My mom jumped off a building, and her blood splattered on my face. My stepmom, heavily pregnant, collapsed into the pool of blood, sobbing, “Professor! I wronged you! I’ll return your husband to you! I’ll give him back to you!” With tear-filled eyes, my dad helped her up. “You’re carrying my child. Please, don’t harm yourself!” As I watched them embrace and cry, I suffered a heart attack and fell into my stepbrother’s arms. My stepbrother, unsure how to comfort me, said, “The departed can’t return. You need to accept and find peace.” I pressed my face against my stepbrother’s chest, hiding the hatred etched on my own. Years later, as I looked at my former stepmom’s body, carrying my stepbrother’s child, I repeated the same words to him. “The departed can’t return. Brother, you need to accept and find peace!” 1. Six months after my stepmom moved in, all of my mom’s belongings suddenly vanished. I approached my stepmom, but before I could ask anything, she cried out, “Hazel, stop!” and collapsed, screaming. The door clicked open at that moment. I looked up and met my dad’s shocked eyes. My stepmom lay on the floor, clutching her pregnant belly with one hand and grabbing me with the other, crying desperately. “Hazel, wait until I give birth. You can do whatever you want to me, but please, spare the child inside me! He’s your dear brother! I’m begging you…” Her voice grew weaker, and a chill ran through my heart. “What are you talking about? I didn’t even touch you! It was you who…” “Hazel Bennett!” My dad’s shout interrupted me. He rushed over, picked up my sweating stepmom, and looked at me, gritting his teeth. “Last night, your aunt offered to organize your mom’s belongings so you could keep them safe. I agreed, but now…” He held my stepmom and walked out, instructing the nanny, “Chris! Throw away all of the previous Mrs. Bennett’s belongings! Don’t keep a single thing!” My mind was in turmoil as I lunged forward, pleading, “Dad, don’t! Don’t throw away mom’s things, they’re all I have left!” He turned to look at me. “Just because you have a heart condition, your stepmom has been extremely patient and careful with you, even while pregnant.” “And you?” “It’s because your mom didn’t raise you well that you’re so ungrateful and repay kindness with resentment!” Seeing me clutching my chest, struggling to breathe, he coldly said, “If this happens again, you’ll have to move out!” Dad hurried away, carrying my stepmom. I stood frozen, unable to move. What did I just hear? Dad wants to kick me out? He even said I’m ungrateful and repay kindness with resentment? I shivered with fear, suddenly lifting my head to watch their retreating figures. And as I looked up, I saw my stepmom’s face turn back. She leaned on my dad’s shoulder, moaning in pain, but her face showed a secretive, happy smile, mouthing the words to me: “Poor little wretch.” 2. That night, my stepmom gave birth to a healthy baby boy at the hospital. The next day, I was ordered to apologize to her. When only the two of us were left in the hospital room, she glanced at me and finally revealed a contemptuous and arrogant expression. “Aren’t you going to apologize?” “I didn’t push you! And I won’t apologize for a child who should never have existed!” “How can you call your own brother a child without legitimacy?” She said seriously, “Indeed, this child was conceived before your parents divorced, but now I’m your dad’s legitimate wife! He’s a legitimate son!” I gritted my teeth, “Do you remember my mom was your Professor?” “Of course, because your mom was my mentor, I should take better care of her husband and you!” I almost vomited, but she couldn’t suppress the smile on her face any longer, speaking ambiguously and with delight, “Otherwise, wouldn’t it be pitiful for him to have no woman to hold on long lonely nights?” She glanced at me, feigning surprise, covering her mouth in mock horror, “Oh! Sorry! I forgot you’re still a student. I shouldn’t talk about such inappropriate things…” She looked at me innocently and apologetically, then giggled. My hands and feet went cold. The dirtiest and most venomous insults were stuck in my throat, powerless in front of this devil. Before my stepmom could finish laughing, the door suddenly swung open. A tall boy with a backpack walked in. My stepmom hurriedly hid her expression and turned back with a very gentle smile, calling out to the newcomer, “Asher.” Asher, my stepmom and her ex-husband’s son. It’s said he’s never placed anything but first since birth. He’s only a high school sophomore, yet top 10 universities nationwide are already competing for him, and he’s even made a name for himself through entrepreneurship. When they first moved into my house, I glimpsed the corner of a box. It was filled with competition gold medals. Golden and dazzling, just like Asher is to my stepmom, a shining gold crown. It gives her confidence to be arrogant and radiant anytime, anywhere. —It’s so blinding. It makes one want to… rip it off her head! He put down a thermos, then glanced at me, “Why is she here?” My stepmom sighed, “It’s about that misunderstanding. Though Hazel pushed me, it’s still my fault. Your uncle insists she apologizes, but I said it’s unnecessary…” “Then you should leave. I don’t think my mom needs your apology.” Asher interrupted her. I looked up to meet his cold eyes, biting my lip, turning to the stepmom, “What about my mom’s belongings…” But I stopped, shoulders slumping, and mumbled softly, “Never mind.” 3. That night, after leaving the hospital, I went to the garbage dump in the residential area. After searching for two hours in the piles of garbage, Asher suddenly appeared. He scolded me for not being careful and disregarding my health. After scolding, he stayed to help me search through the trash. I don’t understand why he did this. We worked all night, only finding a broken photo frame. I took it, carefully wiping off the dirt. Inside the frame was a candid shot of my mom. That day she came to pick me up from school. But because of a small argument, I was sulking with her. So when I saw her at the school gate, I didn’t say a word, deliberately walking ahead with some classmates, laughing loudly. Only after parting with them did I casually look back. My mom was there, silent and gloomy, but she never lost sight of me, like a quiet shadow. But I knew she wasn’t my shadow; she was my guardian angel. Even when I was stubborn and often argued with her, she loved me deeply. Why did I always argue with her? Why was I so mean? I was a bad child. And it was for this bad child that she got so worried, easily believed that woman’s threats, and met such a tragic end! “Shouldn’t those things have been thrown away together in a bag? Why did we only find one frame?” What else could it be? Someone guessed I’d come looking, so they instructed the nanny to scatter the items separately. Even after just giving birth, my stepmom had the energy to assign tasks to the nanny. I sneered internally, but outwardly I just said, “If your aunt finds out you helped me search through trash, she won’t be pleased.” “My mom isn’t like that. She has already forgiven you for what happened yesterday, and we all believe you didn’t push her.” I glanced at him. Moonlight shone on the young man’s face. His expression was slightly indifferent, but his eyes held a faint concern. It’s strange how such a venomous stepmother could have such a child. Is he smart? He believes whatever his mom says. Is he dumb? Yet he seems destined for greatness, a super genius. I guess, until the baby grows up, Asher will always be the golden crown on my stepmom’s head, won’t he? He might even shine brighter, making her more audacious. I thought about this and suddenly grabbed Asher’s sleeve. “Brother.” He looked at me in surprise. They had lived in my house for six months, and I had never called him brother. But I kept my head down, looking at the photo of my mom, gently saying, “It doesn’t matter if others believe me or not, as long as you do.” I called him “Brother” again. Asher smiled, patting my head like a real brother, affectionately calling me, “Hazel.” 4. That weekend, the garbage trucks hauled away all the trash, ending our garbage mountain ordeal. During this time, thanks to my stepmom’s “special instructions,” Asher accompanied me almost every night to sneak out in search of those scattered belongings. We searched through the trash in the silent nights, pretending not to know each other during the day. While my stepmom was in the hospital, she often had my dad call me there. She claimed it was to let me see my brother more and bond with him. But whenever we were alone, she’d keep telling me, “The family’s estate will all belong to your brother~” She’d also say, “If you could be a good nanny to my little son and let him ride you like a horse, I’ll let him give you some money as a dowry in the future, how about that?” Seeing her so high and mighty, with a smug and wild expression, I’d always “tremble with rage.” Only after she had her fill of flaunting and bullying would I sling my bag and leave the hospital. She didn’t know that while she was “mentally abusing” me, her most prized son, Asher, waited for me at the hospital entrance. He didn’t seem to like his newborn brother much, spending little time in the hospital room. But he’d wait for me downstairs for a long time. “What’s so fun about the kid? You never want to leave.” He thought I liked that brat. I’d look at him with a smile and nod, saying he’s cute. Every time, Asher would shake his head, unable to understand. Then he’d take me out to eat, visit bookstores, and even go to shops girls like, letting me pick whatever I wanted. He’d tell me not to save his money. “I’ve already made quite a bit, don’t tell my mom.” He looked somewhat proud, and I’d happily swipe his card. He’s so good to me, more and more like a brother who dotes on his sister. [Are kids really that fun? You always seem reluctant to leave.] He assumed I liked that little rascal. I always smiled at him, nodding and saying, “Adorable.” Whenever I did, Asher would shake his head, looking puzzled. Then he’d take me out to eat, visit bookstores, and even go to jewelry stores that girls love. He’d tell me to buy whatever I liked. “Don’t try to save money for me.” He looked a bit smug, and I delightedly used his card. He treated me so well, more and more like a brother who dotes on his sister. This also meant that the leverage I had was increasing. When I spent most of his savings on a luxury watch for myself, he was displeased. “The diamonds are too small. I’ll get you a better one next time.” I touched the watch, blushing and smiling. Because… the moment had arrived! — On the day my stepmom returned arrogantly with the little brat, I “coincidentally” got bullied by some mean girls at the school gate. I twisted my ankle when I fell, was covered in bruises, and couldn’t walk. What to do? Call my brother. Seeing my sorry state made him furious. He asked who did it, but I wouldn’t say. So, he carried me to the hospital. After a series of checks, medication, and ice packs, it was quite late. When we got out of the car at the residential area gate, I wanted to hop back home myself. But Asher scolded me, so I let him carry me. As we got closer to home, I pretended to be “nervous.” “What if my aunt gets upset seeing you carrying me?” “Why would she? What do you think my mom is like?” Asher laughed, “You just don’t know her, that’s why you’re scared. She’s actually very simple and kind.” I felt a bit queasy but held onto his neck tighter, nuzzling his shoulder affectionately. “I trust you, brother.” A few minutes later. In the villa living room. Asher carried me into my stepmom’s sight. The table full of dishes had long gone cold. Stepmom sat in front of the empty table, staring at our close figures in disbelief, her expression almost terrifying. Asher paused, “What’s going on?” “Don’t you know tonight is your brother’s one-month celebration?” Stepmom’s voice was extremely strained, like a string about to snap. “I waited for you for three hours. Why are you back so late?” Asher frowned, “Waiting for me? You should’ve eaten. Hazel sprained her ankle today, so I took her to the hospital for a check-up. Thankfully, there was no fracture… I need to find out who pushed her when I go to school tomorrow…” Adding fuel to the fire. As I almost laughed out loud, stepmom finally slammed the table, nearly shouting, “Today is your brother’s one-month celebration! Your own brother!!!” The baby in the crib was startled and started crying. But Asher frowned, “Mom, what do you mean? Of course, Guoguo is my brother, but Hazel is also my sister. Her injury is obviously more important than some inconsequential one-month celebration.” I laughed heartily inside. Stepmom shook with anger, pointing at him, “Inconsequential? Are you out of your mind? Can’t even tell who’s close or distant…” She glared at me with red eyes, and I quickly hid my hand on Asher’s shoulder in a panic. The light from the watch flickered briefly. Stepmom’s expression froze as she sharply said, “What is that?!” I ‘trembled slightly’ on Asher’s back, not daring to speak. Stepmom stormed over, ignoring Asher’s retreat, aggressively grabbing my hand. The delicately beautiful watch appeared in front of her eyes, but the next second, Asher turned around and dodged. “Mom! What are you doing? I bought the watch for Hazel!” “You bought her a watch? You only gave your brother a silver bracelet worth a few hundred bucks since he was born, but you bought her a watch worth tens of thousands?!” Stepmom’s eyes were red, and she screamed, “Asher, are you crazy?!” Certainly! Here’s the adapted translation: — I curled up on Asher’s back, trembling, but I was smiling inside. Asher was tense and about to speak when footsteps suddenly echoed from upstairs. It was my dad coming down. The conflict abruptly ceased.
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