Raise the Fake, Reward the Real

I worked for the entire night.

I had just fallen asleep right before dawn broke on the horizon when I was jolted awake.

Ethan slapped me hard across the face and exclaimed, "Mom and Dad want to throw a party for me to celebrate that I'm furthering my studies. I want you to head over to the villa on the mountaintop and start decorating right now."

I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth. I was just about to speak when Ethan suddenly raised his voice and screamed, "Mom! Dad! Matt doesn't want to go with me! I bet he thinks that I don't deserve to further my studies!"

I still had no idea what was going on when Frank whipped me across the face.

The whip was the punishment that they had prepared for me after Ethan returned.

I immediately snapped awake at the excruciating pain of having part of my skin torn off. I hastily scrambled off the bed and exclaimed, "I'll go right now!"

Ethan looked pleased as he sauntered away to pack his clothes.

…

It was nearly noon by the time Ethan and the others were ready to leave.

I intentionally avoided them and got into the car with the household staff.

In my past life, I would always go along with Ethan's requests and sit next to him whenever we went out.

Frank and Nadia never said anything about the arrangement, but I knew that they always complained behind my back about me ruining their family reunion.

My heart throbbed when I saw Ethan's hands intertwined with Frank's and Nadia's when they got out of their car.

That warmth used to belong to me.

My knees nearly buckled when someone suddenly clapped me hard on my back.

Ethan pretended to be surprised when he said, "I just lightly touched you, Matt. You don't have to make your hatred for me that obvious, do you?"

Frank didn't even ask us what was going on before he began berating me. "I'm surprised you haven't died of envy yet, considering how jealous you are of Ethan all the time. Haven't we given you more than enough? What else do you want from us?"

Anger bubbled within me as I took in the disdain and hatred in Frank's eyes, threatening to boil over. I wondered when they started loathing me so much, shouting at me whenever they addressed me.

The whip they used whenever they punished me was also getting thicker by the day.

However, I could still remember how happily they recorded me when I grew my first tooth. They even booked the billboard in New Lamora to celebrate my 18th birthday.

Unfortunately, everything changed after Ethan returned.

I hastily lowered my head and apologized, slapping myself twice for good measure. "Sorry. I was a little unsteady on my feet just now."

Ethan seemed pleased by my reaction. After he chose a room for himself, he grabbed my hand and led me upstairs, declaring that I would stay in the room next to his.

"This room is perfect for you, Matt."

Ethan had behaved the same way in my past life, insisting that I stay next to him.

However, after I lay down on the bed about 20 minutes later, I heard him complaining to Frank and Nadia that his room was too uncomfortable.

Frank and Nadia suggested changing rooms for him, but he told them that he would just ignore his discomfort because he didn't want to disturb my rest.

A few minutes later, Ethan was rushed to the hospital because his severe wool allergy started acting up. He nearly died on the way there.

When he survived the critical period, Frank and Nadia locked me in the room that was covered with wool for an entire day and only unlocked the door after I lost consciousness.

I had no way of rejecting Ethan's request this time, but I began counting down the time the moment I stepped into my room.

As expected, Ethan began complaining to Frank and Nadia 20 minutes later.

I leaped to my feet and knocked on his door, saying, "Mom, Dad, I noticed Ethan's room has wool in it. His allergies will start acting up, so he should move to my room."

I went to the smallest room that was tucked away in a corner on the first floor. It was cramped and cold, but it gave me a great sense of safety.

However, the next morning, I was jolted awake by a shock of pain.

Frank repeatedly whipped me as he shouted, "I can't believe you drugged Ethan out of jealousy! We had to contact six or seven people to save him!"

Ethan was leaning against the doorframe. His collar was wide open, exposing the many marks that littered his skin.

I could tell that he hadn't been drugged at all just from looking at his twisted expression of satisfaction. He probably got those marks after getting involved with the new maids, whom he had shown a clear interest in.

Frank refused to give me a chance to explain myself, ordering his men to abandon me in the forest.

"Since you're such an amazing person, I'm sure that you can find your way back by yourself," Ethan sneered.

I looked at Frank, who was brandishing a whip, and Nadia, who was holding a bat. I was just about to accept my fate when someone else's voice resounded in the air.