Chapter 4

"Angel, what do you mean?"

Jack, who had been silent, jumped up excitedly. "Who do you think you are? Do you deserve it?"

I looked at him in shock, unable to believe the sweet brother on the phone could become so vicious.

"I've wanted to say this for a long time. So what if you owe debts? Just ask for more benefits!"

"Go ask around, how many college students are there in our area? We endured hardships to send her to college, wasn't it for this? Why are you being so pretentious?"

He shouted at my mom, then looked at me smugly.

"You probably don't know yet, right? Aunt found you a match whose wife just died, leaving him a big inheritance!"

"You did pretty well, worth some money! He's willing to pay 188,000 yuan to marry a college graduate!"

"Don't look so shocked, as if you're innocent! You've worked so hard studying, trying to please mom and dad, isn't it to find a better husband? If not to attract a man's attention, why work so hard?"

I was furious and slapped him across the face.

Before high school, I spent all my vacations on him, teaching him homework and life lessons.

In high school, I spent more time studying and working part-time, always buying him snacks and gifts when I had extra money.

The effort I put into him wasn't any less than what my parents did. His words hurt me more than my parents' schemes.

"He's your brother, how can you hit him?"

My mom shrieked, raising her hand to hit me.

I dodged quickly, avoiding her hand, but tripped over a chair and fell to the ground.

Jack seized the opportunity to kick me in the stomach.

The girlfriend he brought home was so scared she dropped her chopsticks, quietly standing up and heading for the door.

I curled up, in pain all over, unable to believe these were my family, who claimed to love me and have my best interest at heart!

My dad approached, and I thought he was going to help me up. I propped myself on my arms to get up, only to see him looking down at me arrogantly.

"Lock her in the room, let Aunt come to pick her up tomorrow."

My heart went cold, finally recognizing the truth. This isn't my home, and they're not my family.

I bit down on Jack's hand, drawing blood.

He used his other hand to choke me.

"You dare hit me! You'll marry whether you want to or not! That's your fate!"

"If you refuse, I'll break your legs!"

I grabbed his hands, trying to loosen his grip, but I couldn't match his strength. Asphyxiation set in, and my head started spinning.

Tears blurred my vision, and I saw my mom leaning on a chair, crying harder than I was.

"Enough! It's a holiday, don't you find this unlucky!"

"Once you've vented, that's it. We're still waiting for her to bring in benefits!"

I finally got a moment to breathe.

"Wait!"

"You can't lock me up..."

My dad, impatient, was about to kick me again. I covered my head and shouted, "I said the debt is real!"

"They're already here, right at the village entrance!"

"They have knives and axes!"

"Let me go, I'll lead them away!"

"Otherwise, none of us will survive tonight!"

He paused, looking at me mockingly.

"If you're going to make something up, at least make it believable!"

I struggled to look up.

"Listen!"

My voice was hoarse from the choking, like a ghost.

Chapter

On my way back, I saw people at the village entrance, smashing things. I wanted to watch but was worried they'd wait too long for me at home, so I quickly asked what was happening.

"What else? Debt collecting!"

"It's a good time to collect debts during the holidays!"

There are many who drink and gamble in the village, losing a car over the New Year is common. I've known that since I was young.

But collecting debts during the holidays, this was a first for me. But it doesn't matter to me, I just want to get away!

They're not family; they're demons!