The ashes of my little brother Evan were dug up and devoured by the Teddy that Garrett—the scholarship student my mom had been sponsoring for five years—brought to our house. My dad clutched the empty urn, sobbing so hard his whole body shook. He nearly passed out. Through his tears, he gripped my hand and asked me: “Aria, would you be willing to go somewhere far away with Dad?” My mom rolled her eyes while holding Garrett, then laughed coldly. “What nonsense are you spouting now? You’ve been sitting at home for ten years with no job and no money. Without me, how would you survive?” She patted Garrett’s back, her tone dismissive. “Don’t worry, Garrett. Don’t feel guilty. It’s just a box of ashes. Worst case, I’ll buy him a new urn.” Garrett leaned against my mom and pouted. “Exactly. You’re being so petty, sir. The dog doesn’t know any better. Is it really that big a deal?” That evening, Garrett ordered my dad around like a servant. “Go wash my dog’s paws. They got dirty from stepping in those ashes today.” My dad said nothing. He fed the dog that had eaten the ashes some medicine. That night, my mom went crazy and broke down my dad’s bedroom door, pointing at his nose and cursing. “Did you poison it? How can your heart be so vicious? Evan is dead and gone, but that dog was Garrett’s everything!” “It’s just a box of ashes! Are you going to hold a grudge forever? Are you even a man?!” My dad didn’t respond. He just turned and closed the door. I pressed my ear to the door and heard him speaking into his phone: “Within three days, destroy Victoria Lane’s company. Leave her and that ungrateful scholarship student with nothing.” I suddenly remembered that ten years ago, when my mom was just a low-level employee making three thousand a month, my dad was already a top expert in the industry. He’d been in retirement for ten years—not because he was incapable, but because he wanted to give us a family. Now that the family was gone, he was going to take back everything that belonged to him and make everyone who killed his son pay in blood. **1** That evening, Mom came to the room with some medicine. Dad was lying on his side with his back to her. I knew Dad wasn’t asleep, but he squeezed my hand, signaling me to stay quiet. Mom put the medicine on the nightstand, her voice low. “Dominic, I’m sorry…” Dad never turned over. I peeked at him with one eye—he wasn’t crying. In the past, when Mom did this, Dad would stay silent for a long time. Mom sighed, sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, then got up and left. But I knew Dad would never forgive her now. Earlier, that man on the phone had asked Dad if he was really sure, and Dad had only said: “You should have the patent transfer contract ready.” Mom didn’t know Dad was leaving. I didn’t understand why Mom liked Garrett. Garrett was a scholarship student Dad had sponsored. Dad had brought him out of the mountains. Dad told me: “Garrett is very pitiful. If Dad didn’t help him, he would have been sold.” I didn’t understand what “sold” meant, but I knew Dad must have really cared about him. At first, Mom really hated Garrett and fought with Dad many times about it. She said Garrett had a strange smell. Dad always protected Garrett, saying gently: “Victoria, it wasn’t easy for Garrett to make it out of the mountain region. We should help when we can.” Until one day Dad and I came home early from a trip. The house reeked of a sour, fishy smell, with clothes scattered everywhere. Dad’s footsteps stopped. He stood in the entryway, frozen in place like he’d been nailed to the floor. His hand was ice cold, but when he pushed open the bedroom door and saw Garrett and Mom in bed together, he suddenly laughed. The laugh was soft and brief, like something shattering on the ground. At first Mom said she’d had too much to drink. Later she said: “You’re just a house husband who never goes to work. I’m the only one supporting the company, and I’m exhausted too. But Garrett can help me. Do you understand?” In the past, when Dad heard this, he would go silent for a long time. But today, Dad just looked at Mom calmly and said: “Then you two better make sure you keep the company running.” Suddenly there was a sound of beads falling in the walk-in closet, followed by Garrett’s startled cry. Mom’s head snapped up and she rushed over. Dad stood up, a determination in his eyes I’d never seen before. He patted me. “Aria, wait here for Dad.” Then he got out of bed, turned on the light, and walked toward the closet. I followed him. Dad needed Aria with him. Aria couldn’t leave Dad alone. Garrett was clutching Mom’s sleeve, looking aggrieved. “I thought this sandalwood bracelet was beautiful, but it broke as soon as I put it on… I’m so scared, Victoria, I’m scared…” Mom kicked the remaining beads on the floor away. “What a piece of junk! Get away from me!” One bead rolled to my feet. I picked it up. It was Grandpa’s keepsake to Dad. Dad had pawned it years ago to start Mom’s company, and later Mom had redeemed it for him. Back then, Mom had put it on Dad’s wrist herself, her eyes full of smiles. “Dominic, forever and always. My feelings will never change.” Dad picked up one bead and put it in his pocket. I saw him turn on his phone’s video recording. **2** Dad held up the bead in his hand, his voice heavy. “Victoria, do you really not recognize what this is anymore?” Mom glanced impatiently at the beads on the floor, then her expression suddenly froze. Dad said slowly, word by word: “This was my father’s keepsake.” Mom let go of Garrett, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face. But Garrett suddenly extended his hand, pointing to a barely visible red mark on his wrist. “Victoria, this bracelet hurt my hand… It hurts so much.” Mom looked down at him, and the hesitation in her eyes instantly vanished. She helped Garrett up and walked toward the door, shouting outside. “Butler! Call 911!” As she passed Dad, she coldly dropped a line. “It’s just a keepsake. When people die, their light goes out. Why are you fixating on a dead object?” I walked over and held Dad’s hand. His hand was trembling slightly. But I saw he was smiling. He wiped away the moisture at the corner of his eyes, as if unloading a very heavy burden. Then he sent the recorded video to that man. “In three days, release this video.” That night, Dad coaxed me to sleep. I kept clutching his sleeve, afraid he’d disappear while I was asleep. Near dawn, Mom suddenly pushed the door open. She pulled me from the bed and started to drag me away. Dad took a big stride and blocked her path in front of me. “What are you doing?!” Mom frowned, her tone impatient. “Don’t you know? Garrett was hurt by that broken bracelet of yours and had to be hospitalized. His pet dog was also killed by you, and now there’s no one to keep him company. He’s making a scene at the hospital.” “I’m sending Aria to keep him entertained.” Dad shielded me behind him. “I told you, that dog’s death has nothing to do with me. And besides—” He stared at Mom intently. “Even if I did kill it, what right do you have to blame me? It ate my child’s ashes. Those were the ashes of your own biological child, his last trace in this world.” Mom’s eyes flickered, but she quickly resumed her impatient expression. Her tone softened as she walked to Dad’s side. “Dominic, I know I was wrong…” But the instant Dad was distracted, she suddenly grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the door. “Why are you bringing up old grievances? Garrett said the urn spilled by itself, and the dog just ate what it saw on the floor.” “Are you really going to hold a grudge against a dog? Be good, give me Aria. Garrett can’t be left alone!” Dad gripped my other hand tightly. “No! I won’t allow it!” Mom pulled harder, and I felt like a rope being yanked from both ends. My arm hurt so much I couldn’t help crying out. “Dad, it hurts… Mom’s hurting me…” Dad saw my face turn pale with pain, and his eyes reddened. Mom took advantage of his loosened grip in that instant, pulled me over, and dragged me toward the door. I bit down hard on Mom’s arm. “You’re a bad person! Let me go! I want Dad!” Mom cried out in pain and let go of me. I turned and ran back to Dad. Dad crouched down and held me tightly in his arms. Mom took another step forward. Dad blocked me behind him and didn’t back down. I grabbed Dad’s sleeve and said softly. “Dad, it’s okay. Aria will come back. Aria wants to leave with Dad.” **3** Mom shoved me into the car and spent the whole ride complaining about Dad and me. “I’m just asking you to visit Garrett at the hospital, it’s not like I’m killing you. What’s with your dad putting on that act…” I didn’t respond, turning to look out the window instead. All the decorations in the car had changed. The elegant sandalwood ornament Dad had chosen was gone, replaced by strong rose-scented diffusers. The sun visor even had several photos of Garrett clipped to it. Mom drove aggressively. At a turn, something slid down from the back seat. In the streetlight, I could see clearly—it was a men’s dress shirt. Mom glanced at it and frowned at me. “Don’t go through things that aren’t yours.” At the hospital, Garrett was lying in bed with a healthy flush, playing on his phone, surrounded by a circle of doctors. One doctor said carefully to Mom: “Ms. Lane, we’ve checked three times. There’s really nothing wrong with Mr. Garrett…” Mom’s face was cold. “Then why does Garrett still have a headache?” Garrett looked up from his phone screen at just the right moment, looking at Mom. “Victoria… my head… it hurts so much.” The doctor wiped his sweat and could only say: “It might be psychological.” I looked at Mom and asked: “Didn’t you tell Dad that people aren’t that fragile? Why are you so worried just because Garrett has a headache?” Mom’s face flushed with embarrassment, and she scolded me harshly. “How can your dad compare to Garrett? After all, Garrett was upset by your father. He’s so upset he has psychological trauma!” “You stay here and atone for your father’s sins.” Garrett waved at me, forcing a smile. “Aria, come here. Come to me.” I had just walked to the bedside when he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed on the bed, motionless. Mom slapped me across the face. My ear rang with a buzzing sound as she screamed. “What did you do to Garrett?!” My head was buzzing and spinning. She grabbed my shoulders and shook me violently. “Speak! What did you do to Garrett?!” But from the corner of my eye, I could clearly see Garrett lying in bed opening his eyes and making a face at me. I said: “I didn’t do anything. He’s faking it.” “Nonsense!” Mom slapped me again and said harshly. “You’re so vicious at such a young age! Garrett has already been hurt this badly by you, and you still dare to slander him!” “Someone! Drag this brat out and beat her until she admits her fault!” Garrett’s lips curved into a triumphant smile, but Mom seemed completely blind to it. The bodyguard hesitated and didn’t move. Mom yelled at him. “Didn’t you hear me say to beat her? If something happens, it’s on me. I’m her biological mother—what are you afraid of!” The bodyguard could only step forward. He sighed. “Poor child…” Fists and kicks rained down on me. I curled into a ball, feeling nauseous. After Mom’s two slaps, my ears felt like they were stuffed with cotton. All sounds were muffled, and there was a drumming sound in my head. I felt something warm flowing out of my ear. I reached up to wipe it, and my palm was covered in bright red blood. A familiar figure rushed down the corridor. It was Dad. He was wearing a sharp suit, looking like a completely different person as he ran toward me with long strides. “Aria!” He pushed the bodyguard aside and pulled me up from the floor. Behind him were a dozen men in black suits who quickly restrained the bodyguard. “Dad…” I grabbed his sleeve. “I feel awful…”
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