Dalton's Path to Redemption

Chapter 3

Hearing the words "cut ties," Harvey's eyes lit up with interest.

Susan sneered, looking at Dalton with disdain. "I thought you'd have more backbone. But all of this fuss just to threaten us?"

"You're just mad because I discipline you, right? You think I'm too strict and you don't like it, huh?"

"Look at him, Jack, he hasn't learned anything worthwhile but knows how to threaten his parents."

Dalton smiled calmly. "Threaten? Mrs. Walker, you're reading too much into it. I'm not delusional enough to think I can threaten you."

"Since you all dislike me so much, why keep causing each other pain? You already have your beloved son and don't need me. So, let's part ways peacefully."

"This is outrageous! I must have spoiled you too much!" Jack shouted, tearing up the document into pieces that scattered like snowflakes.

Despite feeling dizzy, Dalton stayed composed. He took the bandage Beth handed him and casually wrapped it around his wrist. Then he pulled out another identical document from his backpack, offering it to Jack again.

"I figured you wouldn't agree so easily, so I prepared several copies. Keep tearing them up; I have plenty more."

"You're ungrateful!" Jack fumed, grabbing the stick from Susan and raising it to hit Dalton. But Dalton's expression turned cold as he caught the stick.

"Mr. Walker, are you planning to beat me to death?" Jack was taken aback as Dalton threw the stick to the ground.

"Sorry, but from now on, I'm no longer part of the Walker family, so your rules don't apply to me anymore! If anyone tries to hit me again, I won't hold back!"

"Well! You've got a lot of nerve! You want to leave the Walker family so badly? I'll grant your wish!" Jack said, finally signing his name.

Dalton handed the document to Susan again. "Mrs. Walker, your turn."

"Hmph, if you leave this house today, don't even think about coming back! I want to see how long you can survive without our family's support!" Susan signed her name without hesitation.

Dalton reviewed the document once more, an idea striking him. "Wait a minute, I also need your fingerprints, just to be sure."

He grabbed Susan's hand and dabbed her finger in his bloodstain.

"Ouch! What are you doing?" Susan gasped, trying to pull back, but she found she couldn't match Dalton's strength. He pressed her blood-stained finger onto the document.

Dalton slipped the document into his backpack and declared, "In all my years with the Walker family, aside from room and board, I haven't taken anything else."

He paused before continuing, "I've calculated roughly. I owe about fifty thousand for living expenses, and I'll pay it back gradually. I'll send you a copy of the document in a few days, so remember to check your mail. From now on, we go our separate ways!"

"Dalton..." Beth called out to him, reluctant to see him leave.

Dalton turned back to give Beth a reassuring smile and then walked away.

The Walker family was left staring at the large bloodstain on the floor, engulfed in silence.

"Dad, Mom, do you think he's really going to leave?" Lucy asked hesitantly.

Susan felt a pang of panic at the question, beginning to regret her impulsive decision.

"How could he? Remember how badly he wanted to be part of our family back then? He hasn't gained anything yet; there's no way he'd just leave. He's just trying to threaten us," Patricia said disdainfully.

"Exactly, Mom, don't worry. A poor ass like him won't survive on his own out there. He'll be begging to come back in a few days."

"Yes, Mom, don't worry too much. Take care of your health. I'll be concerned," Harvey said, sounding more considerate with each word, in a sharp contrast to Dalton.

"You're always the best," Susan replied, feeling relieved. Turning to Jack, she added, "Dalton is getting out of control. If we don't do something about it now, it'll be too late. Make sure to teach him a lesson."

Jack stayed silent. He sensed that Dalton wouldn't give in so easily this time but wasn't overly concerned. Susan had a point; if they didn't do something about it now, it would be too late. With that thought, Jack pushed the issue aside and headed upstairs.

Beth, however, understood in her heart that Dalton probably wouldn't come back.

Despite being called the biological son of the family, she felt he lived a life worse than hers as a servant. Leaving would mean an end to the daily hunger and humiliation he endured.

Dalton dragged his weak body back to his rented room, feeling an unexpected sense of relief.

He bought basic daily necessities from a nearby supermarket and tidied up his room, making it clean and cozy. Then, he visited a clinic to bandage his wounds and got himself some meat and vegetables, determined to restore his health and nutrition quickly.

He wouldn't let asthma control his life as it had before. Leaving the Walker family ensured that Harvey wouldn't have another chance to poison him, leading to his tragic death.

In his past life, after his demise, he didn't reincarnate as the rumors suggested, nor was there a grim reaper to escort him. He simply drifted around, watching the Walker family rise and fall.

He learned how vicious Harvey was, despite being adored by their parents and sisters. He used flattery and manipulation to keep everyone in the Walker family under his thumb.

Finally, he controlled all their assets, leaving each member in dire straits.

Harvey treated them like servants, trampling all over them. He then boasted about the grudges he held against the Walker family, and he meticulously repaid them in kind.

He gleefully recounted how he framed Dalton, drugged him to set off his asthma, and ultimately caused his death behind their back. He also explained how he manipulated everyone step by step.

At this point, Dalton's parents finally understood the truth, but it was too late, and they had to face the consequences. However, none of this mattered to Dalton anymore. After recovering, he started planning how to earn more money.

He remembered that Caelum City was soon going to experience severe urban flooding, with heavy rain for three consecutive days causing massive damage to the city. The power and transportation systems would be crippled, and orchards and vegetable fields would be devastated, leading to a sharp increase in the prices of fruits and vegetables.

However, the area where he lived, a slum within the city, was on higher ground and wouldn't be affected by the flood, which was why he chose to rent there in the first place.

If he stocked up on fruits and vegetables in advance, he could make his first profit when the prices spiked. With this initial capital, he could venture into more businesses since he was familiar with the economic trends for the next ten years.

Dalton rested well for three days in his rented room, regaining his energy, then rented an electric tricycle. He went to the wholesale market to select fruits and vegetables that could be stored for a while. Bringing them back load by load, he rented a freezer to store everything, keeping only five hundred for emergencies and daily expenses, investing the rest.

As he looked at his room full of fruits and vegetables that would soon provide him with ample funds, he felt a surge of excitement at the thought of achieving independence.

Now, all that remained was to wait for the rain.