My younger brother, Ian Green, was caught for robbery, but my mother forced me to take the blame for him.

I refused, so my mother took a knife and attempted suicide.

She knew that I was filial and would not want her to suffer any harm, so I gave in.

However, my mother had no idea that I also took responsibility for a murder he committed.

After I was sentenced to death, she went insane looking for me.

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was a surprisingly lively scene at home.

A large number of guests gathered in the living room, chatting and laughing, celebrating my brother, Ian Green's miraculous escape from danger. Everyone tacitly chose to forget about me, the one who went to jail in his place.

My mother was all smiles. "Good things come to those who deserve them. Ian has done so many good deeds; it's only right that he survived this disaster."

This sentence made me, who had become a spiritual being, somewhat lost in thought.

Was he kind? He hit and ran, robbed a pregnant woman, and was even crazy enough to poison the food of a lonely elderly person. He was a devil who did all these things for fun, yet my mother called him kind.

When I thought about how his current success and glory had been built on my sacrifice, I got so angry that I trembled all over and wished I could rush over and strangle him.

Ian refused everyone's flattery, but he was grinning from ear to ear. "It's nothing. I just help others within my ability and never ask for anything in return."

My cousin, who was having cake, looked around the room and did not see me. He was puzzled. "Where's Mason Green? Why isn't he home today? I was hoping to ask him for help with my studies."

The previously peaceful atmosphere turned somber at the mention of my name.

My mother slammed her cup on the table and scoffed. "Why bring up that jinx? If it weren't for his instigation, Ian wouldn't have suffered this. He didn't even bother to call and check on Ian. He just can't stand seeing peace in this family. Why am I so unlucky? I gave birth to a monster."

Seemingly recalling my behavior at home over the years, my mother's eyes reddened, and she hugged Ian and started wailing.

Anyone who did not know better would think I was some kind of tyrannical bully at home.

This was their usual act: belittling and suppressing me in front of outsiders.

We had good times in the beginning. My mother treated us both equally; there was no favoritism.

Unfortunately, the happy days did not last long. While visiting one woman, my mother stole her treasured pearl necklace while she went to the bathroom. She even bragged about it to us. "She deliberately flaunted that necklace in front of me just to humiliate me. Let's see how she shows off now."

When the woman returned and could not find the necklace, she burst into tears; it was the only keepsake her deceased mother had left her.

Ian pretended not to know and lied along with our mother.

Ultimately, I could not bear it anymore and told the woman the truth.

When we got home, my mother locked me in a small room and beat me all night.

From then on, my status in the family was lower than even a dog's.

Ian sighed insincerely. "Mom, don't say that. Mason is probably just too busy. There are many things I haven't done well either, so it's understandable that Mason dislikes me..."

Ian's remark did not quell my mother's anger; instead, it made her even more agitated. "You're just too kind. He doesn't consider us his family. He even called and lied to me that he was going to be executed by shooting. He was even unwilling to serve a few years in jail. What's the point of raising him?"

She grew more agitated as she spoke, but I grew increasingly desperate.

Touching the bullet hole in my forehead, I almost vomited.

When I called my mother in my final moments, all I got was, "Just die. You're useless alive, you fool."

'Mom, I did as you wished; I really died. Are you satisfied now?' I pondered.

The celebration did not end until late at night, but Ian remained standing at the door with great enthusiasm. He seemed to be waiting for someone's arrival.

When the doorbell rang, he opened the door to reveal my fiancée, Zelda Clark.

She must have come to find me when she noticed that I had not contacted her for days.

Thinking of our years of relationship, a warm feeling welled up in my heart.

"Ian, how are you? Were you injured while in the detention center? You've lost so much weight. Have you not been eating properly again?"

None of her questions were about me.

My smile froze. I watched helplessly as Ian took his future sister-in-law's hand and walked into the living room.

I widened my eyes, looking at this scene in disbelief.

"Gosh! Zelda is here. Ian has been waiting for you all day. You two haven't seen each other for so long. Surely you must miss each other."

My mother seemed completely unfazed by this scene, smiling brightly and taking Zelda's hand.

Zelda shyly glanced at the two of them before taking off the ring on her hand.

"Mrs. Green, I've made up my mind. We can't keep hiding like this. Now that Mason's in jail, his release will affect things, so I'm using this as an excuse to break up with him. I want to be with Ian openly."

These words felt like a slap on the face.

Having this kind of family background had always made me miserable, but Zelda was like the sun amid the gloom, warming me and giving me the will to live.

However, I never imagined that I would even have this bit of happiness taken away.

Their hands were tightly intertwined, as if showing off to me.

My mother smiled even more brightly, nodding repeatedly. "Yes, yes, yes. That's only right. I've always said you two were a match made in heaven. Even when Mason is released, he won't dare to complain. Otherwise, he can forget about staying in this family."

She casually took the engagement ring and tossed it in the trash before glancing at it.

They had no idea that I had worked three part-time jobs a day in order to buy this expensive ring. I only slept for two or three hours at a time and almost died suddenly in the office.

However, this hard-earned medal was nothing more than trash from their perspective.

I desperately wanted to get the ring back, but there was absolutely no way to do so.

Holding Zelda's hand, Ian grew increasingly smug. "Zelda, what if my brother comes back and causes you trouble?"

Zelda frowned. "I stopped liking him a long time ago. He was the one who kept pestering me. Being with him was just an excuse to get close to you. Now that we're together, what do I need him for?"

My outstretched hand froze in mid-air as I stared at her in disbelief.

It was no wonder Zelda's attitude toward me had remained lukewarm all these years, no matter how hard I tried. She refused to even let me touch her hand.

It turned out she never had feelings for me. My so-called happiness was all thanks to Ian.

I swayed a few times before collapsing to the ground.

Looking at the happy family of three, I felt redundant. Suddenly, I was grateful I died in jail. Otherwise, how would I face all of this?

Why did they treat me like this? I tried my best to please this family. I was never picky with food. As soon as I got home, I stayed silent and even avoided speaking loudly. I earned all my living expenses since childhood through my own hard work and frugality.

What about Ian?

As soon as he started school, my mother quickly bought him a new phone and computer. She even glorified it. "Your younger brother will become a big shot, unlike you. People like you will only end up in the gutter for the rest of your life, and there’s no way you can ever compare to your younger brother."

However, it was precisely a loser like me who saved Ian's life at the critical moment.

After learning he had escaped, I was so angry that I drove home overnight to make him turn himself in and explain.

The victim was an elderly man in his 80s with no children. He was extremely pitiful as he relied on collecting recyclables to make a living.

However, my mother slapped my face. "He's an old geezer who doesn't have many years left. Your brother is doing society a good deed by robbing him. Ian's now going to prison. As his older brother, how can you just sit by and do nothing? Take his place."

I almost could not believe my ears. "Mom, this is jail. My whole life is going to be ruined! He's your child, and I'm not?"

Perhaps the request was too outrageous, so I could no longer suppress my anger. I blurted out the question that had been hidden in my heart for years.

My mother turned her head away guiltily. "You're his older brother. Why can't you give Ian a bit of leeway?"

She was insane. How could she say something like that?

Seeing me turn to leave, my mother instantly pulled out a dagger she had prepared beforehand and held it to her neck. "If you disagree, I'll die in front of you today. I'm your only mother anyway. Think about it carefully. It's just a few years in prison."

Although she was threatening me, she dared not cut herself, carefully maintaining a distance.

She knew best that I was filial and could not bear to see anything happen to her. As long as she threatened me with her life, I would agree to any unreasonable request.

I had never imagined that my filial piety would become her bargaining chip. In the end, I sighed and walked into the police station.

My mother's smug voice reached my ears. "See? I told you he's just our slave; he'll do whatever we say. Now you can rest easy. It's alright that his future is ruined. You're my precious child."

It turned out that my mother would never accept me, no matter what I did.

I was prepared to spend years in prison, but I had never imagined Ian had a murder charge against him!

When I received the execution warrant, I trembled uncontrollably.

I called my mother, clinging to a last glimmer of hope. I hoped she would take me home after learning the truth. After all, she went through ten months of pregnancy to have me too.

However, she laughed out loud after hearing what I said. "Mason, who are you trying to convince with the clumsy lie? You're going to be executed? Do you really think I don't understand the law? I just asked you to do jail time. Do you have to go so far? Don't you think about others at all? I'm busy and don't have time for you. If you're so anxious to die, go ahead. Don't bother me!"

The call ended abruptly.

I stared at the white wall as tears streamed down my face.

A gunshot rang out, and my worthless life came to a complete end.