Chapter 1 - A New Life? - I
Should I talk about the irony of fate? That expression we use when life throws unexpected twists our way. The irony of fate is when the universe toys with us, mere mortals, whose only wish is to live a peaceful, happy life, free from suffering.
But of course, there are people like me—people who seem to fit perfectly into what we call "cursed."
I don't say this out of mere self-pity. Some might argue that I'm being unfair, that life eventually balances itself out. But in my eyes, that's nothing more than naive optimism. Let me put it this way: my ancestors were among the first researchers on Earth to study cancer. Since then, my family has led the academic world, making breakthrough after breakthrough. Wealthy, influential, filled with masters and doctors at the forefront of medical science.
My parents own the largest pharmaceutical corporation on the planet. Titans of industry, geniuses in business, surrounded by the most advanced medical resources humanity has ever seen.
And that's where fate's cruel joke begins.
When my mother gave birth to me, she suffered complications that forced her to have a hysterectomy. And I—her only son, Glenn Hughes, heir to the greatest pharmaceutical empire in the world—was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of eight.
Funny how fate plays with people, isn't it?
By the time I was one, I could already speak two languages: English and Spanish. They diagnosed me with linguistic prodigy syndrome. At three, my IQ was measured at 199. According to the doctor's own words:
"Your son has a higher IQ than the current world chess champion, Garry Kasparov."
At six, I was diagnosed with emotional detachment. "He's the smartest child I've ever seen, but it might be wise to consult a psychologist. Kids with such high intelligence often struggle to relate to 'normal' people."
Then came the day that changed everything.