In the end, everything was always my fault.
Years ago, I naively believed that if I just worked hard enough, I could earn my parents’ love.
So I pushed myself to be the top of my class.
I threw myself into business ventures and investments.
But all of my efforts combined still couldn’t compete with Eric calling out “Mom, Dad” in his sweet voice.
Fortunately, I grew up.
I found the courage to fight back.
When Mrs. Smith once again swung her platinum handbag at my head, I slapped her hand away.
“Leave in five minutes, or see you in court.”
The sharp sting stunned her into silence for a moment.
But when she recovered, she became even more hysterical.
She yanked my hair and screamed,
“You’re kicking me out? You’re really kicking me out?”
“I carried you for ten months, raised you with so much effort, and this is how you repay me? You ungrateful little bastard! Instead of letting you trample me, I might as well kill you right now!”
In her rage, my mother grabbed a vase and hurled it at me.
Just as the crystal ornament came flying toward me, a familiar figure stepped in front of me.
“Mrs. Smith, I already told you—Daniel Smith has nothing to do with your family anymore.”
“If you dare to bully my fiancé again, I won’t hesitate to use certain means to make you pay.”
Looking at Olivia White’s back as she shielded me, my nose stung.
All my life, I had longed for this moment—for someone to stand in front of me when I was beaten and helpless.
But now, as I watched Olivia’s back, my heart felt only bitterness.
Because before she stepped forward, I had already smelled it—the lingering scent of Eric’s cologne on her.
Still, it was Olivia who got rid of the problem.
After my mother stormed off, she knelt down to tend to my wounds.
When she saw the bruises and blood, she frowned.
“Daniel, why are you so foolish? When others hurt you, don’t you ever think to fight back?”
“I’m used to it,” I replied flatly.
Used to being bullied.
Used to being mocked.
Used to comforting myself with clumsy lies.
Olivia’s hand stilled for a moment before she gently pulled me into her arms.
“Don’t be afraid. From now on, I’ll protect you. I won’t let you suffer even the slightest grievance again.”
I gave a faint, indifferent smile without answering, though in my heart, I already knew the truth.
After this episode passed, the wedding proceeded as planned.
But on the eve of the ceremony, a series of explicit photos exploded online.
My fiancée, Olivia White, and my younger brother, Eric Smith.
In my own car, lost in their passion.
The footage had been captured by a nearby surveillance camera.
The timestamp: July 19, 10:35 a.m.
Exactly ten minutes after Olivia had hugged me and promised she would protect me forever.
In an instant, Olivia and Eric were thrown into the eye of a storm.
At the company headquarters, outside the mansion—reporters swarmed everywhere.
Reading the countless reports online, I only felt exhausted.
It was as if, over the past ten years, I had never truly known Olivia.
All I had possessed was an empty shell.
At that moment, I no longer cared about anything else.
My mind was consumed with one thought: how to protect my own interests.
