Mel.”

They sat there for a while, lost in their thoughts, their hands still entwined. The room was silent, save for the soft rustle of the wind outside. It was a bitter-sweet moment, one that marked the end of an era.

As David stood up to leave, Melanie pulled him into a hug.

“Remember, David, no matter where you go, you will always have a family here. I will always be here for you,” Melanie whispered.

Finally, David pulled away, his eyes meeting hers one last time.

“Goodbye, Mel,” he whispered, his voice filled with sadness and resolve.

With that, he turned and walked away. As she watched him disappear, a surge of emotions overwhelmed her. It was the end of her family and a painful farewell. But in her heart, she knew it was the right thing for David. As much as it hurt, she had to let him go for his happiness and the better life he deserved.

As the new day dawned bright and early, Melanie entered through the front door, weary from her long night shift at Brook’s Convenience Store. Her eyes, filled with exhaustion, were immediately met with her mother’s disapproving gaze. Shiela stood there, arms crossed, and wasted no time voicing her thoughts on Melanie’s late-night job.

“Melanie, you don’t need to work so hard,” Shiela began, her voice laced with a faux concern. “You’re a Bringer, not some lowly servant. Leave the boring tasks to David.”

Melanie frowned at her mother’s words, the weight of her fatigue momentarily forgotten in the face of Shiela’s audacious remark.

“David isn’t a servant either, Mom,” she retorted. “He’s a part of this family, just like us.”

Shiela scoffed, her face contorting with disbelief.

“A part of the family? Please. He’s only good for earning a pittance and doing the household chores. That’s all he’s good for.”

Melanie bristled at her mother’s derogatory tone.

“That’s not true, mom. David’s smart and kind, and-”

“Enough, Melanie!” Shiela interrupted, her patience clearly wearing thin. “I don’t want to hear any more about David. He’s a burden, plain and simple.”

Melanie fumed. It was so annoyingly typical of her mother to provoke her after a long shift. All Melanie wanted to do was shower and curl up in bed. But no, her mom just had to nag her about work, even though the only reason Melanie bothered to find work at all was because her mom kept complaining about how little David earned.

Melanie couldn’t understand why her mother was so determined to give David such a hard time, even after so many years of them being a family. He didn’t deserve to be treated this way.

***

David stepped into the room, taking a deep breath. His eyes met Melanie’s first, her concern and frustration mirrored in his own gaze. He gave a small, reassuring smile, a message of gratitude for standing up for him.

“I heard the commotion,” David said calmly. “Melanie, you don’t have to defend me.”

He shifted his eyes to Shiela, meeting her condescending gaze with a softened one, trying to diffuse the tension in the room.

“Shiela, I understand the frustration and disappointment you feel. I know things didn’t turn out how you had hoped when you took me in…”

He paused, gathering his thoughts.

“But, taking it out on Melanie isn’t fair. She works hard. She’s returned from a long shift and needs to rest.”

Shiela glared at him, her eyes cold, devoid of any warmth.

“If I had received the money for adopting you, Melanie wouldn’t have to work at all, would she?” Shiela hissed.

David could only stare at Shiela in surprise, staggered by her intense disdain while she continued relentlessly.

“You were nothing more than an investment, David. A ticket to the Hall family’s fortune.”

David wrestled with the conflict in his heart as he listened to Shiela’s words, each a brutal blow to his fragile sense of belonging. He had always sensed her resentment towards him, but she was still his adoptive mother. She was the one who took him in and gave him a home. Even if she had adopted him for selfish reasons, she still provided him with food and shelter for nearly twelve years.

“But it all vanished, didn’t it?” Shiela spat. “Just like your parents.”

David swallowed hard, the sharp sting of her words making his throat dry. It was a low blow.

“And now, you’re nothing more than a useless waste of a life,” Shiela finished, her words of condemnation looming over David like a guillotine.

David held Shiela’s gaze. He felt the weight of her words and her reality’s cold harshness. He had survived under the shadow of Shiela’s wrath and disappointment for years; he was not about to let her control him now. He refused to be broken.

“I’m sorry you feel that way, Shiela,” he replied, focusing his efforts on keeping his voice steady. “I never asked you to adopt me. I never asked to be a burden to you.”

His gaze flicked to Melanie, apology filling his eyes.

“I’m sorry, Mel. I never wanted to cause trouble for you.”

Melanie shook her head, her eyes filled with anger and sadness.

“It’s not your fault, David. You didn’t ask for any of this. And you’re not a burden. You’re family.”

But David was not convinced.

“Perhaps it’s best if I leave,” he said softly. It was a thought that had crossed his mind before, especially during the worst of Shiela’s tirades, but he had never voiced it out loud.

“No! You can’t leave, this is your home!” Melanie cried out, her voice shaking slightly.

David looked at her, his heart aching at the determination in her eyes. But he knew that he couldn’t stay. He had to find a way out, to live a life his parents would have wanted for him.

“Go on then,” Shiela cackled with cruel amusement. “Leave. See if I care. You’re useless here anyway.”

A twitch at the mouth gave away Shiela’s hesitancy. David knew she thought of him as her own personal servant. She was undoubtedly beginning to realize that there was a chance she was about to lose the convenience of his cheap labor around the home.

Wrestling with the turmoil within him, David managed a small, defiant smile.

“Don’t worry about me, Shiela. I’ve managed to survive this far, haven’t I?”

He was well aware that there would be difficulties ahead. At his age, it would be a struggle to find a place to live, let alone support himself. But he couldn’t let Shiela see his vulnerability. He couldn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing his fear.

I’ve already lost my parents…surely, I can survive parting from my cruel adoptive mother.

“I’ll be just fine.”

With those final words, David turned and walked away, leaving them stunned. He steeled his resolve and squashed the fear coursing through him. He was stepping into the unknown, but he knew in his heart that this was something he had to do.

Upon returning home that night, David was met with the familiar contempt of Shiela Bringer. The lines on her face deepened into a scowl as soon as she looked at him, her annoyance evident.

“You’re late again, David,” she spat, her voice laced with venom. “This isn’t some hotel where you can come and go as you please.”

David remained silent, despite the harsh words thrown at him. Although Shiela was the one who dictated where and when he could work, she never failed to chastise him if he returned even a few minutes later than she permitted.

“Did you at least make any money tonight?” Shiela demanded, her eyes narrowing as she held out her hand expectantly. Her tone suggested she already knew the answer, but was eager to hear the confirmation from David’s lips.

David reached into his pocket, pulling out the few bills he had earned from washing dishes at the pub. Given the late hours and arduous work, his earnings were meager, but it was still something. He stifled his frustration and placed the bills into Shiela’s outstretched hand.

“This is it?” Shiela scoffed, examining the cash disdainfully. “You’re practically stealing from me, David. You live under my roof, eat my food, and this is how you repay me?”

David simply nodded, choosing not to counter her accusations. He knew that Shiela’s expectations were unreasonable, especially considering the circumstances. However, he also knew that attempting to reason with her would be futile.

“I expect more from you, David,” Shiela warned, her voice cold and unforgiving. “If you can’t contribute, you’re nothing more than a burden.”

With those final words, Shiela dismissed him, turning her attention back to the television.

David retreated to his small room, the sting of Shiela’s words still fresh in his mind. The bitterness in her voice was a familiar sound to him, a constant reminder of the resentment she harbored towards him. Despite the frequency of these verbal lashings, they always managed to sting.

The injustice of his predicament was not lost on him. His home, which should have been a haven of warmth and security, was instead a pit of tension and hostility. He was treated more like a servant than a member of the family, his every move scrutinized and criticized. But, he refused to let Shiela’s words break him.

He thought back on the stories he had heard at the pub, of how his parents had defied the odds and upset the old power structures in Dalton. The old man said that David’s parents had come from nothing. They had no money, no power, and no influence. Yet, they blazed a path for themselves and defeated the entrenched family empires at their own game.

If my parents could do it, maybe I can too…

At the very least, he needed to do something to change his circumstances. He couldn’t let Shiela’s scathing remarks, unfair demands, and constant mistreatment haunt him forever. He needed to take control of his life.

David Hall, a young man of seventeen, sat quietly in the corner of a pub. His eyes were focused intently on the grizzled old man before him, who was regaling his audience with tales of the city’s past. The old man was a regular at the local pub, and was known for his love of ale and his captivating stories that seemed to breathe life into Dalton’s rich history. Tonight, he was detailing the drama of the family empires that ruled Dalton and how the Halls had stepped in from out of nowhere, completely flipping the power dynamic and becoming the greatest family empire the city had ever seen.

For his audience, tonight’s tales were just another episode in the saga of Dalton city. From the insidious schemes to the calculated coordination, the old man spared no enthralling detail for those with ears to hear. Yet, to David, these stories served a different purpose. They were a window into the world his parents had once been a part of, a world now lost to him, clouded in mystery. He listened intently, trying to imagine what his parents might have been like; what his life might have been like.

David was a striking figure, with a sharp intellect that shone in his eyes and an aura of charisma that seemed to captivate those around him. His humble demeanor belied his keen perception and uncanny ability to discern the intentions of others. His past was a secret to most; his early years marked by tragedy and a sudden upheaval that defined the course of his life.

His parents, William and Bethany Hall, had been wealthy business tycoons, their names synonymous with power and influence. From what David could put together, his parents were practically royalty. The people loved them. They controlled the top companies in nearly every industry and even found favor with the local government. They brought the city of Dalton into a new age of prosperity, ushering in its reputation as one of the best cities in all of Asia.

However, they were tragically killed in a car accident when David was just a child, leaving him an orphan. The life he had known before became a blur, and he could only recall scattered memories of his family. All he knew was he was very loved by his mother and father, and he loved them too.

What happened after that, he did remember. Shortly after his parents’ deaths, he was handed off to an orphanage, somewhere far away from home. He remembered how the rooms smelled like urine because no one would clean them after kids peed the bed. He remembered being scolded and beaten whenever he cried. He remembered asking for his parents, and trying to find them, not realizing what had happened; that they were gone.

Then, a woman named Shiela Bringer adopted him. David hadn’t recognized her, but she claimed to be friends of his parents and said she noticed his last name in the orphanage register. All he had wanted was to leave the orphanage, so when she asked if his parents were William and Bethany Hall, he told her the truth, and she adopted him. By the time he realized his mistake, it was too late.

It turned out that Shiela did, indeed, know of David’s parents, but her motives for adopting him were far from genuine care. She had hoped that, by adopting David, she would inherit the Hall family’s fortune. She had wanted to claim his parents’ vast wealth for herself, but it had all disappeared without a trace, leaving her bitter and resentful. To her, David symbolized her failed ambitions, and she treated him as nothing more than a slave.

Yet, David bore his circumstances gracefully, his humility a testament to his character. He treated everyone he met kindly, his parents’ teachings still resonating within him. Despite Shiela’s cruelty, he never allowed himself to be swayed by bitterness or resentment. He knew that his parents would never want him to compromise himself in that way.

Amid these trying circumstances, David found a loyal friend in Shiela’s daughter, Melanie. Although not exceptionally gifted or particularly extraordinary, Melanie was fiercely loyal and stood up for David whenever she could. Despite her mother’s harsh treatment, David found solace in their friendship, their bond a beacon of hope in his otherwise bleak existence.

As David listened to the old man’s tales, he couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of connection. With every story, his resolve grew. He was determined to uncover the truth about his family’s past and live up to his parents’ legacy.

This marked the beginning of David Hall’s extraordinary journey. A journey that would lead him down a path of discovery, danger, and destiny.