Chapter 3

Martha carefully carried a steaming bowl of medicine over, desperate pleading etched into every wrinkle around her eyes.

"Sweetheart, drink your medicine. Dr. Lee said this blend improves blood circulation and helps your nerves recover. It's good for your legs."

I glanced coldly at the dark liquid, then swung my arm with all my might.

"I'm not drinking it!"

The scalding liquid splashed across Martha's hand before she could pull back, making her gasp in sharp agony.

Her calloused skin turned bright red instantly, blistering within seconds.

"Well, well, look at this family drama," Brenda chimed in, leaning against the doorframe while cracking sunflower seeds. "Old woman, I told you so. You're just begging to be humiliated."

Trembling with pain, Martha didn't even look at her own burned hand; she immediately checked on me.

"Sweetheart, did it burn you? Are you hurt?"

Brenda rolled her eyes and reached up toward the top of the closet to grab Martha's change tin, accidentally knocking over a heavy wooden chest beside it.

The crate tumbled toward my head. Without a second thought, Martha threw herself over me, shielding me with her own body.

With a sickening thud, she crumpled, her forehead slamming against the sharp edge of the bed frame. Blood welled up instantly from a deep gash.

Panting, she glared up at Brenda in pure fury.

"Brenda! Can't you be careful?! What if that hit her?!"

"If it crushed her to death, it would've saved you the trouble of dragging a useless burden around. Why keep a cripple alive anyway?"

Martha lay collapsed beside the mattress, too weak to sit upright, yet she forced herself to look up at me.

"Did... did it hit you...?"

I looked away, turning to Brenda instead.

"Brenda, are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

Brenda didn't even glance back at me, busily stuffing the loose cash into her pockets.

"At least you've got some sense, kid. But this pocket change isn't gonna cut it."

"There's a pair of silver bangles in the wooden trunk under Grandma's bed," I said casually. "They came from her bridal dowry. They should fetch some cash."

[WHAT DID SHE JUST SAY?! The silver bangles?! How dare she! Those are family heirlooms her grandma kept for decades!]

[The old lady literally threw herself over you to take the blow, you heartless psycho! Her hand is covered in bloody blisters right now!]

[Your aunt is literally wishing you dead, and you're helping her rob your own grandma?! Grandma, run! Get the hell away from this monster!]

[She's bleeding from the head and her first instinct was to check on you. You don't deserve her!]

[Someone shake this paralyzed girl awake! Are you brain-dead too?! Giving everything to that leech?!]

Brenda immediately dropped to her knees to rummage under the bed. The battered old woman threw herself across the floor, desperately trying to stop her.

"No! You can't take those! That's the emergency money for her food and medicine! That's our lifeline!"

"Your pathetic lives aren't worth shit."

Brenda snatched the bangles away. Martha clung desperately to the hem of Brenda's pants, weeping and begging her to leave the jewelry for me.

"Keep testing me, old hag," Brenda sneered, kicking her off. "Once you kick the bucket, I'll take my sweet time torturing your precious granddaughter. I'll make her beg for death. I'll snap her arms, gouge out her eyes, and dump her on the street corner like a pile of rotting meat to beg for pennies."

Martha's grip slowly slipped away, the light in her eyes dying completely.

Three years ago, Brenda had used that exact threat against me to force her way into our home and live off us.

Back then, my legs hadn't been completely numb yet.

The live stream chat went into overdrive, shooting straight to the top of the platform's trending list.

[So that's why she's harboring that parasite... It's all to protect her ungrateful granddaughter! She's terrified of what'll happen to the girl once she's gone. I'm crying...]

[She works herself to the bone, takes beatings and abuse, all for a granddaughter who kisses the feet of a cold-blooded monster. This poor woman...]

[Wait, SHE'S SMILING! Look at the screenshot! The paralyzed girl is smiling!]

[Her grandmother is the only one who truly loves her! The aunt is an absolute monster! Why the hell is she catering to the monster?! What is going on here?!]

[Can someone please explain this to me?! Why? Why is she acting like this?!]

Go on, keep screaming. Keep cursing me.

In a few days, every single one of you will know the truth.