Chapter 29

• Xavier
• She hung up the phone, and Xavier stuffed it into his hoodie pocket, resisting the urge to throw it against a tree. He wondered why he was so taken aback. It wasn’t the first time his mother had withdrawn money from his account without permission, and he knew it wouldn’t be the last. The frustrating part was that he had no idea where the money went. Did it truly contribute to extra groceries or the additional utilities required for his presence at home? It was only a four-day visit. How much extra could he possibly cost in such a short time?
• Anger surged through Xavier as he rose to his feet and climbed out of his secluded spot. Why did he always feel like a burden? Throughout his entire childhood, his father had disregarded their family in pursuit of amassing his fortune. Born with nothing, his father had worked his way up to becoming the CEO of a prominent hedge fund company he co-founded with a friend. By any measure, he was a success: wealthy, influential, well-connected, and seemingly leading a perfect family life.