Burning the Patents of Betrayal

Chuck's arrogance made me sick to my stomach.

I swallowed my rage and hardened my expression.

"No matter what you say, you're still nothing but a pathetic homewrecker. Even if Julie and I get divorced, it won't be your turn."

Chuck's face went dark instantly.

Without warning, he shoved a pair of scissors into my hand and let out a bloodcurdling scream.

"Adam, I swear I won't touch Julie again! I'll leave right now. Please don't kill me!"

At almost the exact same moment, Julie charged forward and kicked me away.

"Stop! Don't you dare lay a finger on Chuck!"

My sister heard the commotion and ran out, snapping at me.

"Adam, even if you're jealous of Chuck, you don't need to try to kill him!"

Even my own sister—my own flesh and blood—was convinced I had hurt him. My heart turned even colder.

"He set this up himself! I didn't touch him at all!"

But the look in Julie's eyes only grew more disgusted.

"How can you be so cruel? And you're still trying to blame Chuck!"

My sister glared at me like I was her enemy.

I was about to speak again when Chuck suddenly cried out in pain.

Panicked, Julie and my sister rushed him into an ambulance, dragging me along with them.

Just then, my father-in-law and mother-in-law arrived.

The second they saw me, they flew into a rage and slapped me twice across the face.

My usually gentle mother-in-law was now grinding her teeth, pointing at my nose as she cursed.

"Chuck gave us our first grandson! If you cause any more trouble, I'll have you thrown out of the family to beg on the streets!"

Julie's parents had watched me grow up. They were like a second set of parents to me.

Who would have thought that twenty years of history couldn't compete with an outsider?

"I didn't touch Chuck—he's not even injured—"

"Adam, you're still lying! The doctor said Chuck is seriously hurt—he needs a kidney transplant!"

My sister burst in, cutting me off.

At that, my mother-in-law viciously lashed out, kicking toward my groin.

"I always knew you had bad intentions! Since you're useless yourself, you can't stand seeing Chuck do well! You've been with Julie for years—if you could have gotten her pregnant, we wouldn't need Chuck at all! It's your fault for being worthless!"

My sister's face was full of anger and disappointment.

"This is attempted assault. I've already called the cops—you can rot in prison! A criminal brother like you isn't worth having!"