Zade was nervous as he walked down the hallway behind his uncle. Today was the D-day, and also the day his parents would end up realizing he's actually alive.
"Are you excited, kid? Don't be nervous, they'd be very happy." His uncle assured him, and Zade nodded, feeling grateful for his uncle's presence.
They finally stopped in front of the family room where his family were currently waiting in.
They were waiting for Uncle Max's surprise. Max left this room a few minutes ago after asking them to wait, because he had a surprise to reveal to them here.
"Ready?" He said to Zade who gulped before nothing.
In the very next moment, his uncle threw the door open and they both stepped into the room.
The entire family's eyes were on Zade at once, and Zade noticed the moment realization dawned on them. They appeared to have been frozen from shock.
James Zaucar, father and the head of the family looked shocked, like he had seen a ghost. For the head of a family, he had no backbone and readily followed whatever decision his wife made. In the novel, this man didn't start to hate this character till his wife asked him to stop treating him like a son when they now have an actual son.
Martha Zaucar, the wife, who fed him the poison two days ago, literally fell out of her seat, her eyes blown wide from sheer disbelief and confusion.
"H- he's not dead?" She managed to whisper.
Max grinned as he spoke. "No, he's not! He said he suddenly woke up and was completely healthy. Isn't he such a miracle child?!" The love was clear in uncle Max's voice.
Martha's lips thinned as she got to his feet, instantly followed by her husband.
"Why did you keep this away from us then?!" She yelled, and Zade noticed her hands shook a little.
Max frowned, because none of these people looked happy. He had thought they'd be bursting with happiness and excitement after this surprise, but they almost looked… disappointed?
"We wanted to surprise you, it was his idea, but I thought it was pretty cool. Why isn't anyone embracing the kid?"
"The kid is participating in this year's annual exam. That's actually why he's dressed up. If no one is gonna embrace him or something, let him leave for the exams right now then."
The parents looked more furious right now, along with their son, Cyrus. Cyrus was glaring so hard at Zade, that if looks could kill, he'd be underneath the ground right now.
"What? He'll do no such thing!" Martha bellowed angrily, her veins protruding in her neck from her anger.
Max's frown deepened even more. This was not the reaction he was expecting at all.
"Why?" He asked, folding his arms.
"Because he'll only bring shame to this family's name. He has been disabled for almost a decade, and during those years, he never got any teaching or training. Him attending the exam would only bring us ridicule because he'd end up failing anyway." The mother bit out through gritted teeth.
Zade's heart fell into his stomach at those words.
Max huffed and went to stand beside Zade, getting the urge to shield the child from those words. He was surprised by how cruel his sister sounded.
"I don't know why you sound like that. He won't bring shame to anyone. Just let him participate in the exam, I already registered him with your husband's name. It would make him really happy, and I'm certain Cyrus would be happy to be leaving the house with his brother for the first time in so long."
Cyrus shook his head fast. "I won't."
"Well, he's gonna still participate." Uncle Max affirmed when Zade began to think was almost lost, and again, hope reared its head in his chest like a budding rose.
"It won't be under our name then. If you're so concerned about him, you'll have to register him under your name. You'll also agree to adopt him from us. That way, once he fails the exams and returns a failure, he'll be linked to you and not us. I'm sure you won't want that, brother."
Max only rolled his eyes. "I don't mind him using my name, and as for adopting him, isn't that a little too hasty? He's your first born after all…"
His sister shook her head firmly. "My first born is Cyrus. And that's my ultimatum. If you still want him to participate, agree to enroll him in with your name and also agree to adopt him after the exam."
Zade stopped breathing at this point.
But Max was furious right now. He couldn't believe he was so blind to the fact that these people never loved this kid.
Max stepped forward with a firm nod as he spoke, his mind already made up. "Alright, I'll have your name removed from his registration form and have mine included, and I agree to adopt him after the exam."