Lord Duncan shook his head.
"That useless thing is just a spare. After serving its purpose it doesn't really matter to me whether the illegitimate bastard lives or dies. I only claim one son, my true heir, Victor."
It was only after his sister died that Sly Foxx realized that he should have never been born.
His only value to his father's side of the family was the beast bone that lay dormant in his body.
In this world the beast bone was the most highly prized source of power and unfortunately for Lord Duncan his heir apparent was born without a beast bone.
Sly's destiny was to be ignored by everyone and be regarded only as a beast bone donor for the true young heir, Victor Duncan.
The father that he idealized and thought would be his backbone was nothing but a horrid empty shell.
Sly closed his eyes and thought he would leave naked like the day he was born.
All the prestige and family wealth that the Duncan's hoarded meant nothing to him.
Going forward Sky was determined to depend on no one and pave his own path through this cruel world.
As the surgery progressed his body began to spasm and shake violently.
His chest heaved up and down and he was losing so much blood but the doctor refused to let Sly die under his care.
It was bad for business when customers died from surgery.
A few hours later the boy woke to the relief of the doctor who maintained a sleepless vigil by his bedside.
For several more days the only face Sly saw was the doctor's as he nursed the boy back to life from the brink of death.
Until suddenly the door opened and Lord Duncan strolled into the attic.
Sly sat up in the bed, his emaciated body supported by several pillows, not once did he look up to greet his father.
Just ignored his father's presence staring silently into space with downcast eyebrows and vacant eyes.
Lord Duncan noted the obvious changes in his son's features; the once plump and jovial child now looked weak and frail after being bedridden for days.
Yet the ten year old appeared small for his age but was still eye-catching and beautiful with his curly black hair that curled around his forehead and ears.
Sly had inherited his mother's unique blue eyes but unfortunately inherited the same button nose as his father that was turned up but his bottom lip was turned down dry and thin.
"My wife is grateful for your generous donation to my only heir. Since you managed to survive I will honor the promise I made to Ayana by sending you away to a private academy with all expenses paid. Do you have any questions?"
Sly suddenly looked up, startling his father with a fierce look.
He stared his father directly in the eyes and responded coldly, "I expected nothing better from you."
A heavy silence descended in the attic but Lord Duncan did not lose his composure.
"I'm glad we are in agreement. Tomorrow morning the doctor will accompany you to the private academy. Never return to the Duncan residence, going forward any communication regarding tuition and living expenses will be done through my lawyer."
From the Doctor Sly learned that even when his father met his mother he was already married to Victor's mom but claimed to be passionately in love with Sly's mom.
That was just a ruse as everything had been orchestrated by his father because he thought his wife was barren and could not have children.
From beginning to end he manipulated their beautiful but frail mother into bearing children for him out of love.
Ayana was born without a fauna or beast bone so she was useless to him.
Even though the family doctor was against their mother having another child she ignored the doctor's warnings and died giving birth to Sly.
While his mother was pregnant with Sly Lord Duncan's wife was also pregnant with Victor and both of the women went into labor on the same day.
Ultimately Lord Duncan chose to be with his wife and he refused to visit Sly for years because he blamed Sly for the death of his favorite mistress.
When Victor became detail sick and his parents realized he had no plant or beast bone, that's when Lord Duncan remembered that Sly existed.
Luckily it coincided with the death of the maternal grandparents from a freak accident that had been raising his kids and he then brought them to the Duncan residence.
Lord Duncan's eyes narrowed slightly, "don't be jealous and harbor resentment towards Victor Duncan if I get word of any conspiracy on your part to harm this family I won't hesitate to have you killed. You never bore the Duncan surname so don't expect to inherit a legacy which doesn't rightfully belong to you."
After he spat hateful words Lord Duncan stood calmly waiting for a response.
Sly did not disappoint, "From this day forward I will have nothing to do with the Duncan family. In case I don't see you before I go tomorrow morning, Goodbye Lord Duncan."
Without hesitation Sly would no longer call or consider the man facing him as his father.
At this moment his father felt like he lost something precious but then the feeling passed but already he could tell that the boy's resolve had changed and he wasn't the same as before.
Turning to leave the room because Lord Duncan accomplished what he came for.
As long as Lord Duncan did what he wanted he wouldn't concern himself with what was different about Sly.
"Can I come in?" asked the doctor a few minutes later.
"If it's about Lord Duncan don't bother," said Sly. "I have no interest in repeating our entire conversation just now."
The doctor shook his head, "It's about the results of the surgery."
"No need to remind me that I'm just one of the boneless now, living only to serve in the shadows of the gifted."
"That's where you are wrong, what I have to say may come as a surprise."
A/N: In Sly's world children by the age of ten develop either a plant or beast bone that gives them unique powers; the rest are just (boneless) ordinary citizens.