Chapter 2

By the time we arrived at the motel lobby, Mom was already walking out, her face covered in bruises and scratches, with Thomas trailing behind her.

Seeing that she was still alive, a massive weight lifted off my chest. "Mom, your face..."

From what Mom said, I realized their cab had been delayed. By the time they arrived, Rachel's lover had already escaped.

Thomas had been brutally beaten and screamed at by Rachel. In her attempt to break up the fight, Mom was the one who ended up getting severely hurt.

"I told you not to go! But you just wouldn't listen!" Dad's voice shook with rage, though his eyes were filled with gentleness. "For that deadbeat brother of yours, how far are you going to drag yourself and this family down?!"

He grabbed the first-aid kit and started gently applying antiseptic to Mom's cuts.

"Hey, George, put some of that on me too. That crazy bitch scratched my arm up pretty bad," Thomas said, holding out his arm.

Dad glared at Thomas, picked up the rubbing alcohol, and poured it directly onto his open scratch. Thomas shrieked in pain, jumping back.

"George! What the hell is wrong with you?!"

But Dad just stared him down, his voice ice-cold. "If you ever drag your sister into your pathetic drama again, I swear to God I will end you."

Seeing that Dad was truly furious, Thomas immediately turned to my mom for backup. "Sarah! Are you just going to stand there and watch your husband bully your own brother?! Did you forget what Mom told you on her deathbed? She told you to take care of me and never let me suffer!"

Mom sighed quietly. She turned to Dad and said, "Just drop it, George. It’s actually my fault. I shouldn't have let him marry Rachel back then."

I remembered it clearly—it was Thomas himself who had thrown a massive tantrum, insisting he would only marry Rachel. But Mom seemed to have completely blocked that out.

Beside me, Chloe rolled her eyes hard at Thomas.

Thomas instantly redirected his anger at her. "What happened to your 'exploded appendix'? I told you she'd be fine after a little pain. George, you're blaming me, but it was Chloe who wasted our time. If she hadn't ruined it, I would have gotten my divorce by now. What a useless brat!"

Chloe wasn't afraid of him at all. She snapped back immediately, "If I'm a brat, then you're a pathetic coward! If you actually had the guts, you would've divorced her already instead of blaming me. And hey, I hope your appendix explodes next so you can see how 'fine' it feels!"

"Sarah, George, look at this girl! She has absolutely no respect for her elders! If you don't discipline her now, she's going to turn out completely useless! Kevin is so much better than her."

I thought to myself, *Shut your damn mouth. Don't you dare try to drive a wedge between my sister and me.*

But even after dinner, Thomas showed no intention of leaving.

Dad stood up, clearly trying to kick him out. "Thomas, it's getting late. You should go home. Your wife is probably..."

Thomas remained glued to the couch, sending Mom a pathetic, pleading look.

Mom’s heart softened again. "George, let him stay for the night. They just had a huge fight. Let them both cool down. He can leave tomorrow."

Dad let out a long sigh, looked at Mom with utter disappointment, and walked back to the bedroom alone.

My parents had fought countless times because of Thomas. I think Dad had finally realized that Mom was a lost cause.

"Sarah, I'm sleeping in Kevin’s room tonight!" Thomas called out.

Chloe immediately spoke up for me. "Thomas, you're a grown man! How can you steal a kid's bed? Aren't you embarrassed?!"

Thomas argued shamelessly, "Did your teachers never teach you to respect your elders?!"

Chloe mocked him ruthlessly. "Well, where do you sleep when Rachel kicks you out of bed? The floor? Our living room floor is pretty spacious. Go sleep there."

Thomas began bickering with Chloe like a spoiled toddler.

"Enough! Both of you!" Mom interrupted, putting an end to the useless argument.

"Kevin, sweetie, would you mind letting your uncle have your bed tonight?"

Chloe shook her head at me frantically, warning me not to agree.

I was about to refuse, but a sudden thought struck me. This was the perfect opportunity. So, I smiled. "Of course I don't mind!"

Chloe glared at me, clearly thinking I had betrayed her.