Kathryn held his hand shyly. “I noticed Stacy’s neck. I’ll find some necklaces I haven’t worn and give them to her.
My tone stayed calm. “No. I think they’re dirty.”
Kathryn’s face darkened. “What do you mean by that?”
I lifted my eyes and looked at her blankly. “You know exactly what I mean.”
If that accident hadn’t happened, my brother would be the one standing proud today.
Instead, he became like a child—and that pain had never left me.
But life went on and in the quiet of night, people let themselves feel a hidden relief.
I was grateful that my brother left me two people who felt more like real family than blood relatives.
The night before I left for college, Oliver kept promising he would take good care of my brother.
In my desperation, I clung to his words like a lifeline.
At first, he was perfect. It was as if he wanted to give me all the love my brother could no longer give.
He flew to my city every two weeks, afraid I might suffer even a little.
Knowing I feared thunderstorms, he would drive hundreds of kilometers in the rain just to stay in my dormitory.
"Stacy, when it snows for the first time, we will have a wedding. I will make you the most beautiful bride in the world."
Our home was warm as spring all year round, but the winter was extremely cold.
The weather forecast said there would be a once-in-50-year snowfall on Christmas Day.
I secretly bought a ticket home to give them a surprise.
But when I opened the door, I was shocked to see my skinny brother was chained.
And in front of him, there were two naked bodies intertwined.
I felt like I was falling into an ice cave, trembling all over and couldn't help but feel like vomiting.
I didn’t know whether I was angrier about how they treated my brother—or about how they betrayed me.
Two of the most important family members in my life betrayed me.
My mind went blank, but my brother saw me first.
The 1.8 meter tall man curled up and handed a dirty piece of bread in front of me. "Stacy, eat..."
Tears burst instantly and I rushed over like crazy.
I roared and pulled Kathryn's hair with all my strength.
Kathryn suddenly screamed and dropped to her knees. “Stacy, I know you’re angry. I’m sorry—for you and for Marion.”
“But I’m not even thirty. I don’t want to spend my whole life taking care of someone with a child’s mind.”
I had been ready to let her go, yet she kept insisting she would never leave us. So what did she really want?
"Oliver and I truly love each other and I will not compete with you for Mrs. Hurley's position."
"I will take good care of your brother, but please let me stay with Oliver."
"The four of us will always be together, okay?"
Once, my brother shielded me from every storm. But this was the first time I faced the cruelty of people on my own.
I raised my hand to strike, but Oliver shoved me away.
My brother, terrified, burst into tears—and still, driven by instinct, he slammed his small body against the iron chain again and again.
He broke his ankle but managed to free himself. Dragging his injured leg, he spread his arms and protected me with everything he had.
Then the wooden bench Oliver swung came crashing down on his head. Warm blood covered my hands.
Panicked, I reached for my phone to call for help. Oliver calmly put on his clothes, then crushed my phone under his foot.
I had seen him playful, guilty, even troubled before— but never with eyes this cold and cruel.
"If you want this fool to live, just be obedient and shut your mouth!"
