Chapter 96 An Attempt To Ruin
\[Ray’s POV\]
Her schemes started off small, with her simply trying to embarrass Osiris. A lie here, framing him there. It wasn’t enough to hurt him, but enough to try to stop my father from considering him worthy.
However, each time she tried, our grandfather would protect, and my father would ignore.
It was frustrating, to say the least, not only to me but also to my mother.
When each plan failed, my mother would throw a fit, and things would get broken. If I were unlucky enough to be nearby, well, I would suffer greatly too.
Maybe it was because of this I too tried what I could to make Osiris lose his ability to become the rightful heir.
If I managed to do that, then my mother wouldn’t come after me, and my life would be peaceful.
It was a copout, I know. I was more than aware of that fact myself, and yet… I still did it. But nothing I did seemed to work either.
That was when my mother upped her schemes. She hired hitmen, tried to ruin Osiris on a broader scale, and even planned a few kidnappings, but even then, Osiris still came out unscathed.
It was like someone was secretly watching and protecting Osiris. Someone ethereal and unknown, and all-knowing. But that wasn’t the case. It was simply the fact Osiris was strong and smart, and he was always waiting. And how could we expect any less?
Osiris was meant to become CEO of Dawson Industries and the next alpha of Moon Storm. Of course he would be ready to overcome everything. If he was weak and easily taken out, he wouldn’t deserve to be heir from the very beginning.
I think it was because of how skilled Osiris was that I started to envy him a bit.
I too wanted to be able to overcome anything that was thrown at me. To be able to protect not only myself but also even those closest to me.
It was because of this desire that I pushed to better myself instead of waiting for things to be handed to me, and in the end, I even came to respect my brother.
I even wanted to try to get close to him, but after everything my mother and I put him through, there was no way that would be happening.
That’s why I decided to work harder in hopes that maybe he would eventually acknowledge me, but then I developed this disease.
It started with what felt like a cold, which was weird since as a wolf my immunity was much higher. We wolves barely ever got sick, and when we did, it was usually just with minor things.
But the cold soon developed into pneumonia, and then my lungs started bleeding.
After that, my mother started taking me to every medical professional she could find, but no one seemed to know exactly what was happening. And as time passed, I started to grow weak until, when it became clear that there was no way for me to be cured, my mother gave up on me.
“You’re useless!”
“How could you allow such a thing to happen!”
“What about me?”
Her angry exclamations attacked me, belittled me, and made me realize that all this time when I thought that she genuinely cared for me, she actually only cared about what I could do for her.
She never truly wanted me as a son; she only wanted me as a means to climb up the ladder of power so that she could live lavishly.
“Pathetic,” I mutter, slowly coming out of my reverie. “I was so fucking pathetic and blind.”
Sighing, I sit up and look at the condo around me. Taking in the minimal furniture and the worn-out things that my mother gave to me because I wasn’t worth giving anything new.
“I guess I reap what I sow.”
Standing, I ignore the dizziness that slams into me and then head toward the kitchen, where my medicine is waiting for me.
It wasn’t a cure-all for my disease by any means, but it was enough to help slow the progression of it so that I could live a bit longer.
But did I really want to do such a thing?
As it was, I didn’t have anything going for me except my position in Dawson Industries that my grandfather so graciously gave to me.
No. I couldn’t wallow in self-pity. As long as I was alive, there was a chance that this disease could be cured as long as I kept fighting.
Settling on this, I quickly take my medicine and then head toward the shower.
After stripping and throwing my clothes in a hamper, I turn on the water and then step inside so that it can cascade over me.
Closing my eyes, I once again let myself relive all the shit that I had done while wondering if there was still a chance for Osiris and me to mend things.
I didn’t know why, but I felt that if anyone in the family would truly ever see me as someone, it would be him. It was a crazy thought and one that I didn’t quite understand, but even then, I wanted it so desperately.
Feeling slightly unsettled by this single desire, I quickly finish washing and then step out of the shower and then get dressed.
By the time I’m done it is five, which means that dinner with Grandfather and Osiris will be in an hour.
“Time to go.” I hum, heading out of the bathroom and then toward the door, but before I can reach it, a knock sounds.
Frowning, I extend my senses, and when I feel my mother’s familiar energy, I move forward.
“Why are you here?” I ask as I pull the door open. “I thought you were still on vacation.”
“I came back early.” She announces, and I can almost see the wheels turning in her head. “Your father told me that you’re about to start working for the company. Congratulations.”
Oh. I see. This was the reason that she came. She was certainly plotting another scheme.
“Aren’t you going to invite me in?” She pushes when I don’t speak. “We haven’t seen each other in so long, and this is how you greet me?”
“Sorry,” I mutter, though I don’t want her to come in because I’m certain she will just insult the small condo that I was renting. “But I’ve got somewhere to be.”
“Oh?” She murmurs, perking up. “And where might that be?”