Realizing that I had tricked him, Oscar flew into a rage and lunged at me. He wrapped his hands around my throat.

"Why, you little bitch! It seems that you've really gotten smarter, huh? You even dared to set me up! Don't forget that you're just an adopted daughter in this family!" he snarled.

His words felt like a brutal slap across my face.

In my previous life, he had overshadowed me completely. Once we entered high school, he begged me to help take care of Tracy. Naturally, I didn't want to do it. Novaris University extended an invitation to me to join their Gifted Scholars Program as well.

But Oscar kept persuading me, saying that he trusted no one but me because he considered me his sister. He appealed to me and said earnestly that he needed my help to look after his girlfriend.

I had thought that I should be grateful to have a family member who trusted me since I was merely an

Snapping out of my memories, I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh as I looked at Oscar.

I retorted, "You're right. I'm just an adopted daughter in this family. But you're not the one who raised me! I will spend my life repaying our parents for everything they've done for me, but none of that has anything to do with you.

"If you want to be with Tracy, I won't interfere. But please stay out of my life as well. I have no interest in your so-called love story."

Oscar didn't believe me. A mocking smile appeared on his face, and he even let out a scornful snort.

"Such noble words. If you really mean them, then drop out and stay far away from me! You call me your 'brother' so sweetly, but deep down, you're harboring dirty thoughts about me. Just thinking about it makes me sick!"

I nearly laughed out loud. Where did he get this ridiculous notion that I had feelings for him?

"Oscar, d

I had no idea how Oscar and Tracy resolved the issue that day. But for the next few days, they didn't come to bother me, so I assumed that they must have worked it out somehow.

I never expected that Oscar would suddenly appear after school that afternoon.

He rode in on a motorcycle, dressed in a black leather jacket, and glared at me with pure hostility.
Something in my gut told me that he was dangerous. I instinctively turned to leave, but before I could take a step, he revved his bike and cut my path off.

Before I could even say a single word, he swung his fist and punched me hard in the face.

He scolded, "Do you even realize how disgusting you are? What does my relationship with Tracy have to do with you? Did you really have to run to Mom and Dad and tattle? What, do you actually want to get married to me? Have you ever looked at yourself?"

My head spun from the blow. For a moment, I couldn't even process what he had just said.

By the time I picked myself up from the ground, he had already ridden off. It wasn't until I got home that I learned the whole story.

That morning, my parents had gone to see Tracy's mother, Daisy Newell. They reminded her to keep her daughter in line. When Tracy got home, she was beaten black and blue. Oscar assumed that I had asked our parents to confront Daisy, so he waited for me at the school gates and punched me.

When my parents saw the bruise on my face, they were heartbroken and kept apologizing to me. But I knew this wasn't their fault. At the same time, I could see their unmistakable disappointment.

After that day, a rumor circulated around the school. People claimed that not only was I in love with my adopted brother, but I had also attempted to throw myself at him in the middle of the night. Every detail was disturbingly accurate, and even the small red birthmark on my back was mentioned.

I never expected Oscar to take his revenge this far.

Almost overnight, I became the most despised girl in school. Oscar even went around pretending to be the victim. He told anyone who would listen that I was a pervert who had stolen his underwear.

After that, whenever I walked through the school grounds, people would whisper snide remarks at me. My phone number was leaked, and I received disgusting text messages daily. Some people even called to ask what my rates were.

It sickened me.

One day, when I finally had some free time, I confronted Oscar. "Do you think this is fun?"

He had a cigarette between his fingers and was lazily puffing out smoke from his nostrils. His expression was one of impatience as he replied, "Of course it's fun. If I can't have peace, neither can you."

"I already told you that I had nothing to do with Mom and Dad going to see Tracy's mother," I said firmly.

He scoffed, his eyes filled with pure disdain. Clearly, he didn't believe me.

"What do you want from me?" I pressed on.

"It's simple. Drop out. Leave this place as far behind as possible. Tracy said that just seeing you makes her sick."

"So you admit that you spread those rumors? You slandered me, didn't you?"

"Yeah, so what? Making up stories about a girl who has disgusting thoughts about her own brother is a pretty good idea, isn't it? What do you think will happen if Mom and Dad find out? You should just be smart and leave before it gets any worse."

I laughed coldly in response. That was all I needed to hear.

Oscar would never have guessed that the very words he had just spoken were already being broadcast across the entire school. I was holding a phone that was still on an active call.

On the other end of the line, my friend was in the school's broadcasting room, holding the phone to the microphone.

"You bitch! You tricked me!" Oscar roared.

Realizing that I had tricked him, Oscar flew into a rage and lunged at me. He wrapped his hands around my throat.

"Why, you little bitch! It seems that you've really gotten smarter, huh? You even dared to set me up! Don't forget that you're just an adopted daughter in this family!" he snarled.

His words felt like a brutal slap across my face.

In my previous life, he had overshadowed me completely. Once we entered high school, he begged me to help take care of Tracy. Naturally, I didn't want to do it. Novaris University extended an invitation to me to join their Gifted Scholars Program as well.

But Oscar kept persuading me, saying that he trusted no one but me because he considered me his sister. He appealed to me and said earnestly that he needed my help to look after his girlfriend.

I had thought that I should be grateful to have a family member who trusted me since I was merely an adopted child. Besides, deep down, I felt guilty about causing his and Tracy's relationship to be s

Chapter 6