From as far back as he could remember, Marcus Langenfeld knew he was unwanted. His mother, Irina, lavished love on his younger brother Stefan while treating Marcus as an inconvenience. Harsh words, cold meals, and constant neglect were his childhood companions.
At seventeen, her resentment became impossible to ignore. “You’re old enough to fend for yourself,” she said one evening, arms crossed. “This house isn’t yours. Stefan needs space. Go make your own way.”
That night, Marcus left with nothing but a duffel bag and a burning resolve. He slept in hostels, worked odd jobs on construction sites, and studied late into the night. Hunger, rain, insults — every obstacle fueled his determination to build a life no one could take from him.
By twenty-five, Marcus had done exactly that. He owned a thriving construction company in Rotterdam, married Amalia — a woman who recognized his quiet strength — and created a home filled with laughter, love, and children who would never have to earn affection.
Meanwhile, Irina’s world crumbled. Stefan wasted opportunities, drank heavily, and relied on her dwindling savings. Their Dresden apartment became a monument to decay — peeling wallpaper, unpaid bills, and shattered dreams.
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