Julia released me, her tone softening slightly.
"Joseph, it breaks my heart to see either of you upset."
"Your mother isn't coming back anyway. It's just a worthless painting. Why not let Neil have it? If you really want one, I'll buy you a hundred copies later. How does that sound?"
I grabbed the glass of water from the table and smashed it against Julia's head without hesitation.
"No deal."
Blood trickled down Julia's forehead. Neil shrieked and rushed over, shoving me hard.
"Who do you think you are, hitting people?! It's just a painting! Fine, we don't want it anymore—take it back!"
The scroll suddenly unraveled in his hands.
Riiip—
The sacred Madonna portrait tore in half.
One piece remained in my grasp.
The other half—Neil tossed it into the fish tank beside us.
"Oh no, I... I didn't mean to..."
I ignored him and lunged toward the tank, fishing out the ruined half.
The pigments had already bled beyond recognition. It could never be restored.
I couldn't even protect the last thing my mother left me.
My heart felt shredded. Tears dripped onto the floor.
Something flickered in Julia's eyes—almost like pity—and she shot Neil a reproachful glance.
"Joseph..."
Neil seemed to remember something and quickly grabbed a bowl from the coffee table, thrusting it toward me.
"Here, this is a folk remedy I found for you. They say it prevents all kinds of diseases. Drink it and forgive me, okay?"
The black liquid inside reeked of rot. I could make out the corpses of scorpions and maggots floating in it.
I snatched the bowl and hurled it at Neil.
"You want my forgiveness? Over your dead body."
The liquid had long gone cold.
But Neil clutched his arm and screamed.
"Ahhh, it burns!"
My stepmother rushed over. Seeing the commotion, she yanked up Neil's sleeve. His arm was covered in red welts.
The two exchanged a glance. Then she pulled Neil into her arms and burst into tears.
"Oh, my poor baby! Why do you bother caring about that ungrateful wretch? When has he ever treated you like a brother?!"
"You've always had such delicate skin. What if it scars? Daughter-in-law, are you just going to stand there and watch your husband get bullied?!"
Julia looked at me, disappointment flooding her eyes. She closed them briefly, then spoke in a low voice.
"Bring a basin of boiling water."
At her signal, the bodyguard beside her forced me to the ground, pinning me face-down.
A basin of scalding water was placed before my eyes. The steam was so intense I couldn't keep them open.
Dread flooded through me.
"Julia, what are you doing?!"
She gazed down at me from above.
"Joseph, you've repeatedly spurned Neil's kindness and hurt him. There has to be a price."
Guessing her intent, I struggled with everything I had.
"That bowl was already cold! Neil and his mother are putting on an act—can't you see that?!"
At my words, Neil immediately started wiping his tears.
"You bully me and target me, fine—but Julia has been so good to you. How can you bear to lie to her?!"
"You think I'm not hurt enough? Fine. I'll scald myself with the boiling water right now. Consider it payment for your mother's painting!"
He had barely lifted his foot toward the basin when Julia pulled him into her arms.
"Neil, you're just too innocent. That's why he's always framing you, always hurting you. I believe you."
Neil sniffled pitifully.
"Actually... the little princess of the elite circle is so obsessed with looks. If we ruin his skin with boiling water, maybe that's a good thing? Maybe she won't want to touch him anymore. At least he won't catch any diseases from her."
