Chapter 3

A slap sent me crashing into the wall. My head hit hard, and blood streamed from my hair.

"You brat! How dare you curse your mother just to get attention here!"

Dad's gaze swept over my small, dirty body, his voice filled with disgust.

"Tiffany's carrying your little brother. As the older sister, you need to be sensible and not upset him."

"You're nine years old already, running around like a maniac. What kind of behavior is that?"

I lay on the ground, my heart pounding with anxiety. The pain in my head made my vision blur.

I spoke in desperation:

"Mom bled all over the bed. The doctor said she has cancer, and only a few days left to live."

The words had barely left my mouth when a huge force kicked me in the chest, sending me flying through the air.

My body hit the ground and rolled several times.

The wheelchair rolled over my foot. My ankle instantly swelled up, and it hurt like hell with every movement.

Dad's face was ashen. He looked down at me.

"You're so young, yet you're already lying, even daring to use a doctor to trick me."

"I think you need a lesson!"

Tiffany covered her mouth, chuckling.

"Chloe, you're not even good at lying. Your mom just had a check-up yesterday, and she's perfectly healthy."

I used all my strength to stagger to my feet.

I suddenly spat a mouthful of bloody saliva onto Tiffany.

"Pfft! Bitch! You seduced my dad and hurt my mom."

"If you dare to give birth to that little bastard, I swear I'll kill him."

At that, Dad and Tiffany's faces changed instantly.

Just then, Richard and Carol, my maternal grandparents, arrived. They grabbed my collar and gave me several sharp slaps.

"You little beast! Just like your mother, you don't know what's good for you."

"Did she teach you to swear like that?"

I clenched my teeth, my eyes filled with hatred, and didn't answer.

Carol shook her head, her face full of disgust.

"Three years ago, we should have locked you and her up for re-education too."

Tiffany giggled. "Evelyn had a good time in jail; she forgot you, her mother, as soon as she got out."

"It's a shame I only got a two-year sentence back then. I wish I could've kept her in jail longer."

She pouted, feigning regret.

Thinking of Evelyn's miserable state when she was released from prison a year ago, Tiffany wished she could send her back, to take the fall until she died.

Only then would her anger be appeased.

My heart skipped a beat. So, Mom's disappearance three years ago was because they had sent her to jail.

When she came home, she was raving, crying constantly, not even recognizing me, her own daughter.

Dad said Mom had gone for treatment, and I actually believed him.

Thinking about this, my eyes turned red, not from crying, but from hatred.

Carol put her arm around Tiffany, smiling with doting affection.

"Oh, you! Isn't having someone take the fall for you enough?"

Richard stood behind, hands clasped behind his back, and slowly spoke.

"Like mother, like daughter. Chloe has been corrupted by Evelyn. We should send her to Tiffany to raise and straighten out her character."

"I think Jake has been raised very well by Tiffany."

Richard approvingly stroked Jake's head, praising him for being smart and sensible.

My blood almost ran cold.

I quickly ran into Mom's room in a panic, hugging her and crying.

"Mom, save me! I don't want to be given to Tiffany as a daughter."

Mom coughed and looked up.

Seeing Richard and Carol enter, and Tiffany protected behind them, the light in her eyes instantly died.

She spoke coldly, "Chloe is my child. I won't let anyone take her from me."

Carol swore. "Chloe will learn bad things from you, right from the root."

"We're doing this for your own good!"

Mom clung to me, refusing to let go.

"No! I can give her everything else, but not my Chloe!"

"I only have two days left. I want to spend them with her..."