Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 630

Wayne walked in, ice-cold and ready to throw down. He didn't waste a second before turning on his parents.

Matthew's face darkened. "Wayne, are you really going down this path? Throwing everything away?"

Wayne stared at them, his voice steady yet sharp. "Everything? You mean the scraps you've been throwing me my whole life? Let me spell it out for you. The moment Jace was born, I stopped existing. You made it all about him-your golden child. Meanwhile, I was just... there. Forgotten. Like furniture.

"You let him sleep in your room while I stayed alone in the dark, hiding under a blanket, terrified. But it was always the same excuse, wasn't it? 'He's younger than you.' Newsflash-I was a kid too! Did that ever occur to you?"

Wayne's voice cracked. "It wasn't just the attention. He took everything. Your love, my toys, my clothes-literally everything I cared about. And you? You guilt-tripped me into letting it happen. 'You're the older brother.' That was your catch- all excuse for wrecking my childhood. I learned to give in. To him. Always to him.

His words landed like gut punches, leaving Matthew and Lindey looking like they'd seen a ghost. Wayne's face was tight, but his eyes betrayed years of pain and bitterness, finally spilling out.

"And then," Wayne said, his tone softening, "Rea moved in. From the moment I met her, I liked her. But guess what you did? You told me she was Jace's. That I didn't even have a chance. Once again, I was shoved aside for him."

His gaze lingered on me for a beat. As messed up as his feelings were, I could tell they were real-twisted, sure, but painfully honest.

like throwing me a bone was some grand gesture. All it really

a dry laugh. "You thought I didn't notice? That I wouldn't figure it out? You were afraid I'd mess up

Chapter 630

+26 BONUS

Did you welcome me home? Of course not. You were too busy panicking

you ever think about how much that wrecked me? There were so many nights I wondered if I was even your kid. So

was first. You loved me first. When did I become the spare, the one

I swallowed all of it. I told myself it's because Jace is more charming, more likable. But now, when he and Rea are no longer a thing and I finally want something for myself,

both

was done, Wayne was shaking with rage. The veins in his temples were about to pop. And then, like it couldn't get

aside? Maybe take a good look

room exploded. Hostility radiated from every corner, the air thick enough to

watching the whole mess unfold. The fact that I was the reason for most of it? Yeah, I noticed. Didn't mean I was about to play mediator. Instead, I let a smirk tug at my lips. "You guys

and turned to Matthew. "Wayne's right-this was mine to begin with. It's not charity, and it's not a bargaining