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Chapter 3

Author: Hold Your Horses
Felix clutched his head, grimacing in pain, but his eyes were still clouded with confusion as he stared up at William.

"Zach…"

"I'm not that beggar."

William seized Felix's matted, unkempt hair. The searing pain sent Felix thrashing wildly, though he was careful not to so much as brush against William.

William gave him a disdainful look and slapped him across the face. Felix cried out, but before he could make another sound, William shoved a rag into his mouth, muffling his cries.

Then he grabbed Felix and threw him to the floor like he was nothing. Felix, terrified, scrambled back into the corner.

William crouched before him, his face twisted in a vicious smirk as he slapped him again and again.

"You're the little beggar, and Zach's the big one. What a pair." William gave a harsh laugh.

"Zach's nothing but trash. Who does he think he is, calling himself my brother? Because of him, the whole class makes fun of me. That useless waste should've stayed rotting in the countryside. He's disgusting."

Felix's cheeks burned red, swelling from the blows, while the rag stuffed in his mouth slowly darkened with blood.

William stared at Felix, now limp and barely conscious in the corner, and grinned. Before leaving, he drove his foot into Felix's spine with one last, savage kick.

My hand shook as I reached out, trying to brush Felix's hair, but my fingers closed on nothing but air.

William sent Felix away.

It all started when Felix crawled under Anne's skirt and scared her. But the truth was, William had snatched the doll I'd given Felix and spitefully thrown it at Anne's feet.

I'd sewn that doll by hand for Felix back in the countryside, and he treasured it. But William treated it like a cruel joke, tossing it right at Anne's feet like it was worthless.

Felix had an intellectual disability, so he didn't fully understand what was happening. He just dashed over and ducked under Anne's skirt to grab it back. The sudden movement made her shriek.

William immediately grabbed Felix by the scruff of his neck and threw him aside. I tried to catch Felix, lunging forward to cushion his fall, but he passed through me and hit the floor hard.

He was still sore from the beating William had given him a few days earlier, and the impact made him wince in pain.

Anne huffed in frustration and pulled out her phone to call me, but it went straight to voicemail.

William let out a low chuckle, his words slow but laced with something close to pity. "Hard to say if Felix learned this from Zach. This kid's barely grown and already lifting girls' skirts. And everyone says he's slow. If even he can pull that off, imagine what Zach gets up to normally."

Anne recoiled, her face twisting in disgust as she backed away from Felix. He stood there in a daze, completely unaware of what they were saying.

Anne scowled. "Trust Zach to mess things up. Who in their right mind would pick up some random idiot and bring them home?"

William's eyes gleamed sharply as he said, "We should just get rid of Felix. With the way he acts, who knows? Next thing you know, he'll be sneaking into your room."

Anne hesitated.

"Plenty of couples can't have kids. He'll be taken care of. It's better than staying here and picking up Zach's bad habits."

Eventually, Anne gave in.

As soon as she was gone, William drove his foot into Felix, knocking him to the ground. His eyes gleamed with cruel amusement. "Relax, you little idiot. I'll set you up somewhere nice. A beggar should stick with their own kind."

And just like that, William severed the last connection I had to the Seymours.

I'd been dead for ten days, and the Seymours still couldn't be bothered to look for me. Everyone just figured I'd run off to avoid getting punished.

Mom's hatred for me only grew worse, and she spat, "Good riddance to that worthless son of mine! A disgrace like him is nothing but shame!"

Then her phone buzzed with a video from the Dean of Students.

There I was on all fours, crawling forward in the most humiliating way imaginable. The camera trailed me for a few steps before I turned toward the lens with this fawning grin. Then I stuck my tongue out, barking like a dog.

My family didn't notice how my clothes hung off me. Even the smallest size swallowed my bony frame whole.
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  • Regret It Now?   Chapter 9

    Mom continued, "Will, I regret it so much. I should've chosen Zach over you back then. Just go to sleep now. Your dad and I will look after you for the rest of your life."After that, William was paralyzed from the neck down, bedridden for the rest of his days.Mom slowly lost her grip on reality, moving through life as if she were in a fog. Eventually, the truth must've become too much to bear. She took her own life by slitting her wrist.…I stood by Mom's bed, watching her face twist with regret."Zach, I was wrong… I shouldn't have doubted you. You chose to stay in the countryside for Will's sake. Of course, someone like you would care about him. I messed up. Please forgive me."She crawled toward me on her knees, blood trailing behind her, and reached for my hand.I stepped back and looked down at her."Mom, you and Dad failed as parents. I'm just glad I wasn't raised by you and that I didn't end up like William. And forgiveness? That's not happening. "What really killed

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    William clamped his hand over the dean's mouth and growled, "Enough. You'll get it tomorrow!"He watched the dean walk away before finally exhaling in relief. After a quick scan of the area, he snatched up a nearby rock and cracked it against his own forehead.Anne pressed her hand to her lips, stifling any sound.Completely unaware of her, William pressed a palm to his bleeding wound and headed back inside.Dad sat on the couch, comforting Mom. The second she spotted the blood on William's forehead, she grew frantic. "Will! How did you hurt yourself? Is it bad? Hurry! Go get the medical kit!"Tears streamed down William's face as he held Mom's hand down. "Mom, Z-Zach just beat me up at the gate. He said he needed 200 thousand dollars, and when I told him I didn't have it, he hit me! Mom, Dad, he's my brother. I can't stand seeing him like this. Maybe we should just give him the money."Completely missing the thick silence that had fallen over the room, William kept throwing accu

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    William continued, "That country bumpkin doesn't stand a chance against me when it comes to our parents' love. They've always been on my side. I ended up with a few scrapes the last time we got into a fight with the guys next door."But just a few words from me, and my mom was sure he was the one who hurt me. They sent him away without even thinking twice. The only reason he was ever around was to take the fall for my fight wounds. My parents ate up every word I said."Anyway, enough chit-chat. Round up the guys and bring them over for lunch. Just make sure they dress like students. We can't afford to blow our cover.""William, you're the best," the blonde guy said.William left, but Anne remained rooted to the bench. The bulging veins on the back of her hand told the whole story—she'd caught every last word of William's conversation with that blonde guy.…Dad still wasn't back from the police station when Anne brought Mom home.They'd only just settled in when William walked i

  • Regret It Now?   Chapter 6

    Mom finally felt it too—that crushing moment when hope turned to despair.Anne came running up behind her, gasping for air.Mom's eyes lit up as she grabbed Anne's arm. "Where are Zach's things?"Anne hesitated before answering, "We got rid of everything."Mom staggered like she might fall. Before Anne could say another word, Mom flung her hand away and bolted to the yard.Later, when Anne caught up with her, Mom stood motionless in front of the small room where Felix used to stay."Where's the boy Zach adopted? The one named Felix!"Anne shifted nervously, hesitating to answer.Mom grabbed her wrist, her voice desperate. "Where did he go? Zach loved him more than anything. We have to take care of him. We can't let Zach worry from beyond the grave. Tell me. Where's Felix?"Anne snapped out of her daze and yanked out her phone. "Will was the one who sent Felix away. I'm calling Will now."Mom stared at Anne with desperate intensity as she scrolled through her contacts. Just as

  • Regret It Now?   Chapter 5

    Dad's phone clattered onto the floor, and in an instant, the living room went dead silent.…Anne took the wheel this time.Mom and Dad sat in the back, their faces showed no trace of grief. Instead, Mom's forehead was deeply creased. Dad rolled the window down and exhaled a ring of smoke.At the police station, an officer escorted them to the morgue. He couldn't hide the pain on his face as he spoke. "You should brace yourselves. The body bore wounds of varying degrees."Mom didn't get upset. She just let out a dismissive snort. "Zach went through all the trouble of bribing every one of you. He must've planned this whole thing. Since you're all so convincing, I guess we might as well go see for ourselves."Dad agreed, "He's probably hiding somewhere, waiting to watch us freak out and regret everything. Well, I won't give him the satisfaction. And honestly, how could someone like him die so easily?"Their faces were full of scorn, like they were completely certain this was just

  • Regret It Now?   Chapter 4

    My family didn't notice the taser appearing over and over in the video. All they saw was me, the Seymours' eldest son, nuzzling against a stranger's leg like a dog.Dad's face twisted with anger. In a low, furious voice, he snapped at Mom to turn off the video, calling it humiliating. "Turn it off!"Once she did, she tapped open a voice memo from the dean of students.That was the same voice that had tormented me endlessly at the residential treatment center. It always came right before punishments that left me shaking.They'd lash me with a whip coated in pepper spray or shock me with the taser until my body spasmed uncontrollably.The whole time, they'd howl with laughter, mocking me, a privileged family's son, for having less pride than their pet dogs."Mrs. Seymour, Zach's behavior is beyond disappointing. The fact that he's gone this far just to avoid punishment is despicable! I suggest we extend his 'study' period until he learns some obedience and manners."Dad slammed th

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