After Being Abused to Death by My Family

chapter 3

From their vastly different attitudes toward me and Morgan, it would all make sense if I weren't their biological child.

The phone kept echoing with endless scolding. "Natalie! Don't be so arrogant! Does seeing Morgan mean it will cost you your life?"

My expression changed, and I replied casually, "Yeah, what if you want to kill me?"

Claire seemed shocked and choked for a moment.

I looked down at my crimson nails and slowly said, "You want to sue me? Take it to court?"

"Do you really think those shady things you did can stay hidden?"

My tone was soft, but there wasn't a trace of a smile on my face.

Claire's breath suddenly hitched for a moment.

Her voice started trembling. "What do you mean? What shady things? Let me tell you, Natalie, you are my..."

I couldn't be bothered to listen to her nonsense and simply hung up the phone.

Her intense reaction said it all. I frowned and tightened my grip on the phone.

A few days later, Claire finally lost her composure and called again.

I calmly looked at the four missed calls on my phone. When the ringtone sounded again, I answered at the very last second.

On the other end of the line, Claire was breathing heavily, clearly struggling to hold back.

She switched to a sickly sweet tone. "Natalie, Morgan misses you. I was wrong last time, spoke too harshly. Please forgive me."

She held back her anger but still had to humble herself to me, which made me chuckle inside.

But I knew she wouldn't keep up this facade for long.

Sure enough, the next second, she said, "Besides, what you said last time was too harsh. What do you mean by something shameful? We're family, you know. I love you the most."

When she said the word "love," her tone trembled slightly, probably because even she found it disgusting.

I didn't respond.

Finally, Claire couldn't hold it in. "Natalie, you have to come, Morgan..."

I lightly tapped my fingertip and hung up the phone again.

It's been half a month since Morgan's car accident.

During this half month, Claire called every day on time, as if wary of the leverage I held.

Even though she hated me to the core, she no longer dared to curse me like before, only urging me repeatedly to go to the hospital.

That day after school, as soon as I walked out of the teaching building, I sensed something was off. Ahead, there was a crowd, and the passersby looked at me with disdain and contempt.

I stopped in my tracks, standing beside my good friend, Emma Pearson.

She asked, "Natalie? What's wrong?"

I shook my head, my heart sinking, but still kept a smile. "Emma, you go ahead. I just remembered I have something to do."

Emma has always been kind to me. In my previous life, after I became disabled, she wanted to take care of me but was blocked at the door by my so-called parents.

At this moment, she seemed to sense the malicious gazes around, but she ignored them and even held my hand in front of everyone.

She said, "Go ahead, I'll wait for you to come back."

I watched her figure fade into the distance, took a deep breath, and stepped toward the center of the crowd.

The moment my gaze met Claire's, she seemed to grasp a lifeline, and a sudden madness and ferocity ignited in her eyes.

She suddenly rushed forward, gripping my sleeve tightly.

She shouted, "Natalie, go see your sister! She misses you a lot!"

The classmates around started whispering.

Claire continued, "How long has it been since you went home? I apologize to you. For my sake, don't make it hard for me."

I almost burst out laughing.

She spoke sincerely, but the grip on my arm was so tight it would definitely leave bruises.

I said, "Sister? What sister? Are you talking about the one who tried to push me in front of a car?"

Claire's face twisted for a moment. She almost burst out cursing but held back after glancing at the crowd around her.

She said, "Morgan is still young, she didn't mean it, and besides, you're fine now, aren't you?"

Her tone grew increasingly sarcastic.

I shook off her hand in disgust. "Don't get so close, it's gross."

"You want me to go to the hospital? Fine, just don't regret it."