Chapter 5

Charlie's POV

"You should give us a call if you don't feel well, alright? Do you hear that, Charlie?" Dad asked.

He wanted to say a few more words, but Mom was already hurrying him impatiently out of the hallway.

"Hurry up! We'll run into traffic if we don't leave now!"

The front door slammed shut with a bang.

My soul involuntarily hovered toward them, crowding into the car. I pressed myself against the window as the car drove off, staring at the passing scenery with wide-eyed wonder and feeling a deep sense of novelty.

After all, for the past five years, Mom had hardly ever taken me out.

I couldn't help but feel that everything outside was truly wonderful.

Declan fell asleep with his head in Mom's lap as she stroked his head affectionately.

I looked at the scene before me, feeling so envious that my heart clenched. I couldn't help but wonder if Mom would have stroked my head so affectionately if I had behaved well.

It was a long drive, but they finally arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's house, where the two had already been waiting outside for quite some time.

Grandma frowned and peered into the back seat as soon as they got out of the car. "Where is Charlie? You didn't bring him with you again?"

Mom responded coldly as she unloaded the luggage, replying, "He didn't want to come along."

I hovered nearby, my eyes widening in surprise as I waved my hands repeatedly at Grandma and Grandpa. "T-That's not true! I wasn't the one who refused to come!"

Grandma shot Mom a reproachful look and sighed. "I doubt Charlie was the one who didn't want to come. You just didn't want to bring him, did you?"

Mom offered no rebuttal, simply carrying the luggage inside the house in silence.

Grandma followed Mom inside, continuing to lecture her.

"I know you don't like Charlie. You had postpartum depression when he was born, and you thought he cried too much, threw tantrums, and wasn't good or compliant. You always felt that the difficult period was Charlie's fault.

"Have you forgotten that Charlie was just a nursing infant back then? What could he possibly understand back then, Francine?"

"How dare you ask me that!" It seemed a nerve had been struck in Mom.

She turned around abruptly, her eyes instantly turning bloodshot as she yelled at Grandma, "Why was Declan so obedient ever since he was young, then? I gave birth to both of them, but Declan is sweet and understanding, showing concern for me from a young age.

"What about Charlie, huh? He smashed the neighbor's windows at three and beat up his kindergarten classmates at five! He's nothing but a menace! He was born solely to torture me!"

I was stunned. It turned out that, even way back then, I was already a menace in Mom's eyes.

Mom was crying uncontrollably as she spoke, her voice cracking with emotion. "How could I not care about Charlie when both of them are my children? I'm just so angry… I'm so mad at myself for failing to raise him right. I'm angry that he couldn't be more like Declan…"

Grandpa and Grandma exchanged a glance and let out a long sigh.

Dad walked over and wrapped an arm around Mom's shoulders to comfort her. "There, there now, Francine. We'll raise Charlie together from now on. He'll definitely become our well-behaved and understanding son once he grows up."

Declan also took Mom's hand, wiping away her tears as he said, "Please don't cry, Mom. I'll teach Charlie and make sure he behaves well from now on."

Mom held Declan close, nodding through her sobs.

Just then, the phone in Dad's pocket suddenly went off with a harsh ring.

I suddenly felt a shiver run through my body.

Dad answered the phone, but before he could say a word, Aunt Jackie's terrified scream came through the line.

"You have to come back this instant, Ethan! Something happened to Charlie!"

Dad's car keys fell to the ground with a sharp clatter.