Chapter 3

The scene descended into a stalemate as they frantically blocked Mom from taking off my clothes. I kept crying in pain, shivering and curling up, hiding vulnerably in Mom's arms.

"Mommy... I'm scared of my brothers. Don't let me be with them, they'll hit me."

I sniffled pitifully, watching my brothers' faces contort with furious frustration. They were dizzy with rage.

Just as Mom was about to ignore their protests and pull off my clothes to discover the truth, a clear, calm voice drifted down from upstairs.

"Aunt Eleanor, Daisy is just being fussy. Can I hold her for a bit? I have a sister seven years younger than me, and when she cries, a hug usually calms her down."

Serena gracefully and elegantly took me from Mom's embrace.

Meeting Serena's hypocritical face again, my body instantly tensed, my mind went blank. I could only stare wide-eyed in terror. Serena let out a soft laugh, her lips curving.

"See? Little Daisy isn't crying anymore. Was she just playing a trick on Aunt Eleanor? How naughty!"

Mom saw that I had finally stopped crying, shaking her head and sighing. Serena seized the opportunity.

"Aunt Eleanor, your work is important. Why don't you let me take care of Daisy today? I know exactly how to handle naughty children like her."

Mom greatly admired Serena and was about to nod without much thought.

Watching Mom's retreating back, all the events of my previous lives flooded my mind. My body instantly turned ice cold, and my brain rebooted.

I knew that calling for Mom again would be useless, so I spoke in a deliberately slurred voice.

"Don't hit me, please, Big Sister... Please don't hit me today."

My words landed like a thunderclap in the air, making Mom freeze, turning to stone.

"I won't cry, I won't fuss. Daisy's scared of pain... Don't hit me... If I'm always good like this, Big Sister won't hit me, okay?"

Serena stood dumbfounded, staring at me with a bewildered shock. She had never physically hurt me herself, only subtly encouraged my brothers to abuse me. She never imagined her mask would be ripped off so publicly.

"Daisy, sweetheart, are you mistaken? Who taught you to lie like this? Do you even know what you're saying?"

"Aunt Eleanor, let me explain! It must be the other sponsored students, jealous of my success, who deliberately put these words in Daisy's mouth. There must be some misunderstanding!"

Seeing Mom utterly bewildered, I decided to add fuel to the fire. I raised my hand and clumsily tugged off the small locket necklace from my neck, pushing it into Serena's hand with all my might.

"This... I don't want it either. If Big Sister likes it, just don't hit me."

"My doll, too. The pearl necklace, I don't want that either. They're all for you, Daisy just doesn't want to get hit."

Serena waved her hands in a fluster, and Mom finally snapped back to reality. With a furious look, she stormed into my room.

"Where are Daisy's toys? And the full set of pearl jewelry I gave her for her second birthday? Why are so many of her accessories missing? What exactly is going on here?!"

Mom glared at Serena, now understanding everything. Serena shook her head frantically, repeatedly insisting it wasn't her.

Of course, I knew Serena didn't have the guts to steal from my room. All the expensive missing items had been secretly taken by my two youngest brothers to curry favor with Serena. But now that the items were found in Serena's possession, no amount of explanation would help her.

When the nanny came out of Serena's room with a box full of my belongings, Mom nearly fainted from rage.

"Get out! I will never again sponsor a student with such despicable character who bullies my daughter! Get her out of here, now!"

Serena tried to struggle, but the security guards grabbed her and practically threw her out the door.

I watched the chaotic scene unfold, a deeply satisfying grin spreading across my face.

Finally, Serena was gone. Surely, my six brothers wouldn't continue to oppose me now!

That evening, I took a blissful bath, thinking I could finally enjoy a peaceful night's sleep. But suddenly, I heard faint rustling sounds from the living room.

I propped myself up, thinking a thief had broken in.

But what I saw instantly wiped away my good mood.

Serena was back!