Chapter 4

Liam took a bite of the apple my mother had peeled for him, then asked with fake concern, "Mom, is Ethan really going to be okay? I heard him call you. Shouldn't you go check on him?"

My mother let out a cold laugh. "Liam, you're just too sweet. Your brother is perfectly fine. He’s just putting on a show. He’ll stop at nothing to drag me away from you."

"I don't know who taught him to be such a liar at his age, but he actually learned to use death to threaten me. If I give in now, what's next? Will he run this household?"

Liam still looked uneasy. "But what if Ethan comes back and takes his anger out on me? Every time he..."

As if realizing he had said too much, he quickly covered his mouth, looking guilty and terrified.

But I knew it was all an act.

He just wanted to make my mother feel sorry for him.

Thinking about all the times my mother had beaten and screamed at me because of his lies, my ghostly chest tightened so hard I could barely breathe.

Predictably, my mother's face flushed with fury.

"What? That little bastard dared to touch you? Don't worry, Liam. When he crawls back, I will personally beat him half to death to make it up to you!"

She meant it. Every time I displeased her even a little, she would beat me until I was covered in bruises.

Later, I learned to be obedient. I yielded to Liam in everything. But he still found ways to trip me up every few days.

I didn't understand. We were both her children. Why did she never believe me, not even once?

Was I truly worthless in her eyes?