The Jackson family sat around the grand dining table, the clinking of cutlery the only sound filling the room. It was their only son Kevin's 19th birthday, and though the table was set with luxury, the atmosphere was unusually heavy.
Breaking the silence, Mr. Jackson raised his glass.
"Son," he said warmly, "It's your day. Ask for anything you want — and it's yours."
Kevin didn't meet his father's eyes. Instead, he stared down at his plate, his fingers curling slightly.
"The thing I want... isn't something you can buy, Dad. You'll have to be strong enough to give it."
Mr. Jackson arched a brow, intrigued. "Go on."
Kevin took a slow sip of his drink, then set it down.
"Are you sure you'll give me whatever I ask?"
Mr. Jackson chuckled, waving a hand. "You know who your father is. I can get you anything. Just name it — and it's yours."
Kevin finally looked up, eyes steady. "What I want... is freedom. A life of my own. Everyone sees me as your son — the billionaire's heir. I have no real identity. People only come near me for what I have, not for who I am."
Mr. Jackson leaned back, gaze sharp. "So... what exactly are you asking for?"
Kevin hesitated, then took a breath. "I want to go to college without the protocols. Without the bodyguards, the last name, the spotlight. I want to live like a normal guy — just for a while. No status. No money. No expectations."
Mrs. Jackson — Tina — slammed her spoon onto her plate.
"You're insane! Do you even know what life without luxury looks like? You can't survive a week out there without your comforts!"
Before Kevin could react, Mr. Jackson turned to her, his voice cold and commanding.
"Who gave you the right to speak when I'm talking to my son? Stay out of this."
The room fell into tense silence.
Then Mr. Jackson turned back to Kevin, expression unreadable.
"So... you don't want my name, is that it?"
Kevin's voice softened. "It's not like that, Dad. I just—"
Mr. Jackson cut him off. "Fine. You have my permission. But if you ever complain — even once — you'll lose the right to make any decisions on your own again. Understood?"
Kevin's face lit up with the first genuine smile Mr. Jackson had seen in years. For a brief moment, the steel in the man's eyes melted.
"Anything for you, son," he said quietly.
Tina scoffed, her expression unreadable. She pushed her chair back and left the table without a word.
The next morning, Kevin stood at the foot of the staircase, bags packed and heart pounding. He was about to leave home — and everything tied to his identity — behind.
Mr. Jackson walked out of his room, his eyes lighting up with pride as he saw his son ready for the new chapter.
"Here," he said, handing Kevin a bag. "Everything you need is inside — documents, college paperwork... and this." He passed him a black credit card and a pair of keys. "Your own car. Your own apartment. Happy birthday."
Kevin's eyes widened. "Dad... this means everything. I won't disappoint you."
Mr. Jackson gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. "Make me proud, son. Show them what you're made of. And we'll meet again — at your graduation."
Kevin smiled, his chest tight with emotion. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too," Mr. Jackson whispered, pulling him into a hug.
As Kevin stepped outside, he turned back one last time — hoping, perhaps foolishly, to see his mother watching from the doorway. But she wasn't there. No goodbye. No glance. Just emptiness.
He looked away. He was used to it by now.
That pain — that neglect, had built walls around him for years. It was why he never had real friends. Only people who clung to the Jackson name.
But now...
Now, he was just Kevin. A free bird, finally breaking the cage.
No limits. No rules. Just the open sky ahead.
And with that, his journey began.