Chapter 3

My mind went completely blank, and my head snapped toward the sound.

It was my spoiled, stupid little brother, Leo.

Leo ran toward the estate while wailing, not even caring that one of his little leather shoes had fallen off.

That night, the sound of slapping echoed through the living room endlessly.

She grabbed every hard object within her reach and hurled them at me. Then she pushed me to the ground and slapped me frantically.

She glared at me like I was the family's worst enemy, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

But in the moonlight, I clearly saw the tears slipping from the corners of her eyes.

I had occasionally seen those kinds of tears in the past.

But back then, I just thought she was completely hypocritical. I would push her away like a feral wolf cub, screaming that I would make her pay when I grew up.

Yet at this very moment, I just silently curled up on the floor without any thought of fighting back, letting her take it all out on me.

Finally, she exhausted all her strength.

Her hands dropped to her sides, her fingernails stained with the blood from my face.

She didn't look at me again. Leaning against the wall, she stumbled back to her bedroom.

After a long time, I slowly tried to push myself up. Suddenly, I heard muffled crying from behind her tightly shut door, the kind that slipped out even when stifled by a hand.

That crying was like a dull, rusty blade, repeatedly carving into my heart.

My cheeks burned with pain. The body I had just managed to lift suddenly lost all its strength and crashed back onto the floor.

I raised an arm to cover my eyes, and my skin immediately felt a wet, sticky sensation.

It wasn't tears at all, but blood mixed with dirt.

Just like me, filthy beyond belief.

"When Isabella was nineteen, she also lay on the ground and cried in despair, just like you are now."

I jerked my head up.

Theresa was standing at the entrance to the living room. I didn't know how long she had been there, still wearing the black dress from the banquet.

Her eyes fell on me, yet it felt like she was looking at somewhere far away.

"The night she was attacked, her dress was torn to shreds, and her body, it was covered in shocking bruises."

"She didn't dare make a sound. Isabella just bit her lip tightly until it bled."

My breath hitched.

"She wanted to get rid of you. The priest forbade it, and our family's faith didn't allow her to do such a thing."

"After you were born, to protect the family's reputation, she was forced to swallow her pride and raise you."

My life was as absurd as a joke.

No one ever looked forward to my arrival, yet I stubbornly survived to twelve years old with the grit of a street rat.

Theresa called the family doctor to treat my wounds as usual.

She had always ruled with a cold iron fist, but right now her tone revealed a rare exhaustion. "Don't blame Isabella. Her heart is full of bitterness, and she simply can't escape that desperate nightmare."

I lowered my eyes and gave a dismal smile.

"Theresa, I truly don't blame her anymore."

I didn't hate Isabella anymore, but her hatred for me was still intense enough to want to tear me to pieces.

In the early hours of the morning that day, when Isabella tightly pressed the velvet pillow over my face, she didn't know I had been awake the whole time.

I could even clearly feel the violent trembling of her hands through the fabric.

I didn't fight back. I just calmly closed my eyes and let it happen.

Just as my lungs felt like they were on fire, a force yanked her completely off me.

The voice of Theresa, who rarely showed any emotion, was trembling. "Are you crazy!"

"You're going to throw your own life away for this bastard? It's not worth it! It's enough that you were ruined once."

Isabella collapsed into her arms, letting out a broken whimper.

"Mom, Mom, I can't hold on anymore. Is she as evil as that man? The way she looks at me is exactly the same as him."

Theresa held her tightly, but her eyes looked past her shoulder, toward me.

For a second, I was sure she saw my half-opened eyes.

But she just patted Isabella's back and said calmly, "Go back to your room and sleep."

Isabella's sobbing finally faded at the end of the hallway.

I lay there, gasping for air, keeping my eyes open until a faint light appeared on the horizon.

I didn't know how much time had passed, but right before dawn, Theresa walked in carrying a tray.

On the tray was a cup of black tea, still steaming.