Chapter 2

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

A rapid succession of slaps rained down like a sudden storm. The drivers who had just been acting high and mighty collapsed onto the ground in an instant, clutching their swollen faces as they wailed for mercy.

“Please, just let us go! We’ll drive! We’ll drive right now! Just stop hitting us!”

I scooped Roman back into my arms and was about to get into the car when my parents burst outside upon hearing the commotion.

Alistair barked in a violent rage, “You ungrateful beast! To beat the servants like this—you’re worse than an animal! I’d like to see who dares let him leave!”

Evelina screeched in agreement, “Lysander! Your brother is just acting! There’s nothing wrong with him!”

I turned a deaf ear to them and reached out to pull the car door open.

The moment I opened it, Cassandra slammed it shut again.

She barred my way, her gaze ice-cold. “Lysander, the two of you brothers certainly know how to put on an act.”

Atticus’s lips turned down slightly as he spoke softly to Cassandra, “Cassandra, Roman is clearly fine... He just doesn’t want to apologize to Goldie, so he’s playing dead…”

He raised his glistening, tear-filled eyes, looking deeply aggrieved. “I just wanted Goldie to rest in peace. Why must Lysander make such a life-and-death scene, as if we’re bullying him…”

Cassandra patted his back gently, her eyes growing increasingly vicious as she glared at me.

“So that’s why Roman suddenly started playing dead? It turns out it’s time for him to apologize to Goldie.

“Don’t worry. Not a single apology he owes will be skipped.”

She grabbed my wrist tightly. Caught off guard while holding my brother, I was forcibly dragged back into the living room by her.

In the corner of the living room, a small memorial had been set up, featuring a framed photograph of a Golden Retriever.

Cassandra’s voice turned chillingly harsh. “Someone bring him over.”

Several bodyguards stepped forward at her command, roughly snatching my lifeless brother from my arms.

I was pinned firmly to the ground, unable to move.

I could only watch helplessly as Roman’s limp body was forced onto his knees in front of the memorial altar, his head drooping heavily.

Cassandra’s voice dripped with impatience. “Roman, stop acting.

“You’re going to stay on your knees every single day until you’ve paid for what happened to Goldie. Today is your last chance to make things right, so you won’t stop bowing your head to the floor until you’ve begged for forgiveness a thousand times!

“You killed Atticus’s beloved pet. You will pay that debt back, inch by inch, every single time your head hits the floor.”

“He’s dying! Are you all blind?!” Fire erupted in my eyes as I roared, struggling with everything I had.

However, my system strength points hadn’t registered yet, leaving me momentarily unable to break free from the bodyguards’ grip.

Cassandra gave a disdainful laugh. “Playing dead—he’s certainly mastered that trick.”

A bodyguard grabbed Roman by the head and slammed it heavily against the floor.

Alistair watched from the side, his expression cold. Then he sneered. “He didn’t even bother to wipe the dust off the floor tile. How is that supposed to show any sincerity?”

Atticus’s voice instantly took on a tearful whine. “Poor Goldie... Not only did Roman steal his food, but he even poisoned him to death... Without him, what’s the point of me living…”

Cassandra quickly pulled him close, her eyes filled with heartache.

Alistair turned and delivered a harsh slap across Roman’s lifeless face. “Look at what you’ve done! You knew Atticus suffers from depression, yet you still provoked him to tears!”

Turning back to Atticus, he said gently, “Don’t cry, Atticus. If you want a dog, I’ll find you the best dog in the entire world to keep you company.”

Evelina chimed in repeatedly, “It’s all Roman’s fault. I’ll apologize on his behalf. What would you like? A luxury watch or a multi-million-dollar supercar? Take your pick!”

Tears spilled from Atticus’s eyes as he whimpered, “I don’t want anything... I just want Goldie back to life…”

Cassandra’s face flushed with anger. “Make him bow properly—until Atticus stops crying!”

Understanding the command, the bodyguard grabbed Roman’s head and slammed it down brutally!

His forehead split open instantly, blood winding down his pale cheek.

“Stop! He’s going to die!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, my vision turning blood-red.

I had thought I was the only one enduring humiliation in the mental asylum.

I thought at least my brother was living a peaceful life at home.

I never imagined that in this so-called “home,” my brother was treated even worse than a dog!

I remembered the last time he came to visit me. His eyes were bright as he leaned close to my ear and whispered:

“Lysander, I’m about to graduate soon. Once I find a job, the first thing I’ll do is get you out of there.

“We’ll have our own home, and we’ll never have to bow to anyone ever again.”

Yet now, his limp body was being roughly yanked up and slammed repeatedly onto the freezing cold floor tiles.

Once, twice, thrice...

Every dull thud felt as if it were smashing directly into my heart.

Blood poured continuously from Roman, staining the floor tiles red.

The servants’ hushed laughter echoed around the room.

“He really is like a pathetic dog... serves him right!”

“His biggest mistake was crossing Sir Atticus…”

“Goldie only bit him a few times, yet he actually poisoned the dog to death. So young, yet so wicked.”

Rage consumed me so violently that I coughed up a mouthful of blood.

[Strength +1! +1! +1!...] The strength points gained from slapping the drivers earlier suddenly registered all at once.

I violently broke free from the bodyguards, raised my hand, and delivered a devastating slap straight toward the bodyguard holding Roman’s head down!