"Was it fun? Five years of lies—was that fun?"
I ripped off my hat and mask, lunging forward to grab his sleeve.
"Tell me! When have I ever been wasteful? Why did you all have to torture me like this?"
Panic flashed in my brother's eyes. He looked around, embarrassed, and gripped me firmly.
"There are too many people here. Let's go outside."
"Who needs to hide from the public eye? It's you!" I wrenched my arm free, my face burning red, and screamed hysterically, "You and Mom and Dad—working together to deceive me! Telling me the family went bankrupt, that we owed money, telling me you were testing haunted houses!
"But in reality? They were traveling abroad, and you came home every day to relax! The only one suffering all this time… was me!"
My control snapped. Tears poured down my face.
"Shane… why? Can't you tell me why? I beg you! What does it matter if our family has billions and I spend one thousand on a phone?"
His expression darkened.
"No wonder you asked me that this afternoon. So you overheard me calling Mom and Dad."
He grabbed my wrist again, this time with force, trying to drag me out of the restaurant.
A waiter rushed over, holding me back.
"Ma'am, you haven't paid yet—your meal is five hundred dollars!"
My brother froze for a moment, then his brow furrowed.
"Why did you order such an expensive meal? Don't you know how hard it is to earn money?"
All eyes turned toward me. He deliberately delayed, letting my face drain of color before I finally swiped the card.
Outside, Charlene's voice added fuel to the fire, "Lily, your parents and brother meant well. They're just trying to teach you a lesson—don't be ungrateful!"
"What does that have to do with you?" I snapped, fury boiling in my chest.
I yanked my hand free from my brother's grasp and slapped Charlene across the face.
She shrieked, clutching her cheek in shock.
The next second, my brother returned the slap—right to me.
"Lily, is this really necessary? If you hadn't been so vain, would our parents and I have done this? These five years were hard for you, and you think we had it easy? You even dare lay a hand on someone else! Maybe your punishment still isn't enough!"
I froze, listening to his cold, relentless voice. My heart felt dead inside.
After a long moment, I lifted my eyes and sneered, my voice dripping with mockery.
"Not enough? Fine. Then take my life. Is that enough?"
"You're still speaking recklessly!"
His gaze turned cold. He called the driver over and shoved me into the car.
Tears streamed down my face, yet I laughed bitterly.
"Go home? Which home?"
He didn't look at me once. He pulled out his phone and called our parents.
"Come back. Yes… Lily knows now.
"I didn't say anything! She overheard herself!"
He slammed the phone down in frustration, his aura dark and oppressive.
When he looked at me, his eyes were full of impatience.
"And you still have the nerve to cry? I've suffered alongside you for five years, and in the end, I'm the one getting scolded. What exactly are you crying about? Stop acting like you've been the one wronged!"
I couldn't speak. I let him berate me all the way to the old villa. I hadn't been back for five years. Stepping inside again, all I felt was alienation.
The stabbing pain in my stomach surged. I couldn't hold it and vomited black blood.
In my panic, I tried to wipe it away. My brother saw, but only sneered coldly.
"Using props to gain sympathy, huh? Trying to make me feel guilty? Wait 'til Mom and Dad are back. This little act won't work on me."
