My So-Called Family

At the Court of Judgment…I walked up to the bench with a numb face.Everyone stared at me, their faces full of different emotions. Anger, resentment, contempt, disgust, mockery… But there was no sympathy."I heard she was still struggling before coming up here. Clearly, she didn't want to face the court. She must feel guilty.""Hmph! She abused her parents, cheated on her fiance, stole her adopted sister's assets, and even tried to kill her own older brother... Any one of those charges would be enough to put her away!""Yeah! Vicious people like her are better off dead.""If you ask me, there's no need for a trial at all. Just euthanize her and be done with it."Hearing their comments, I gave a bitter smile.In their eyes, I was a vicious woman who had done nothing but evil. They all wished I would just die here and now.I was a little over a month pregnant. Just when I was looking forward to my wedding, my fiance dragged me before the Court of Judgment along with my parent

No matter how much I begged, it was useless. Even though I was always at the top of my class, my parents acted like they didn't notice at all.Soon, they found me a job as a cleaner and forced me to work to support the family. "Make sure to send me your salary as soon as you get paid! Carl, Tony, and Sandy all need money. We're all counting on you."Every word out of Miranda's mouth was for her other children, but she never thought about me.The cleaning job had me up early and working late into the night. I was often so exhausted, I couldn't even stand up straight. Luckily, the place I worked at was a school, so I would frequently listen to lessons from outside the classroom.My boss noticed how hardworking and eager I was to learn, so he gave me an easier office job. He even tutored me and helped me apply to a technical school so I could get an education and learn some skills.I sent half my salary home, keeping only some for myself in preparation for school.Once, I was a da

The judge announced sternly, "Jurors, you may now deliver your verdict on this charge. Guilty or not guilty?"After some deliberation, the jurors began to cast their votes.I watched calmly, not the least bit anxious.On the other hand, my parents were clearly worried, the fear evident in their eyes.In the end, the jury delivered a unanimous verdict. One hundred votes declared me not guilty on the charge of violating the filial support law.Next, Arnold brought up the second charge against me.He claimed that I had pocketed the money from selling the house and run off with fifty thousand dollars, which was meant to be my wedding gift. I disappeared, leaving my parents with debt and chased by creditors every day.When the crowd heard this, they looked at me with renewed suspicion and doubt."She could have done it, but only because her parents treated her so badly. Maybe it was her way of getting revenge.""That's right! Her whole family is bringing the charges, after all!""

Before Sandy came to live with us, I lived harmoniously with my two older brothers Carl and Tony. They cared about me a lot, too. After Sandy arrived, everything changed. They started ignoring me, doting on her instead. I wanted so badly to fit in and play with them, but they always shut me out.One time, as I was trying to win them over, I carefully made drinks for everyone. Tony and Sandy both refused, but Carl drank it. He ended up poisoned and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.The doctor said it was rat poison.My parents screamed at me, calling me cold-blooded and accused me of poisoning Carl. No matter how I tried to explain that I didn't do it, they wouldn't believe me. They even threw me out, and I was homeless for three whole days.When I was nearly starving to death and sneaked back home, only then did I overhear Tony and Sandy talking. Tony said he saw Sandy buying rat poison and suspected her. Sandy denied it, saying she bought it to get rid of the r

That was how Sandy lost the vision in her right eye. Only a cornea transplant could restore her sight.When what happened reached my parents, the story turned into me attacking Sandy with a dagger. By then, I was too exhausted to even try to defend myself when it came to all their misunderstanding toward me.At that time, Arnold beat me viciously. "You ungrateful brat! Since you hurt her, you should give her your cornea to make up for it!"Miranda also sobbed uncontrollably. "She was so beautiful and talented, but now she's lost her eye… What will she do in the future? You must take responsibility!"Carl and Tony had no objections. In fact, they both supported the idea of me donating my cornea. I cried and refused, so Arnold locked me up and tried to force me into surgery.The next day, they actually took me to the hospital.I looked at my parents in disbelief, feeling completely powerless for the first time in my life. As the doctor approached, I jumped from the second floor fro