oor, his dress shoes clicking loudly on the linoleum, and before I cou

head snapped to the side, and a hot, stinging pain

face inches from mine. "After everything we've given you, th

ith my mother. "Mom, it's not true. E

walked slowly toward me. She stopped just

y would I ever believe you over Ethan? He's a good boy. He

. This wasn't just about a cheating accusation, it was about years of resentment

ssible standard you set," she continued, her voice rising

the door, gave Robert a tiny, almost imperceptible nod. It was a

ng the fabric in his fist. "We're done here

saw a furious father and a disgusted mother disciplining their delinquent son. They did

ecause my room was closer to it. The time he "lost" the money for a school trip and my savings were used to cover it, with my parents saying it would "teac

just my step-brother, he was Robert's biological son, the true heir to

or, his grip like iron. "You're finishe

een my parents, a perfect, sorrowful son, his face a mask

-