Broken Hands, Broken Home: My Family's Sentence

When I was kidnapped by my parents' enemy, Bruce Cohen, he had arrogantly started a livestream of it for the whole Internet to see.

Twelve hours had passed, and all my fingers had been chopped off except for one.

The comment section was in a frenzy.

"I can't take it anymore! She's screaming so miserably!"

"Didn't they say if the parents contacted them, they'd release her? Where are the parents?"

"Is she even their biological daughter?"

Bruce also grew impatient with waiting, and finally, he tore off the tape from my mouth.

I was just about to explain that, as my parents were in the special forces and often went on dangerous missions, they had no way of doing what he wanted.

Just then, I received a vacation photo from the adopted daughter, Evonne Watson.

"Penelope, I've landed in Hashford with Mom and Dad!"

"Mom and Dad said you would spoil the mood if you came, so they want to celebrate my 18th birthday with just me."

In the photo, my parents embraced Evonne on each side, their gazes full of affection. Behind them were my relatives—aunts, uncles, cousins, and even my graying grandmother. They looked like one big happy family.

So, while I was kidnapped and the whole ordeal was livestreamed on the internet, not a single family member had noticed.

Bruce suspiciously looked at me and told me to make a call.

The moment Mom heard it was me, her tone turned impatient. "I just knew you would ruin the mood! Ever since we brought you back from the countryside, there hasn't been a single peaceful day at home. Evonne has never had a proper birthday since then.

"This time, no matter what you say, we won't neglect Evonne because of you."

I ignored the bitterness and pain I felt and quickly said, "Mom, I've been kidnapped—"

With an almost disgusted tone, Mom cut me off and said, "Penelope Watson! You're such a drama queen! When you die, I'll come and collect your body then!" Mom then hung up the call without hesitation.

At the same time, I received a message from Evonne.

"Penelope, Mom and Dad really hate you. After Mom hung up on you, Dad also blocked you and even told me not to talk to you."

My heart felt like someone was squeezing it, and it brought me a pain that was worse than losing my fingers.

Dazed, I felt my consciousness sinking deeper while my body grew lighter.

Just then, Bruce dumped a bucket of cold water over my head. "Are you thinking of passing out? No way!

"If your parents don't contact me, I'll keep torturing you. You still have one finger left. When that's gone, there are toes. And after the toes, I'll cut off your ears!"

The comment section was instantly filled with curses. They berated Bruce for being insane, but even more so, they berated my parents for being heartless. Some people even cursed the special forces.

"Are the special forces useless? Twelve hours have passed, so why haven't they located the kidnapper yet?"

"Forget the kidnapper! We should drag her worthless parents out first! What sin did she commit to suffer like this?"

"What a monster! If you've got guts, go after the adults. What did the kid do to deserve this?"

Despite how anxious the commenters were, Bruce still swung the knife and cut off my remaining pinky finger.

It hurt! It really hurt! It hurt so much that I wanted to die.

My sharp cries made the viewers watching cover their ears. Even the rapidly moving comment section froze for a moment.

At that moment, a highlighted comment caught Bruce's attention.

"Contact me! I am Special Forces Captain Zachary Watson!"

The name "Zachary Watson" cleared my muddled brain for a moment.

It was Dad! He had noticed me and was coming to rescue me!