Left to Freeze on Christmas，My Billionaire Parents Chose Their Fake Son

On Christmas Eve, the freezing wind bit through my thin delivery jacket. I was out rushing DoorDash orders to pay for my dad’s cancer treatments. When I handed the custom bakery box to a customer around my age, he smirked and deliberately tilted it sideways. The cake slid and crashed against the inside of the box. "Look what you did! Do you have any idea how much this custom cake cost? My mom ordered it specially for my birthday!" I opened my mouth to defend myself, but then two familiar figures stepped into the marble foyer behind him. My parents. My dad, who always claimed we were drowning in medical debt, waved a dismissive hand with effortless wealth. "It’s just a cake, son. You're brilliant, and you deserve the world. Dad is transferring the deed of this penthouse to you as your birthday gift." My mother, wearing a couture designer dress I'd only ever seen on celebrities, gently patted his hand. "Austin, sweetie, don't let this filthy trash ruin your special day. Mom bought you that Patek Philippe watch you wanted. Come on, don't be upset." Austin picked up the smashed cake and hurled it straight at my chest. He gave me a mocking, knowing sneer. "Merry Christmas, stray. Eat it off the floor like the dog you are." I clutched the ruined box, completely paralyzed, when my phone chimed. A one-star review. A warning popped up on my DoorDash app: "One more low rating, and your account will be permanently deactivated." Looking down at my frostbitten hands and worn-out sneakers with holes in the toes, my entire world turned to ice. Because of Austin’s complaint, the platform deducted three hundred dollars from my earnings to cover the cake. That was three whole days of driving in a blizzard. Yet I couldn't even bring myself to care about the money. The hallway of this luxury high-rise was so warm, but inside, I felt dead. The door clicked open again. Austin tossed out a broken gold chain. My chest seized. I recognized it instantly—it was the 14k gold necklace I had saved up for months to buy my mom for her birthday. Austin crossed his arms and looked down at me from the doorway. "My mom told me to toss this junk. But hey, looks like a dog like you is missing a collar. Matches your vibe. Bark for me, and maybe I’ll let you keep it." When I stayed silent, his grin widened cruelly. "Pathetic bastard. Born to be dumped." That did it. Rage exploded in my chest. I balled my fists and lunged forward, but the heavy oak door slammed shut right in my face. I couldn't just walk away. I pounded on the door, desperate to scream, desperate to make my parents look me in the eye. Instead, heavy footsteps approached from behind. Two massive private security guards grabbed my shoulders. "The owners inside are my parents!" I gasped, struggling against their grip. "You can't kick me out!" The guard sneered, looking me up and down. "Kid, condos in this building start at ten million. Your whole outfit isn’t worth fifty bucks. Go dream somewhere else." The guards laughed in my face. One pulled out a taser, pointing it at my chest. "Get lost before we drag you out." Humiliated, I picked up the snapped gold chain from the floor and bolted into the freezing night. The biting wind cut through my jacket like razors. A few blocks down, an elderly woman collapsed on the icy sidewalk. To avoid hitting her with my beat-up scooter, I swerved hard and crashed into the snowbank. The leftover cake spilled everywhere, smearing across my face. I lay there in the slush, staring up at the dark sky and falling snow. Tears finally spilled over my cheeks. My phone buzzed. It was the special ringtone I had set only for my parents so I would never miss their calls. Mom’s voice sounded anxious over the line. "Leo? Why did it take you so long to pick up? I was terrified something happened to you! It’s all our fault... if your dad and I weren't so useless, you wouldn't have to deliver food on Christmas Eve. We're so sorry, baby." I gripped the phone, a million questions screaming in my throat: "Why did you lie to me?" But all that came out was a broken sob. Then Dad started coughing weakly on speaker. "My good boy... Dad’s illness is dragging you down." Normally, I would have rushed to comfort him, telling him not to worry, that I’d work harder. Now, I couldn't say a single word. Assuming I was exhausted, Dad softened his tone. "Take tomorrow off, son. It's Christmas. Let’s spend it together as a family." Mom chimed in playfully, "I have a special surprise for you tomorrow." Swallowing the lump in my throat, I choked out, "...Okay." Passersby saw me lying in the snow and pulled out their phones. "Should we call 911?" Hearing that, panic kicked in—I couldn't afford an ambulance bill. I scrambled to my feet. "I'm fine! Don't call an ambulance!" I panted, pointing at the snowbank. "B-but she needs help." Under a snow-covered hood was an elderly lady with silver hair, shivering and unable to stand. "You're young, kid, that's why you can take a fall," a bystander warned. "An old lady like that? You're just a delivery guy. Don't get involved or you'll get sued." Cars were sliding on the icy road as the blizzard intensified. Looking at the helpless old woman lying alone in the cold, I saw myself. Without hesitation, I helped her onto a dry bench beneath an awning and dialed 911, waiting by her side until the paramedics arrived. By the time I dragged myself back to my rental room, it was four in the morning. Standing before the cracked bathroom mirror, covered in cake and grime, I whispered to myself, "Happy birthday, Leo." Today was my twenty-second birthday. And my parents were showering a stranger with millions, while watching me starve.I took a freezing shower and crawled under my thin, stiff blanket. We rented this dilapidated basement on the edge of the city. To save money for Dad's "cancer treatments," we never turned on the heat. Every winter, Dad claimed his condition worsened and had Mom accompany him to a "subsidized clinic." Now I knew the truth. They weren't dying in a clinic. They were basking in central heating inside a luxury penthouse, living like royalty. I remembered being a kid. Whenever I had a fever, Dad would carry me on his back through pouring rain to the hospital, slipping in mud puddles but clutching me tight so I wouldn't hit the ground. Mom would hold the umbrella entirely over me, completely soaking her own shoulders. They had loved me once. So how could they fake cancer for years? How could they force me to drop out of school just to break my back working gig jobs to "support" them? I covered my eyes with my arm and let out a dry, bitter laugh. I was such an idiot. That penthouse cost more than I could earn in ten lifetimes. I didn't even have enough to pay their HOA fees, yet I thought I was keeping them alive. To them, I was just a pet they toyed with. Austin was their real son. Sunlight filtered through the torn fabric taped over the window. My five a.m. alarm went off. Time to start the breakfast delivery rush. For the first time in four years, I hit dismiss and stayed in bed. At eight a.m., my daily reminder popped up: "Call Dad to check on his morning meds. I'd give up ten years of my life for Dad to be healthy." Looking at that note, I felt sick. At ten, my phone rang. "Leo? Why haven't you called this morning? Did something happen? Are you sick? Did you crash your scooter?" Their panicked voices rang in my ear, but all I felt was cold detachment. Their acting was truly award-worthy. No wonder I had believed them for so long. "Leo? Leo! Why aren't you answering?" I took a slow breath. "I'm tired." A brief silence fell over the line. "What's wrong, sweetie? Was work too hard yesterday?" I only answered with silence. Ever since I turned eighteen, I had never once complained about being tired. After a moment, Dad spoke up softly. "Son, it's Dad's fault for being useless. Don't go out today. It’s too cold. If you get hurt, our hearts will break." Mom quickly added, "Yes, today is Christmas! Let's celebrate together. Remember how you've always wanted to eat at McDonald's? Let's go today! It's your birthday treat!" "We even brought you a birthday cake!" Their cheerful voices made my stomach turn. "Okay," I whispered obediently. I wanted to see just how far their performance could go.I put on my cleanest, least worn-out hoodie and arrived outside the mall. Just as I was about to cross the street, a sleek sports car screeched to a halt right in front of me. Austin lowered his designer sunglasses and gave me a smug grin. "Well, well. If it isn't yesterday's stray." He tapped the leather steering wheel. "My birthday gift from Mom. Sick ride, right?" He flashed his wrist, the diamond-encrusted bezel gleaming under the sun. "Didn't your mom buy you a watch? Oh, right, I forgot—your parents don't love you. This costs seven figures. You couldn't afford a single link if you delivered food for three lifetimes." He leaned closer, his voice dripping with venom. "Mom and Dad stayed up until midnight with me. Mom cooked a gourmet feast with her own hands. Isn't it crazy we share the exact same birthday? Wonder what your folks got you." Austin slammed on the gas, spitting exhaust fumes straight into my face as he sped off. Watching his taillights, my heart turned to lead. On my eighteenth birthday, my parents handed me a delivery helmet and an insulated bag. "You're an adult now, son. Time to help support the family." Inside McDonald's, my parents sat in a corner booth, looking at me with tearful, adoring eyes. They seemed eager to see joy on my face. After all, in twenty-two years, this was my very first time sitting down for a fast-food meal. "Happy birthday, son! Make a wish and blow out the candle!" On the plastic tray sat half a cake. The exact half Austin hadn't finished yesterday. Mom noticed my stare and shifted uncomfortably. "Your dad’s treatments are expensive, but we still wanted you to have a proper birthday. It’s small, but your wish will still come true. Tell us, what do you want? We'll get it for you." Perhaps giving Austin a mansion and a million-dollar watch yesterday had triggered a flicker of guilt. "Really?" I asked quietly. They both nodded vigorously. "Of course! You're our only boy. Who else would we spoil?" Looking at their faded, threadbare jackets—clearly dug out from the back of a closet—I felt a wave of nausea. Remembering Austin’s words, I looked straight into my mother's eyes. "I want a home-cooked meal made by you, Mom." Mom froze. Ever since I was little, she had never cooked a single meal for me. I always thought she didn't know how, so I started cooking at seven, burning and cutting my hands without ever uttering a complaint. Now I knew she was a master cook. She just never cared to cook for me. Mom looked away, her lips trembling. "Leo... I'd love to, but you know I’m terrible in the kitchen. What if it tastes awful? Pick something else, okay?" "Then buy me a watch," I said, pointing to a cheap digital watch worn by a teenager in the booth next to us. Dead silence dropped over the table. Dad cleared his throat, covering his mouth. "Son, you have a phone to check the time. Why waste money on a watch? You know our medical situation right now..." Mom chimed in immediately, wiping a fake tear. "Leo, you've always been such a sensible boy. Don't start comparing yourself to others. As long as our family is together, nothing else matters. A watch like that is way too expensive for us. We still don't know how much your dad's next chemo round will cost." She touched my hand, looking heartbroken. "You work so hard on your deliveries. You shouldn't throw money away like that." Disgust choked me. That watch was barely thirty dollars. Yet they had handed Austin millions without blinking an eye.Seeing my silence, Dad pushed the lone burger and fries toward me. "Eat up, son. You're so skinny. You need your strength." I forced a faint smile. Eating one cheap meal a day, how could I not be skinny? If you care so much, why lie to me? Why fake terminal cancer? Why force me to drop out of school when you knew how desperately I wanted an education? "Mom, Dad... I want to go to college." They exchanged a brief glance. A hint of disdain flashed in their eyes. "Leo," Mom sighed, "you’re just not cut out for academics." "Did you forget your SAT score?" Dad added softly. They actually dared to bring up the SATs. On the morning of my test, Dad faked a sudden cardiac arrest. I abandoned my exam halfway through and sprinted home, only to find the apartment completely empty. They texted saying they were in the ER. When I arrived, they claimed they had been transferred to another hospital. By the time I finally tracked them down, the exam window had closed. Dad had brushed it off casually: "The doctors stabilized me, don't worry." They had destroyed my future without a second thought. "Eat, Leo. Don't let it get cold," Mom urged. The burger tasted like ash in my mouth. Less than thirty minutes in, Mom's phone rang. Panic flashed across her face as she rejected the call. "Ugh, these telemarketers are so annoying." The phone buzzed again immediately. She forced an awkward laugh and stepped away to answer. When she returned, her face was pale. She gave Dad a loaded look. "The clinic just called. They need Dad in for an emergency scan right away." I pretended to panic. "Mom, let me come with you!" "No!" Both of them blurted out, waving their hands frantically. "You work so hard every day. Go home and rest," Dad insisted. "One of us has to keep earning." "Today is my only day off in four years," I choked out, tears finally breaking free. I stared at them, pleading. "Can't you just stay with me for one afternoon?" My pathetic begging seemed to shake them slightly. "Well... maybe we can stay another ten minutes—" Dad began. Mom's phone chimed again. Dad glanced at the screen, and both of their faces went white. "Leo, you're an adult now! Stop being so selfish!" Mom snapped, her patience completely snapping. "You need to understand priorities! Your dad's doctor is waiting!" I grabbed her sleeve, humiliating myself like a stray begging for scraps. "Can't you just finish celebrating my birthday? Just this once?" Mom shoved my hand away in disgust. Her sharp fingernails scraped across the back of my hand, leaving a stinging red scratch. "Birthdays happen every year! What’s so damn important about one stupid birthday? Leo, you are completely unreasonable!" With that, they practically ran out the door. Am I really that repulsive to you? You couldn't even stand to look at me for one more minute. I am your flesh and blood. Why couldn't you give me even a crumb of love? I sat alone in the booth, burying my face in my hands, sobbing uncontrollably. "If you still want to pursue your studies, I can fund your entire education." A composed voice startled me. I looked up. An elderly woman with elegant posture sat across from me. Beneath her cashmere coat, I recognized her silver hair—it was the woman I had pulled from the blizzard last night. "My research lab requires a ten-year, fully confidential commitment," she said gently. "Think it over before you answer." My phone buzzed in my pocket with a text from an unknown number. [I just told Mom and Dad I twisted my ankle, and they left you instantly. Who cares if you share their blood? In their hearts, you'll never measure up to me!] Austin. My hand trembled. For once in my life, I wanted to test them. I typed a message to Mom: [Mom, I got hit by a car.] Two seconds later, my phone rang. "Leo?! What happened? Where are you? We're on our way—" Before I could speak, Austin’s loud wailing came through the speaker. "Mom! My ankle hurts so bad! Did I fracture it? If I can't walk, how am I going to start my Ivy League prep?!" Mom's voice shifted instantly, full of frantic agony—for Austin. She turned back to the phone, her tone cold and dismissive. "If you're hurt, call an ambulance and go to the clinic. Your dad's condition is critical, so we have to handle him first. I'll check on you later. You've always had a strong body, Leo, I'm sure you're fine." Click. The black screen reflected my pathetic, tear-stained face. How utterly foolish I was to think I could ever compete with their precious golden boy. Wiping my tears, I looked up at the elderly professor and looked her in the eye. "I accept. I'll join your team."