That evening, I spilled the beans to my dad when he got homete. He wasn''t around much, only making it back because it was their anniversary, which was the only reason Mom had been out to grab groceries.


    Dad was livid when I told him what went down. Without letting Mom in on it, he whisked me off to the market where it all happened. He had me point out each person who had messed with my mom that day.


    The market was packed with folks standing in neat rows, like sheep led to the ughter, too scared to put up a fight. They had their heads hung low, all their swagger from the day before was gone.


    Why?


    Because they were broke, chained to the market by contracts, each drowning under massive rent bills. They had no choice but to stand there as Dad had them do... Actually, it wasn''t even his direct order. It came from the market manager, who wouldn''t dare say a word to Dad himself.


    I stood there, calling out each of the people who had wronged my mom. The ones who had been so bold the day before were now as meek asmbs, trying to appease Dad, saying, "We were just following rumors. We had no idea she was your wife..."


    Even with their humble apologies, Dad didn''t bother to give them the time of day.


    The market managers got the hint quickly. They yanked those folks aside, roughed them up a bit, and then trashed all the produce on their stalls, grinding it into the ground.


    Just like that, those people were on the verge of breaking.


    Their livelihood was at stake. Without it, they''d be left to drift, with no means to survive.


    Standing next to me, Dad said, "Reece, remember, for these people, death isn''t the scariest thing. It''s losing their livelihood that''s terrifying."


    Without a way to make a living, there''s no hope.


    Without hope, all that''s left is despair.


    The worst kind of suffering in this world isn''t physical; it''s the torment of the soul.


    I tucked those words away in my heart.


    They settled in, growing into a towering tree in my mind.


    In my eyes, the divide between the lower ss and the upper ss was crystal clear.


    The lower ss spends their entire lives


    histling, only to end up with e


    Their existence is


    s cycle of struggle..ent


    Meanwhile, the upper ss


    effortlessly reaps the rewards of the lower ss''s hard work, enjoying the abundance they produce, all while scheming to keep the lower ss trapped in their grind. This way, the upper ss can keep living the good life.  ?wnovel


    After Mom passed, Dad was down for a while, but he still had his mission toplete.


    And I became his chosen heir.


    Even though we both knew I was his only heir.


    "Reece, when you''re grown, I''ll hand everything over to you."


    Dad ruffled my hair, his eyes warm and kind.


    Yet, there we were, standing at the gates of the Tredgold family.


    This ce was supposed to be my home too, but we weren''t even allowed inside.


    I nced through the gates at my


    brother, Adler, who was


    who was goofing


    For the first time, a pa


    discontentment hit me.


    of


    We were both Dad''s sons, but Adler''s status was out in the open for all to see.