Your Remorse Is Five Years Too Late

Even when faced with Phoebe's increasingly desperate cries, I remained unmoved.

"Phoebe, it's all because of you! That's why Dad hates me! I wish you'd been taken by the traffickers! I never want to see you again!"

Phoebe's small body trembled with fear as she pleaded softly, "Zack, you promised Dad you'd protect me! Zack!"

Phoebe called my name over and over again, but I didn't soften.

I fell to my knees before the trafficker, pleading earnestly, "Sir, please take both me and Phoebe away! My dad is mean to me. I don't want to go back. Can I come with you? I'll be obedient!"

The crowd erupted in an uproar instantly, cursing me out.

"Mr. Chapman has always been nothing but good to both children. How could he break Mr. Chapman's heart like this?"

"Zachary is just a kid, yet he actually handed Phoebe over to traffickers! If he were my son, I would've definitely beat him to death!"

I cautiously looked at Dad, whose eyes were filled with disgust and hatred for me. Tears instantly welled up in my eyes, and my heart ached badly.

Still, that blasted display screen kept playing.

Phoebe was huddled in the corner of the basement, constantly calling out for Dad. Her voice was hoarse from crying.

The trafficker, annoyed by the noise Phoebe was making, pointed at me and said impatiently, "You, get over there and make your sister shut up!"

Phoebe kicked at me to keep me away, glaring at me with hatred in her eyes. "Get away from me! I'll tell Dad! He will—"

Before Phoebe could finish, I pushed her hard. "Shut up! Dad won't come to save you!"

Everyone in front of the screen covered their mouths in shock.

I instinctively looked at Dad. His eyes were red-rimmed, and I knew he was heartbroken for Phoebe.

"Zachary! You brat!" he snarled.

Every word from Dad seemed to be uttered out through gritted teeth. I had never seen him so angry before.

I was so scared that I fell to the ground, and just as I was about to say something, a loud bang rang out from the screen.

Phoebe's head hit the wall behind her hard. Soon, she lay motionless on the ground, with a lot of blood flowing from her head.

Seeing Phoebe unconscious, the trafficker kicked me hard in the back in anger.

"You worthless brat, I already found a buyer for your sister! If you kill her, can you afford to compensate me for it?" he snapped.

My body hit the ground hard. My head felt swollen, as if it were on fire. Tears streamed down my cheeks because of the pain.

A loud smack sounded. The trafficker hit my arm heavily with a stick, leaving bloody marks one after another.

I cried at the top of my lungs, my sobs echoing throughout the basement.

The adults couldn't bear to look, but then, a man spoke up. "Serves him right! It'd be best if that brat Zachary died!"

A brat? Dad just said that about me too. Wasn't that an insult? Was I really that bad?

The screen continued playing the footage.

The trafficker dragged my body covered in wounds and threw me out.

"Go! Lure another child over! If you come back without anyone, I'll beat you to death!"

I stood trembling by the roadside, looking helpless.

"Zachary was beaten so badly by the traffickers. He'll definitely abandon Phoebe and run away now!"

"I'm not so sure about that. Zachary was born to do evil things. Just you wait and see!"

As the audience debated what I would do, on the screen, I just stood there blankly. When it got dark, the trafficker coldly dragged me back into the van, where I was beaten again.

The trafficker threw the stick down and said to me, "I've found a buyer for your sister, and I've already received the deposit. Tomorrow night, keep an eye on her, and don't let her run away! Otherwise, the consequences will be much worse than a beating!"

Phoebe kneeled before me, begging, "Zack, please let me go. I won't argue with you anymore!"

I kept my head down and stayed silent as I tied Phoebe's limbs with rope.

My actions sparked anger in the viewers, who shouted angrily, "That despicable Zachary! He deserves to die! I wish he'd died at the hands of the trafficker long ago!"