“I really gave you face, huh?” Richard raised his hand to slap me again, but Agatha stopped him, pretending to be calm.

“Let her, she is still young and naive. I won’t argue with her.”

“Elizabeth, it’s not that I treat your brother badly. He just finds studying too hard and wants to live like a dog.”

“I didn’t agree to him living in a dog cage. He threw tantrums at home because of it.”

“He even went on a hunger strike when I didn’t let him live there. I had no choice but to give in.”

“If you don’t believe me, ask your father or let Thomas tell you himself.”

Richard scoffed.

“It’s Thomas who doesn’t study well. He’d rather be a dog and skip school. A useless child like that isn’t worthy of being my son!”

My brother tugged at my sleeve, his voice hoarse a she spoke, “Elizabeth, I don’t like school. I like being a dog and living in the dog cage. I am a puppy. Woof, woof.”

“You’re not a dog! You’re a person!”

I looked around and noticed there were no older family members in the yard. The original staff was gone, replaced by strangers who watched me closely.

“I don’t care about the past. But now that I’m back, my brother will not be a dog here!” I said firmly.

Agatha gave a fake smile.

“Elizabeth, you should discipline Thomas from now on. We can’t control him.”

She then picked up a ball from the ground and tossed it. My brother immediately dropped to all fours and ran after it. He grabbed it with his mouth and returned it to her. She threw it again and my brother was about to chase it when I grabbed him.

“Thomas! You’re a human, not a dog. You need to walk on two legs and use your hands to pick things up! Promise me you won’t act like a dog anymore.”

He shook his head as he responded, “No, I’m a puppy. I like being a puppy.”

Agatha laughed loudly, shaking the ball in her hand and asked, “Do you want to play more?”

My brother stuck out his tongue, happily saying, “Yes! Yes!”

“Enough!”

Not long after that, I turned to Richard.

“My mother told you to take care of my brother before she died and this is how you take care of him?”

Richard just shrugged, saying, “I can’t help it if he’s useless.”

“Take the key and untie the chain around his neck!”

No one moved. I glared at the servants around me.

“Are you all deaf? Go get the key.”

Only when Agatha spoke did anyone act. It was clear I had no control over the people in this house. Once the chain was off, my brother panicked. He pulled his neck back, trying to crawl into the dog cage.

“I’m a puppy. I have to live in the dog cage!”

I quickly hugged him and told him, “Thomas, don’t be afraid. I’ll take you to see a doctor.”

I didn’t have time to clean him up. I rushed him to the hospital.

The doctor’s examination showed that my brother not only had severe psychological issues, but his body was also badly harmed. There were scars of various sizes on his chest and back, hidden by his clothes.

The doctor explained that my brother had been whipped and beaten with a stick and his body showed large burn marks. His ribs were fractured and even his skull had been damaged.

Hearing the doctor’s words, tears filled my eyes.

These people are monsters!

I held my brother tightly as I said, “Thomas, don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you from now on. No one will hurt you again.”

I brought my brother back to the estate, where Agatha greeted us, rubbing her pregnant belly.

“Elizabeth, where is your Woodward Family’s signet ring? Do you have it with you?”

My luggage was already on the living room floor, unpacked and turned over.

“Who allowed you to touch my luggage?” I asked, demanding an answer.

“Elizabeth, give your half of the signet ring to your mother,” Agatha said.

“Your mother is pregnant with your brother and he will inherit the family’s property in the future.”

I laughed, but it was a laugh filled with anger.

“The Woodward Family cares a lot about bloodlines and only we can lead the family to success. Based on the bastard in your belly, you thinks he deserves to be the heir?”

Richard’s face turned pale as he responded, “How can you speak like that? That’s your brother, not a bastard!”

“Does she know it deep down?” I retorted.

Agatha leaned on Richard’s arm, pretending to be hurt.

“Your father is the only man in my life. How could you say such terrible things about me?”

“Hurry up and apologize to your mother!” Richard shouted.

I ignored him and dragged my brother to the room.

Richard kept yelling behind me, “Your mother even had someone clean your room and prepare your favorite fruit for you. Are you really going to treat her like this?”

Once I had my brother inside, I locked the door. Richard tried to get someone to force me out, but Agatha pretended to calm him down and it wasn’t long before everything outside became quiet.

I gave my brother a bath, changed his clothes and watched him fall asleep before I lay down next to him. I would deal with everything tomorrow once my people arrived.

It was late when I finally fell asleep. But when I opened my eyes again, my brother was gone. I immediately woke up and started searching for him.

I found my brother in the dining room, kneeling on the floor, serving food to Agatha’s nephew.

Andrew Redmonton, Agatha’s niece, saw me and smirked, “My aunt said Thomas should be my servant. He was born to serve me.”

Then, he threw a piece of bread on the ground as he shouted at Thomas, “Good dog, pick it up!”

My brother immediately crawled over to get it with his mouth.

Andrew laughed.

“You even eat what I chewed. You really are a dog!”

He climbed onto my brother’s back as he shouted at my brother, “Run faster and I’ll give you another treat!”

Thomas then crawled all over the house with Andrew riding him.

“Run faster! If you run so slowly, I won’t give you any food!” Andrew shouted.

My brother sped up and Andrew threw some dog food in front of him. My brother went straight for it.

“You’re nothing but a dog who only knows how to eat!” Andrew taunted.

I couldn’t stand it anymore. I kicked Andrew off my brother.

He fell to the ground but quickly stood up, yelling at me. “How dare you hit me!”

“Someone tie her up!” he ordered.

“No one will touch me!” I shouted, pulling my brother into my arms.

“If you kneel and apologize to my brother now, I might spare you. Otherwise, don’t blame me for what happens next,” I warned Andrew.

“Oh, you think you’re in charge now?” Andrew asked, sneering.

“This family is now under the name Blackville and so is the Woodward Corporation! My uncle has the final say here, not you!”

“Grab her!” he ordered and the bodyguards rushed to hold me and my brother down.

Agatha walked over, pretending to be kind.

“Elizabeth, my nephew is spoiled by me. He didn’t mean any harm. He was just playing with Thomas.”

She looked at me as she said, “Give me the signet ring and I’ll have him apologize to you and Thomas.”

“You want the signet ring? You’re dreaming!” I shouted angrily.

Agatha was furious, shouting, "You’re so shameless! Find it for me, the signet ring must be on her!"

I sneered, saying, "You finally stopped pretending. I feel sick every time I see you smile at me."

Agatha scowled as she continued, "If you were as obedient as your brother, maybe I’d let you be my servant. But you're too wild. I can’t control you, so I’ll send you to South Africa to learn discipline."

“You dare!” I shot back.

“When I get the signet ring, the Woodward Family will be mine. What do I have to fear?”

“Ma’am, I found it!”

One of the bodyguards handed Agatha my half of the signet ring. Agatha’s eyes lit up with excitement. She put the ring around her neck with mine. “Finally, the Woodward Corporation is mine! The power, the wealth, all of it!”

I scoffed, responding, “You’ve just got a token. It’s too early to celebrate.”

“The Woodward Family’s signet ring can give me control of 8,000 branches across America. With this, I’ll be in charge of the Woodward Corporation!”

“You think you’re worthy?”

“You’re still stubborn, even when you’re about to die! Take her and Thomas to South Africa!”

I checked the time. It was time. Sure enough, a group of men in black rushed into the estate and surrounded us. They easily took down the bodyguards holding me and my brother and protected us behind them.

Agatha had never seen anything like it. She quickly hid behind the remaining bodyguards.

"Who are you?" she demanded.

"We’re the guards of the Woodward Company," one of the men answered.

Agatha, relieved, took out the combined signet ring.

“I have the Woodward Family's signet ring! I’m your new leader now!”

“Now, listen to my orders. Arrest Elizabeth and Thomas!” she commanded.

However, the men in black didn’t move.

Agatha panicked. “Are you all blind? This is the real Woodward Family's signet ring!”

One of the men handed me an envelope. “Miss, we have what you asked for.”

I took the envelope and handed it to Richard.

“Dad, take a look,” I said.

Richard opened it hesitantly and Agatha quickly moved over. When Richard saw the contents, both he and Agatha were shocked.