Chapter 3

The neighbors were all debating whether Uncle Jared was an unknowing party or a co-conspirator.

It wasn't long before the police officers brought Uncle Jared over to the police station.

I stayed in the corner, watching his worried expression and the way he seemed completely uneasy as he showed up late.

I knew exactly where this was going. It seemed like Uncle Jared was preparing to pin all the blame squarely on poor old Mom. It turned out that their sibling bond was completely superficial—a fact that didn't surprise me in the least, given their family's consistent, inherent selfishness.

Uncle Jared claimed that Mom had taken the child without his permission, saying he was completely unaware she had dropped the baby at my doorstep.

"I'm sure Karen just felt sorry for my situation, thinking that an adult like me had no idea how to take care of a baby. You see, the baby's mother abandoned him immediately after birth, and with my job, it was impossible for me to handle everything. I'm sure Karen acted only out of concern for my well-being."

Why did Mom think I could look after the baby if Uncle Jared, an adult himself, couldn't?

Uncle Jared's explanation sounded good, but deep down, we all knew the excuse was completely pathetic.

There was no other evidence to prove that they were colluding, though, so the matter could only be raised and then quietly dropped. Uncle Jared, the baby's father, didn't want to press charges, so the police officer didn't detain Mom.

It was only after being subjected to a rather forceful talking-to that they both offered a clearly insincere apology. They gave a show of good faith, took the baby, and walked out of the police station.

I never once glanced at their direction. I was aware that involving the authorities at this point would have little effect, but it was of no consequence.

I still had time to deal with them. I fully anticipated that they wouldn't relinquish their opportunity to take advantage of me, after all.

I slowly made my way home, holding the acknowledgment receipt from the police station, with that same group of concerned neighbors walking behind me.

Just as I had foreseen, Mom lay in wait for me right outside the residential complex. She opted to ambush me at my place since she didn't dare to openly cause trouble for me at the police station. She was still holding on to the baby, while Uncle Jared was already long gone.

She was overly attached to Uncle Jared, her beloved younger brother. She had just returned from the police station, yet she still intended to force the responsibility for the baby onto me.

"You ungrateful brat!" she shouted. "How could you call the cops and get your own mother and uncle taken in, Damian!"

It was then that one of the neighbors jumped in to shield me. "And just what kind of mother are you talking about? What is this nonsense about an uncle? Damian is part of the Lister family! You have absolutely no claim over him!"

"That's right!"

"What's wrong with calling the police to have someone arrested?"

"If you have a clear conscience, then there's nothing to be afraid of!"

"Hmph! You only dared to show up and prey on Damian after Mr. Lister Senior passed away!"

"You have nothing to be afraid of, Damian! You see, we're neighbors who have watched you grow up since you were a baby. We won't let anything happen to you!"

Mom, already exhausted from waiting for so long under the sun with the baby, finally snapped under the barrage of accusations.

She flew into a hysterical rage, threatening to throw the baby on the ground if anyone spoke again. "If anyone lays a hand on me and the baby sustains any injury, I'll hold every one of you financially liable!"

She was straight up pulling an extortion act in broad daylight. She completely showed that a truly shameless person feared nothing. "Go ahead and talk trash about me again! Go on!"

She hoisted the baby above her head, instantly causing the crowd to recoil and maintain a wide distance.

I alone stood my ground, watching her pathetic spectacle as if she were some kind of caged animal. I inwardly dared her to drop the baby, wishing for that wretched baby to die right then and there. It would save others from his harmful existence in the future.

Mom, with an air of smug triumph, gathered the baby back into her arms, paying no attention to his strained cries.

"You have to take Matt home and raise him!" she ordered. "You're cousins with him, so it's your duty to help one another. You both share a similar background, so you of all people should sympathize with him, right?"