Just then, Jacob ran in, shouting as he came:

“Mom! I want to see the puppy mop the floor!”

He ran too fast and didn’t see the puddle. His foot slipped and he fell flat on the ground, bursting into loud wails.

Mom immediately kicked me hard into the wall.

“You worthless brat! Can’t even mop the floor properly! Were you trying to kill your brother?”

I didn’t even have the strength to cry.

I lay weak on the ground, groaning:

“It wasn’t me…”

Jacob only cried harder.

“It was her! It was her! I saw her do it on purpose!”

Mom’s fury exploded. She snatched up the dripping mop and slammed it against me.

Soaked and heavy, it hit with crushing force, each blow making me wish for death as the only release.

“Lying again! You’re lying again! So young, and already rotten!”

“Are you jealous that your brother is better at everything, so you want to hurt him?”

“How can a child’s mind be this vicious?”

Terrified, I didn’t dare cry. I crawled forward, biting my lip, wiping up the water little by little.

But she had no intention of letting me go.

She cursed while striking harder and harder, until I was barely conscious, gasping for air.

“You jinx, you’re a born bad seed! Nothing will ever fix you!”

In her rage, she lifted the bucket and dumped all the filthy water over me.

My body gave out—cold and burning all at once.

I collapsed, eyelids so heavy I thought I would die right there.

Just then, I heard a voice outside shout:

“Stop!”

When I woke again, Aunt Lisa was sitting by my side.

She was the only person in this world who ever cared for me.

Her eyes were red from crying as she whispered:

“Emily, you’ve suffered so much. There isn’t a single spot on your body without bruises.”

“I begged your mom to let you live with me, but your parents refused…”

“They said if you left, no one would be here to look after Jacob.”

Before she could finish, Dad stormed in.

He grabbed Aunt Lisa’s arm and flung her to the ground.

“This is our family business! Who are you to meddle?”

“You think having some money makes you special?”

“Unless you hand over your whole fortune, you’ll never take my daughter. I’d rather beat her to death first!”

He yanked me out of bed like a rag doll.

“Lazy trash! Still lying here? Get up and make dinner for Jacob!”

“Good for nothing! All you ever do is steal your brother’s chocolate!”

“Jinx! Worthless brat! Ever since you were born, my luck at the casino has never once been good!”