Chapter 4 4
Chapter 4
Ever since I was discharged from the hospital, my relationship with my brother had significantly improved. Perhaps it was out of guilt, or maybe he was genuinely afraid that I might die from another episode. He wasn’t as harsh towards me as he used to be. I thought our relationship could always be repaired.
But soon, my fantasy was shattered.
My brother brought home his girlfriend, Irene. At first, she was very kind to me, treating me like her own little sister. I also thought she was really a good sister–in–law, a good sister. Later, when she discovered I had mental health issues and my brother’s attitude towards me was very cold, things changed.
Sometimes, when my brother was angry, he would deliberately provoke my mental breakdowns. Irene subtly inquired about me from my brother. She learned that my mother died because of me and that my brother hated me for it. She also knew that even my own father didn’t care about me and hadn’t contacted me in years.
And so, she changed.
Of course, in front of my brother, she still acted like an innocent angel. But in private, she was extremely vicious. She would provoke my breakdowns and then sell videos of them on international websites. She would deliberately place snakes and harmless but frightening insects in my bed.
I told my brother, showing him the bite marks on my body.
“Brother, Irene is not a good person. She’s deliberately hurting me.”
My brother glanced at Irene indifferently and said nothing. Tears welled up in Irene’s eyes, and she cried pitifully.
“Caitlin, I know you don’t like me, but you can’t say such things about me.”
Then she revealed her own scratched arm.
“Caitlin, I’ve endured your bullying because you’re Shane’s sister, but you can’t twist
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Chapter 44
the truth like this.”
Seeing Irene’s injuries, my brother’s expression changed dramatically. He jumped up
from his seat.
“Irene, what happened?”
Irene sobbed, stammering that it was nothing, that she had just accidentally hurt herself. My brother, however, understood immediately. He was convinced that I had hurt Irene and was now trying to frame her to get her out of the house.
With a loud slap, a red handprint appeared on my face. It burned like fire. My head turned to the side, and the taste of blood spread in my mouth. It was so bitter, truly
bitter.
My brother pointed at me and yelled.
“Caitlin, if you dare touch Irene again, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
“You killed Mom, and now you want to harm the other woman I love the most?!”
“Apologize to her! I will only say this once!”
My brother yanked my hair, forcing me to kneel in front of Irene and apologize. I slapped myself repeatedly, begging Irene for forgiveness. Irene raised an eyebrow at me when my brother wasn’t looking, her eyes full of disdain. Only when she saw blood at the corner of my mouth did she pretend to be compassionate, walking over to hug my
brother.
“Shane, that’s enough. I’m really fine. After all, she’s
your
sister.”
“Your own sister! Your mother wouldn’t want to see her behaving like this from heaven.”
But Irene had no intention of letting me off. Mentioning my mother only fueled my brother’s rage. He immediately ordered the butler to take me to the front gate and make me kneel in front of everyone as punishment. People passing by the villa laughed at my misery.
After that incident, Irene’s cruelty towards me intensified. The bruises on my body were all thanks to her. She would hit me when she was happy, and hit me when she was unhappy. After arguing with my brother, she would vent all her anger on me.
I secretly pleaded with my brother several times, but to no avail. He always told Irene, which only led to more vicious torment from her.
Twisted Heart
Chapter 5 5
