Chapter 3

When Brandon rushed in,

He saw Stella with glass shards embedded in her chest, bleeding profusely.

She had collapsed to the ground.

At that moment, I understood her intention.

The next second, a slap, carried by the wind, landed on my face.

Along with it, Brandon's furious scolding.

"The police were right, you really are sick! Attacking someone the moment you walk in!"

Even then, Stella didn't forget to act.

She clutched his sleeve, falsely pleading.

"Don't blame him, it's my fault. I shouldn't have offered to bathe him..."

Hearing that, Brandon's eyes blazed with fury.

While bandaging her, he pointed to the door.

"Get out! You lunatic deserve to rot to death with your mother!"

I clenched my fists, looking up to meet his gaze.

"Sir, why don't you ask how she really got hurt?"

He looked as if he'd heard something hilarious, twisting his head sharply.

"Do you really think she'd stab herself just to frame you?"

I stared at Stella's gradually paling face.

I completely understood.

This Brandon was like all the others; he didn't believe me.

Then, I'd just have to find my grandpa.

Mom was right.

Most people in this world, no matter the truth, only believe what they see with their own eyes.

That's why they called Mom a thief, a liar, even cursed her as a slut.

But Mom wasn't.

Yet I lowered my eyes again, conceding and apologizing one more time.

"I'm sorry, sir. Please hit me again if you want, just don't be angry with me."

I offered my bruised, blood-stained face to him.

He froze for a moment, then shoved me hard, turning his head away.

But his voice softened slightly.

"You really are your mother's son, you've completely learned her trick of sticking a knife in someone's back then offering a sweet treat..."

I didn't understand what he meant.

I just knew that showing weakness appropriately could achieve my goals faster.

Ignoring the pain throughout my body, I struggled to get up, tugged at his sleeve, and asked very carefully:

"Does my Grandpa Harrison live here?"

Almost simultaneously, the door opened.

A white-haired old man stood at the entrance, his features somewhat resembling Mom's.

A surge of joy welled up in my heart.

I couldn't help but step forward, but then I heard him speak coldly.

"I am not your grandpa! Don't try to claim kinship!"

"Did that bitch die, and she sent you back to deliver the news?"

Doctor Auntie told me.

The hardest bond to sever in this world is the blood tie between parents and children.

It was true for Mom and me, and for Mom and Grandpa too.

But Grandpa didn't want to acknowledge me.

Suddenly, I felt a little wronged.

Not for myself, but for Mom.

Remembering Mom's instructions, I straightened my back and called out again.

"Grandpa, my name is Leo..."

"Shut up!"

Along with the words, his cane came crashing down.

*Thump!*

It felt like my forehead had been split open. I finally couldn't bear it, and knelt down in pain.

Brandon reached out his hand, but quickly pulled it back.

Stella huddled in his arms, struggling to suppress a laugh.

"Where did this bastard come from, how dare he call me grandpa! Tell Clara Harrison, I cut off all ties with her! We are no longer father and daughter!"

"Don't let any random stray come and defile my Harrison family!"

Grandpa clenched his fist and coughed violently a few times.

After coughing, he didn't forget to spit at me.

I stared blankly at his face, filled with hatred, then at Brandon, who had been watching coldly.

It was a sudden realization.

Mom had lied to me.

Neither Brandon nor Grandpa Harrison liked me.

I lowered my head, digging my fingernails into my already raw palms.

The blood from my forehead, mixed with tears, dripped one by one onto my lap.

Seeing me cry, Grandpa grew even angrier.