Chapter 2

When I brought the bowl of pasta over to him, Zack suddenly claimed he wasn't hungry anymore.

Just then, Mom and Dad came home. Hearing Zack sneeze, Mom’s immediate reaction was to shove me hard to the side. She rushed forward, deeply distressed, feeling Zack’s forehead before gasping out loud, declaring he had a fever.

Zack looked at me, and I caught the sly look in his eyes.

"It's okay," Zack whimpered weakly, tugging on Mom's sleeve. "It's my fault for having such a weak body. Cody probably opened the window because it was too hot. I just thought if I put on extra clothes, I wouldn't be a burden to Cody."

Mom stroked Zack’s head with aching fondness. Then, without missing a beat, she turned around and slapped me across the face. Her bloodshot eyes stared at me as if I were her mortal enemy, not her son.

The crisp sound echoed through the room. Before I could even process what happened, my cheek burned, stinging from the impact.

Mom’s voice turned sharp and venomous.

"Cody, are you even human? You knew Zack’s health was delicate, yet you still opened the window? Do you have any idea how freezing it is outside?! All you care about is stuffing your own face! You don't care if Zack is hungry or freezing. How on earth did I give birth to a cold-blooded monster?!"

Before I could even explain, Mom grabbed me by the ear and dragged me straight outside.

Deep down, I knew that even if I tried to explain, Mom wouldn't believe a word. She only ever believed Zack.

It was ridiculously cold outside. I wore only a thin, short-sleeved T-shirt—one of Zack’s old hand-me-downs that was so small it exposed my waist.

The icy wind battered against my body and face, biting straight to the bone. Mom dragged me all the way to the cellar door in the backyard, pointing down at the pitch-black space as she barked her order.

"Since you love the cold so much, get your butt down there and cool off! Don't you dare come back up until you figure out how to take proper care of Zack!"

Truth be told, this cellar had been dug years ago by my grandparents when they were still alive. The older generation was always afraid of high electricity bills for refrigerators, and since our region was way up north, the temperature here was naturally much colder than elsewhere. Storing food in the cellar worked just as well as keeping it in a fridge.

After my grandparents passed away, Mom found using it too much of a hassle, so the cellar was simply abandoned.

I stared down into it hesitantly. Just standing at the opening, I could feel the ice-cold draft surging up against my face. It felt at least fifteen to twenty degrees colder than it was outside.

For the very first time in my life, I wanted to stick up for myself. I knew that if I didn't try my hardest to make Mom believe me, going down there would literally kill me.

"Mom, it was Zack who wanted handmade pasta, and he complained it was too hot, so I—"

Another hard slap landed squarely on my face. Mom’s eyes were filled with pure disgust.

"Cody, you've even learned how to lie now? Don't you think I know what kind of person Zack is? Why would he bother you to do all that for him? He's the most sensible child in this house! He always gives in to you, always does things for you. Would he ever make such an unreasonable demand?!"

My body froze on the spot.

Right... Zack always played the sweet, perfect child in front of Mom and Dad. But behind their backs, he treated me like a slave.

All he ever did was talk, while I was the one doing all the actual labor. Yet he was the one who got all of Mom and Dad's praise and sympathy.

My whole body was shaking. I couldn't tell if it was from the cold or sheer rage. For the first time, I screamed at Mom hysterically.

"Why do you never believe me?! There are security cameras in the house that you can check! Why do you always take Zack's side every single time?!"

I thought this would make Mom rethink things, but without a second thought, she pushed me straight down into the cellar.

The cellar was deep—a good twelve to fifteen feet down. The moment I slammed into the floor, a sharp, excruciating pain shot through my ankle. I couldn't move it at all.

Mom’s shrill voice came echoing down from above.

"You stay down there and think about what you've done! Since you're so greedy for food, your punishment is no food or water for three days!"

With that, Mom turned around and walked away.

No matter how heartbreakingly I begged for mercy down there, Mom never once turned back. I tried wrapping my arms around myself for warmth, but it was far too cold outside, and my clothes were way too thin. I shivered uncontrollably in the dark.

After Mom went back inside, she immediately took Zack to the hospital and stayed up all night taking care of him.

As for Dad, he simply went along with Mom's actions. He didn't say a word to stick up for me, nor did he lend me a single glance.