"I'm sorry… We did our best," said the doctor.

Grandma Carol let out a mournful wail and threw herself onto Alex's body, crying as she was overwhelmed by grief.

"Alex! My grandson!"

Grandma Bessie also stumbled in, hugging Alex's cold body and wailing. "Alex! My grandson! How could this happen?"

Dad stood in place. His body swayed slightly, and his expression was filled with extreme heartache and remorse.

He looked at his lifeless son on the operating table and let out an uncontrollable howl.

…

Even though Mom said she would return that evening, she was still delayed for two days. By the time she finally arrived with Cynthia, Alex's funeral had already concluded.

A string of shimmering pearls dangled from Cynthia's neck, appearing particularly glaring under the dim light in the living room.

Mom spotted me immediately, and before I could react, a sharp slap landed on my face. A burning pain instantly spread, leaving my head buzzing.

"You troublemaker! I was just spending a little time with Thia, and you started lying and causing trouble! How dare you joke about something as serious as Alex?"

My cheek was numb from the slap, and my mind went blank. It took me a while to find my voice again.

"I didn't…"

Cynthia stroked the necklace around her neck as she looked at me with an innocent gaze that held a hidden smugness.

"Don't be angry, Mom. Don't get upset because of me. After all, Cindy is your biological daughter. She probably just missed you too much, and that's why…"

Though her words sounded appeasing, every single one only added fuel to the fire.

"I'd rather not have a daughter like you!" Mom spat out at me through gritted teeth, as if I were some kind of unavoidable plague.

Dad, who had been silent all along, stepped forward and shielded me. "If you don't want this daughter, I do. You can take Cynthia and live on your own," he said.

Both Mom and I were stunned. Dad usually doted on Cynthia no less than Mom did, but now he was acting completely out of character.

"Peter, what's wrong?" Mom asked.

When Cynthia saw this, she quickly stepped forward and weakly tugged at Dad's sleeve. Her voice took on an even more pitiful tone as she whined, "Did I make you angry, Dad? I don't want the pearl necklace anymore. Please don't be angry, Dad."

Her eyes darted between me and Dad as she spoke with obvious dramatics. She wanted to use her unhappiness and sensible demeanor to win back Dad's heart.

Dad shook her hand off and said expressionlessly, "Don't call me 'Dad.' We share no blood relation."

Cynthia's face instantly turned pale. Her body stiffened up, and the tears flowing out of her eyes froze abruptly.

Grandma Carol finally couldn't hold back anymore and spoke up. "I don't know what kind of mother she is. She ignores her own flesh and blood, yet is so devoted to an outsider!"

I stood behind Dad, holding my burning cheek and watching as Mom was criticized by the entire family.

It was just that this time, the one being scolded was no longer me.

Mom was completely baffled and could only vent her anger at me. "Cindy Bale! What on earth did you tell them? What lies have you been spreading now?"

She didn't believe that Alex was really dead, or that her own actions had caused all of this.

She only believed that I was up to no good again and had been speaking ill of her behind her back, sowing discord.

Just as Mom was about to lose it, Grandma Bessie slapped her hard across the face.

Before Mom could even process that slap, Grandma Bessie smacked a piece of paper she had been clutching tightly right into Mom's face.

"How dare you still blame others? Look at this! Take a good look at it yourself!"