Compared to Ethan, the screen showed hundreds of images proving my so-called disrespectful behavior.

Mom threw me a birthday party, but I tossed the cake and gifts straight out the door.

Dad worked all day to cook a full meal, but I flipped the table and sent everything crashing to the floor.

I grabbed Ethan by the throat with both hands, forcing Dad and Mom to give me money.

As the images flashed across the screen, the room exploded into chaos. People shouted that there was no need for a trial and demanded that I be executed immediately.

Dad's and Mom's smiles were barely held back.

"Play the video," the judge said calmly.

"What video?"

Dad and Mom snapped their heads up, and their tears vanished instantly. Looking on in total shock, they murmured, "What's going on? I thought the memory photos were enough."

The crowd was confused, too.

The judge explained, "The trial system has been upgraded. Memory videos will gradually replace still photos."

Upon hearing that, Dad and Mom lowered their heads and sat down, their legs shaking with anxiety.

On screen, one of my memories began to play.

June 7th was my birthday and the day of the college entrance exam.

Early that morning, Mom walked into my room with a camera. She sang me a birthday song and handed me a designer bag.

"Happy birthday, Emma. I love you."

Once the first shot was done, she turned off the camera, and her expression changed instantly.

She threw a dress at my face with eyes full of disgust. "Put this on now. We're filming another segment, then going live for the fans."

"Mom, I have my college entrance exam today. Can we stream another time?" I asked carefully.

But her response was a sudden, violent beating.

The bag she'd just given me became a weapon. She smashed it against my chest and back. The metal chain cut into my skin, leaving bloody marks.

Still not satisfied, she dug her sharp nails into my inner thighs, stomach, and chest as she screamed insults, "I spent so much money raising you. Now you won't even cooperate when I tell you to stream?

"You still think you're going to college? If you study, who's going to make money for me? Who's going to take care of Ethan?"

As she said that, she grabbed my exam permit from the desk, ripped it into pieces, and threw it in my face. "Stop dreaming, you useless waste."

I lay on the floor, my pajamas torn open to reveal a patchwork of old scars and fresh wounds. My entire body was covered in bruises.

The comments in the live chat were filled with shock.

"Oh my god! That's brutal."

"She treats Emma like a cash machine. She won't even let her take the exam."

"What kind of parents are these? I kind of get Emma now."

Then, the scene shifted to nighttime.

Dad set up the camera at the dining table and called me out of my room, his smile bright.

"Ta-da! Happy birthday, my dear Emma. I made all this just for you. It's your favorite seafood feast. Come try it."

I stood there for a long moment before saying, "Dad, Ethan's the one who likes seafood. I'm allergic."

He shot me a cold look but held back because of the camera.

"Allergies just mean you're weak. Eat more, and you'll get used to it."

As I recalled the last time I'd had a severe reaction and stomach bleeding, I shook my head firmly.

However, Dad refused to back down. He pressed my head toward the camera and forced me to eat shrimp.

While struggling, I accidentally pulled the tablecloth, sending every dish crashing to the floor.

He exploded. A kick slammed into my lower back, and the pain made me curl up on the ground.

"Is eating one shrimp that hard? You piece of trash. How dare you flip the table!"

He scooped up the food from the floor—now mixed with dust and shards of broken plate—and began shoving it relentlessly into my mouth.

"I was planning to save these for Ethan after filming, but lucky you. You get to have them instead. Now eat. Every last bite."

He shoved the food into my mouth quickly. Tiny shards of broken plate scraped against the inside of my mouth, causing it to bleed.

My stomach seized violently.

"Ugh."

Bloody vomit splattered onto the floor, and a sour stench filled the room.

Dad kicked me in disgust, then picked up the camera and deleted the footage he'd just recorded.

"Gross. You ruined my shoot. Now get down there and lick up your mess," Dad said while pinching his nose before walking away.

I curled up beside my own vomit, sobbing in silence. The video cut to a pause.

The courtroom and the live chat erupted into a heated frenzy.

"The video is worlds apart from those photos. Emma is actually living a nightmare."

"Damn. Her parents acted like they adored her and ignored Ethan in the videos they posted. I guess the internet really is full of lies."

"Daughter-centric content gets more views these days. They were just milking her for profit."

"Sure, it's a pity Emma was abused by her parents, but what does that have to do with Ethan?"

Dad's and Mom's perfect influencer personas were completely shattered.

Their faces flushed between pale white and livid red as they stared at my mental projection with pure hatred.

I knew that if I were physically there, they would have torn me limb from limb.

The memory video resumed.

I was clutching Ethan's throat, screaming and crying in a fit of madness, "Give it to me! Give it!"

Ethan's face turned red, but his eyes were full of malice. "No… way."

"Emma, what are you doing? Let him go!"

"You bitch! Let go of your brother! How dare you lay a hand on him!"

Dad and Mom wanted to strike me, but they were terrified of hurting Ethan, so they could only hurl frantic insults from the side.

A laugh escaped Ethan's throat. With a raspy voice, he roared at them, "Mom, Dad, it's fine! She won't do anything. My friends have her nudes. She needs me to get them back."

My grip tightened at those words. Ethan's voice was choked off instantly.

Mom screamed, "Don't you dare hurt Ethan! I'll give you the money to buy the photos back. Stop being so dramatic!"

I stared at her in disbelief.

As a woman, she knew exactly what would happen to me if those photos Ethan took were leaked.

And yet, she still thought he was innocent, and I was just being dramatic.

While I was frozen in shock, Dad suddenly lunged from behind and pinned my arms. Ethan took the chance to scramble to Mom's side.

The three of them glared at me, their fury boiling over.

"How dare you choke me! Believe me, by tomorrow, your nudes will be all over the internet," Ethan snarled.

Mom chimed in, "Is this how I raised you? I told you to look after Ethan, and you have the nerve to lay a hand on him?"

"So what if he took some photos? If you didn't want people looking, you shouldn't have been naked in the shower. What else are bodies for?" Dad scoffed.

Then came the rain of fists and slaps. Once again, I was left broken on the floor.

Before Ethan left, he spat on me. "Slut. Stop acting like you're some saint."

The memory video ended there.

A heavy silence fell over the room, followed by a wave of murmurs.

"He took secret nudes of Emma and showed them to his friends? That's absolutely sickening."

"Now I get why Emma was always in long sleeves and pants in their videos."

"Emma's life was a living hell. I'm sorry for what I said earlier."

"Apologies from me too."

At that moment, the judge's cold, mechanical voice rang out, final and sharp. "Based on the voting results, both Emma Harper and Ethan Harper are found not guilty on the first charge of parental disrespect."

Comments filled the live chat.

"That's a first. A dual trial where neither is found guilty."

"Of course their precious son wouldn't disrespect them. They literally worshipped him."

"Wait, the parents chose this specific charge for the trial. They rigged it to favor Ethan."

"I have a disturbing theory. If it weren't for that video, those photos would have convicted Emma instantly. Which means that her parents had chosen that charge specifically to…"

I took a deep breath, feeling a moment of relief.

Now that I had people on my side, the rest of the trial should go much more smoothly.

The second round of judgment began.