While I was giving birth, my husband’s stepsister barged into the delivery room, snapping photos of me without consent. “Ew,” she grimaced, covering her mouth. “You look absolutely hideous giving birth, Sarah. I bet my brother is going to be traumatized.” Humiliated and furious, I screamed at her to get out. My younger brother, defending me, snatched her phone and deleted the invasive photos. She immediately threw a tantrum outside the ward. “I worked hard to take those! What right do you have to delete them?” My husband’s face went dark. He punched my brother to the ground. “Kneel and apologize to Bella, or I’ll make you regret it!” On a day that should have been about welcoming new life, my in-laws surrounded my brother and beat him. “She was taking photos of my sister!” my brother shouted back, refusing to yield. “I only deleted those specific ones!” My husband scoffed. “Bullying a young girl and you think you’re right? Anyone who messes with my sister pays the price.” He grabbed a chair, ready to break my brother’s hand. Ignoring my pain, I rushed out, face pale, and slapped my husband across the face. “Mark, I want a divorce!” Chapter 1 The slap forced Mark’s face to the side. A red handprint bloomed on his cheek instantly. He looked at me, eyes filled with shock and disappointment. Before I could speak, Bella rushed forward and slapped me back. “Sarah! Don’t be ungrateful!” Weak from childbirth, I lost my balance and crashed to the floor. The stitches from my C-section tore open. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead as the pain blinded me. Crimson blood began to spread, staining my white hospital gown. “Sarah!” My brother, Leo, screamed. He was already beaten and bruised, but he tried to crawl towards me. My father-in-law and the others dragged him back like a dead dog. Bella stood over me, looking down with a sneer, her voice dripping with venom. “Sarah, how could you?” “This is your husband! You hit him for your brother? Did you ever even love him?” She raised her voice on purpose, making sure all the relatives gathered around heard every word. The murmurs of agreement started immediately. “Exactly. She married into our family, why is she siding with outsiders?” “Her brother is out of line, and as the older sister, she’s just making it worse. Disgraceful.” Mark glanced at me coldly, then wrapped his arm around Bella to comfort her. Just then, a nurse brought the baby out. I struggled to lift my head and saw Bella snatch the baby from the nurse. She held my newborn son, a cruel smile playing on her lips. “Choose,” Bella said. “Your precious son, or your brother. If you choose the baby, Leo loses both hands. If you choose your brother, from today on, this baby has nothing to do with you. I’ll raise him as my own.” “Choose, Sarah!” My newborn child had become a bargaining chip. No one stopped her. Some of the relatives even looked like they were enjoying the show. Leo, barely conscious from the pain, yelled, “Sarah! Ignore me! Choose the baby! Choose the baby!” Mark looked at me, covered in blood, with zero compassion in his eyes. “Sarah, stop making a scene. Bella just wants justice. Pick one, and we’ll let this go. Otherwise, you know the consequences.” My breath caught in my throat. On one side, the child I carried for nine months. On the other, my only family left in this world. Both were pieces of my heart. I couldn't choose. The baby seemed to sense the hostility. He suddenly let out a loud wail. The cry pierced my heart like a needle. “Sis...” Leo whispered desperately. My body shook violently, and I coughed up a mouthful of blood. The crowd stepped back in disgust, covering their noses. Bella smirked. “No time to hesitate! Three seconds! One, two—” I reached out, wanting to touch my baby, wanting to comfort my brother. But my gaze landed on Mark. The man I had loved for five years, been married to for three. Now, he watched me drown in despair, helping an outsider force my hand. Darkness swamped me. My lips trembled, trying to form an answer, but before I could speak, everything went black. Chapter 2 “Leo!” I woke up screaming, struggling to sit up. A pair of strong hands pinned my shoulders down. I looked up into Mark’s deep eyes. He was sitting by my bed, looking tired. “Mark, where’s Leo?” I grabbed his wrist, my voice shaking uncontrollably. “What did you do to him? Tell me!” Mark frowned, prying my hands off. His tone was calm. “You were unconscious for a day. You didn’t choose, so I chose for you.” “If Bella hadn’t been kind enough to beg for mercy, Leo would have lost both hands.” “What?!” I stared at him in disbelief, screaming in rage. “Mark, you animal!” I tried to get out of bed, desperate to find my brother, but he held me down firmly. “You just had surgery, you can’t move! Sarah, it’s done. Making a scene won’t change anything. Worry about your own health.” “Let me go!” I roared like a trapped beast. “That’s my brother! My only family! What right did you have to choose for me? What right did you have to hurt him? Mark, I’m going to kill you!” The ward door was kicked open with a bang. Bella walked in carrying a thermos. She walked straight to the window and poured the steaming chicken soup out. “Ungrateful wretch! Who do you think you are, drinking soup from the Sterling family?” She turned, her face full of disgust. “Sarah, your parents died early, so no one taught you gratitude, right? My brother gave you everything, and you dare blame him for disciplining your trashy brother?” “We should have crippled him completely so he couldn't cause more trouble.” Bella pulled out her phone and threw it onto my bed. The screen lit up, playing a video of Leo being beaten. Bodyguards swung wooden bats at his arms. The sound of bones cracking was sickeningly clear even through the phone speakers. Leo curled up on the ground, wailing in agony, calling out for me hoarsely. I shuddered, hatred flooding my veins. I summoned every ounce of strength and shoved Mark away. He stumbled back, hitting the wall, caught off guard. I didn't look back. I ran out of the room like a madwoman, desperate to find my brother. As I burst out of the hospital entrance, my feet rooted to the spot. My blood froze. At the bottom of the hospital steps, Leo was curled on the concrete. His left arm hung uselessly, blood soaking his sleeve. His face was ghostly pale, brows knit in pain. He was muttering, “Sis... my hand...” I stumbled down the stairs, voice breaking. “Leo! I’m here! I’ll get you help!” Clutching my painful abdomen with one hand, I used the other to hook under Leo’s armpit, trying to lift him. Supporting each other, we limped step by step toward the hospital entrance. Just as I used my last bit of strength to push the doors open, Bella and the bodyguards blocked the way. She smirked cruelly. “Sarah, want to save your brother?” “Simple. Kowtow ten times. Loud ones. Until I’m satisfied.” “In your dreams!” Leo jerked his head up, screaming through a hoarse throat. “Sis, let’s go! Don’t beg her! She’s not worth it!” “We’ll go to another hospital. Someone will help us! Let’s go, Sis!” Bella looked down at us, her voice dripping with arrogance. “Let me tell you, with one word from the Sterling family, no hospital in this city will dare to admit you.” I looked at Mark, standing behind her. He watched silently, allowing Bella to torment us. I let out a tragic laugh, tears brimming but refusing to fall. “Mark, do you remember the promise you made when you proposed?” Chapter 3 My voice trembled but every word was clear. “You said you would treat Leo like your own brother.” “Is this how you treat him?” Mark stiffened as if hit by a hammer. The indifference on his face cracked, replaced by a flicker of panic. Noticing this, Bella hooked her arm through his, soothing him. “Mark, how can she say that? You’ve been so good to Leo. He was the one who was disrespectful to me. He did something wrong, he should be punished!” “Don’t let her gaslight you!” Mark stepped forward, his tall figure casting a shadow over me. His eyes were full of disappointment and disgust. “Sarah, I thought you were sensible. I didn’t expect you to be so blind to right and wrong!” “You don’t have to kneel. Just abandon him. There will still be a place for you in the Sterling family.” “You should know what’s more important: your child or your brother.” I scoffed and ripped the wedding ring off my finger. I threw it hard. It clattered to the ground at Mark’s feet, just like his broken promises. My voice was ice cold. “Mark, we’re done!” I gritted my teeth, supported my brother, and walked away without looking back. We went to three major hospitals. All of them stopped us at the door. I knew Bella had made the calls. She wanted to corner us. By nightfall, I finally found a small clinic. I grabbed the old doctor’s arm, begging. “Doctor, please look at my brother’s arm. We’ll pay whatever you want.” The doctor frowned as he cut open Leo’s sleeve. The arm was severely swollen and bruised. A gentle touch made Leo almost pass out from pain. The doctor sighed gravely. “The injury is too severe. I can only do basic first aid. You need to get him to a major hospital immediately. If the broken bone compresses the blood vessels for too long, he might need an amputation.” Hearing this, my legs gave out, and I collapsed. “Sis!” Leo tried to get up, his face twisting in pain. He reached out to me with his good hand. “Sis, don't worry. I still have one hand.” “As long as you don't mind having a cripple for a brother.” The despair in his eyes broke me. “Leo, don’t worry. I won’t let you lose your arm.” Suddenly, the clinic door was kicked open with a bang. Bella stood there, looking down at us. “Sarah, I thought you’d find somewhere decent. You’re hiding in this dump?” She looked at Leo maliciously. “Leo, blame your sister. If she had just knelt, you wouldn’t be losing an arm.” The old doctor frowned. “Miss, there’s a patient here. Watch your mouth.” “Watch it?” Bella laughed and threw a stack of cash onto the table. “Old man, this covers your rent for six months. Kick them out now. Otherwise, I won’t just close you down, I’ll make sure you can’t survive in this city.” A bodyguard stepped forward, glaring at the doctor. The doctor hesitated for a long time, then sighed, putting down his instruments. “Miss... I’m sorry...” The word “amputation” echoed in my ears. I scrambled up, dropped to my knees, and started banging my head on the floor towards Bella. Blood trickled down my forehead, but I kept going. “Bella, I beg you. Let my brother see a doctor. Don’t let him lose his arm. I’ll do anything. I’ll be your slave!” Bella crossed her arms, a cruel smile on her lips. “Begging me? Sarah, did you hit your head too hard? When did I say I’d let him see a doctor if you knelt?” That sentence was the last straw. It destroyed the final shred of hope I had. I grabbed a scalpel from the tray and lunged, pressing it against her throat. “Bella, take my brother to the best hospital now! Find the best orthopedic surgeon! Or you die with him.” Bella shrieked, trembling. “Sarah, are you crazy?!” “Mark! Mark, save me!” Mark rushed in recklessly. His eyes went red with rage. “Sarah! Have you lost your mind?! How dare you hurt Bella!” Without waiting for an explanation, he kicked me hard in the stomach. I flew back and hit the floor, feeling like every bone in my body shattered. “Mark, open your eyes! She’s stopping my brother from getting treatment! She’s trying to kill us!” “She’s the one in the wrong, and you keep enabling her!” I clutched my stomach, looking up at him with accusation. But Mark didn’t care. He was busy checking Bella for injuries. When he looked at me, his eyes held nothing but cold hatred. “I won’t forgive anyone who hurts Bella.” He barked an order to the bodyguards. “Break her brother’s other arm! Show her what a living hell feels like!” In that moment of crisis, I shakily pulled out my phone. My fingers fumbled across the screen. When the call connected, I used my last bit of strength to scream. “Is this... is this Grandpa Quinn from Ark Biotech?” My voice was broken, sobbing. “I’m the daughter of David and Linda Su. My brother is being beaten to death... they’re going to break his arms... please, save us...” Chapter 4 Mark snatched the phone impatiently. “Calling for help? Let’s see who dares to interfere with my business!” But the next second, an authoritative voice boomed from the phone. “I don’t care who you are. Get your dirty hands off her immediately! If you touch her again, you’ll pay for it!” Bella scoffed, unbothered. “Sarah, you think a phone call can save you? Let me tell you, even if God himself came down today, he couldn’t save you!” She grabbed the phone and smashed it to pieces. Mark gave a cold order. The bodyguard raised the steel pipe again. I pressed the scalpel against my own neck. “Mark! If you hurt my brother again, I’ll die right here! I’ll make you live the rest of your life with my blood on your hands!” “Sarah, are you threatening me?” I didn't speak, just stared at him, eyes bulging with hatred. Mark, frightened by the look in my eyes, took a step back. While we were locked in a standoff, Bella snatched the steel pipe. “Sarah, you can threaten my brother, but you can’t threaten me.” “You dared to touch me? Today I’ll break your brother’s arms and legs. I’ll make sure he’s a cripple for life.” She advanced step by step, a triumphant smile on her face. Regret welled up inside me. When I dated Mark, Bella bullied me relentlessly because she thought I stole her brother. I thought true love could conquer all. Instead, I ruined myself and hurt my brother. Just then, a roar came from outside. An old man in a Mao suit pushed the door open, his sharp gaze sweeping the room. When he saw me and my injured brother, he shouted sternly: “Who did this?” Bella was startled by Mr. Quinn’s imposing presence. After looking him over, she sneered. “Acting tough?” “Where did you dig up this poor relative, Sarah? Get out!” Seeing Mr. Quinn didn’t react, she got bolder, lifting her chin arrogantly. “Let me tell you, this is Sterling territory. If you don’t know what’s good for you, don’t blame us for what happens next!” Mr. Quinn smiled faintly. “Oh? Is that so?” As soon as he spoke, rapid footsteps echoed from the alley. A squad of well-trained men in black suits rushed in. The leader walked straight to Mr. Quinn and bowed respectfully. “Sir, everything is ready.” Mr. Quinn nodded slightly, looking at me and my brother with kindness. “Don’t be afraid, children. With me here, no one can touch you.” The leader signaled his men. Two medics rushed forward with a stretcher, carefully securing my brother. Another man helped me up. “Miss Su, don’t worry. We will do everything to save your brother.” I nodded weakly, a glimmer of hope in my eyes. Mark and Bella turned pale, frozen in place. Seeing their cowardly faces, I felt a deep sadness. I had wasted my best years on such people, and caused my brother such pain. Just as we were about to board the helicopter, Mark’s hoarse voice called out. “Stop!” He stumbled over to block us. “Who do you think you are? What right do you have to take them? Leo made a mistake and deserves punishment. This is our family matter, not the business of some random old man!”
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