The day before the admission quota was announced, my sister was kidnapped by robbers.

To save her, I was dragged deep into the mountains by a gang of thugs.

By the time my sister arrived, my legs were bent at an unnatural 90-degree angle, and my lower body was drenched in blood.

She rushed me to the hospital in a frenzy, begging the doctors to save me.

With red-rimmed eyes, she swore she would make sure every single person who hurt me ended up behind bars.

But just as I lay in bed, I heard a hushed voice outside the door.

"Sister, wasn't it too much to put on such an act just to give the admission quota to Leo? How will Bert even get married after this?"

My sister let out a quiet sigh. "What choice did we have? There was only one admission slot this time. If you want to blame someone, blame Bert for always having the best grades and overshadowing Leo. Ever since he and his aunt came into our lives, he’s been desperate to prove he’s not a burden. He studies day and night, pushing himself to the limit, just for this chance. I won’t let anyone stand in his way."

"As for Bert, once he recovers, he’ll go straight into the company for his internship. I’ll make sure no one humiliates him for what happened. And if he really can’t get married in the future... I’ll stay by his side for the rest of my life."

Tears streamed down her face like shattered pearls.

The sister who once doted on me, who couldn't bear to see me suffer, had given her heart to someone else.

If that’s the case, then I don’t need it.

——

Just then, the doctor rushed in with a surgery consent form.

“The patient is in critical condition. His lower body has sustained severe damage, and he needs immediate sutures. A family member must sign.”

My sister took the form, and to my horror, she tore it apart.

"Wait until tomorrow," she said.

The doctor stared at her in shock. “Your brother can still be saved. If we delay any further, he may lose all function in his lower body. He won’t just be incontinent—he’ll have to wear diapers for the rest of his life.”

My sister hesitated slightly.

“Sister,” someone pleaded. “Shouldn’t we let him have the surgery now? Can you really bear to see him like that?”

“What if I can’t bear it?” she snapped. “We’re at the final step. I won’t let anything ruin this now. Besides, if Bert becomes disabled, his dream of going to graduate school will be completely crushed. He’ll have no choice but to stay in the company and work honestly from now on.”

With that, she gave the doctor a firm look. “We’ll let you know when we’re ready.”

I lay on the bed, trembling.

Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine that the ones who tore me apart weren’t just those thugs but my own sister—the one who had always protected me.

After my mother passed away and my father remarried, I was no longer the only son in his eyes. But my sister… she never abandoned me. She used to travel 50 kilometers from school every day just to have dinner with me and tuck me into bed. If I scraped my hand, she would cry and punch the wall in guilt.

And now, she was the one who orchestrated my downfall.

She destroyed my dignity. She ruined my future.

Even my younger sister, the one I raised with my own hands, had become an accomplice.

Despair gripped me as I clutched my head and let out a gut-wrenching sob.

Hearing the commotion, two figures burst through the door.

"Bert!"

"Brother!"

My sister rushed to my side, pulling me into a tight embrace, her hand stroking my back over and over.

"Bert, it’s over now. Don’t be afraid. I’m here," she whispered soothingly.

The other girl wiped the tears from my face, her voice gentle.

"Brother, don’t worry. I’ve had all those bastards arrested. No one will ever hurt you again."

Watching the two of them put on such a sincere performance in front of me,

I could only let out a bitter smile.

But the ones who truly betrayed me,

who hurt me more than anyone else,

are you?

I closed my eyes weakly. After a long silence, I spoke, already knowing the answer.

“Sister, when will the operation start? The pain is unbearable…”

Upon hearing this, my sister suddenly slapped herself hard, her voice trembling with guilt.

“Bert, I’m so sorry! It’s all my fault for being so useless… I couldn’t even invite a top medical expert to treat you.”

“I just don’t trust any other doctors. What if they make a mistake and leave you with permanent complications? You’re still young… You’ll get married and have a family in the future…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll go to her in person and kneel if I have to. I swear, you’ll have the surgery first thing tomorrow morning.”

She then turned to a nurse.

“Please, give my brother the best anesthesia available. He’s terribly afraid of pain…”

But as the nurse lifted my sleeves, her face turned pale.

She gasped at the sight before her—my body, covered in deep bite marks, raw wounds oozing blood, and in some places, even exposed bone.

She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.

“You monster! In all my 20 years of medical experience, I’ve never seen such cruelty!”

Then, turning to me with deep sympathy, she said,

“Young man, I’ll have to inject anesthesia into multiple wounds. Just hang in there.”

The next second, a thick needle—wider than my finger—pierced a festering wound.

I couldn’t take it anymore. The pain was excruciating.

My sister hurriedly shoved her hand into my mouth, afraid I might bite through my tongue.

She also gripped my palm tightly, allowing my nails to dig deep into her arm, leaving behind sharp, red marks.

In that moment, they still acted as though they loved me as they always had…

But I couldn’t feel a trace of warmth anymore.

When I regained consciousness, only ten minutes remained before the guaranteed admission results were announced.

From the bathroom, I overheard my sisters whispering.

“Sister,” one of them said, covering her mouth, “I already spoke with the school. Bert has officially withdrawn his application for the guaranteed admission slot. So… should we release those videos of him being humiliated online?”

Her voice wavered slightly, but her determination was unwavering.

“Post them!”

“We need every student to see them so that Leo can secure the graduate school spot without question. As for Bert, his reputation is already in ruins… This last step won’t make a difference.”

Without hesitation, my sister nodded and immediately contacted a media company.

Tears welled up in her eyes, rolling down like shattered pearls.

I couldn’t believe it.

My own flesh and blood—my sisters—were willing to push me into the abyss for a stepson.

Memories of that nightmare and the sickening sensation of those men touching me crashed over me like a tidal wave.

My entire body began to tremble.

Just then, my sister walked in and saw my reaction.

She rushed to me, holding me tightly, and pulled out her phone. With a cheerful tone, she started a live broadcast.

“Bert, it’s all over now. Come on, let’s watch the graduate school admission results together! It has to be you!”

“When the time comes, Alex and I will send you to school together.”

Her voice was warm, reassuring.

But I only stared at her blankly and whispered,

“Sister… can I still study?”

“Yes! Of course, you can!” she answered instantly.

But as soon as the words left her lips, she averted her gaze, unable to meet my eyes.

Because deep down, she knew better than anyone—

It was impossible.

I would never sit in a bright, pristine classroom again.

The sister who once swore to protect me after our father remarried,

The sister who vowed she would never let anyone hurt me,

Had crushed me with her own hands.

Even the sister who had followed me around since childhood had become my executioner.

And then, through the phone’s speaker, the principal’s excited voice rang out:

“Let us all congratulate Leo Lamb for securing the guaranteed admission to graduate school!”

A satisfied smile curled at the corner of my sister’s lips—

but the next second, she threw her phone to the ground.

“This is too much! It’s unfair!”

“You’re the top student—how can the guaranteed admission go to Leo?”

“Bert, don’t worry! I’ll go to the principal right now and demand an explanation for you!”

I watched her put on her little performance, numb and broken inside.

As soon as she stormed off, the nurse pushed open the ward door.

“It’s time for your surgery,” she said.

She hoisted me into a wheelchair. With my pelvis fractured, I had no choice but to rest one leg awkwardly on the armrest.

But the moment we reached the corridor, a massive crowd swarmed in.

Reporters wielding cameras, microphones—

Familiar faces from school among them.

“Jen Sherman, is it appropriate for a college student to engage in group sex, leading to a ruptured lower body?”

“Jen, you’ve always been top of your class. But now, many suspect you earned your grades by selling your body. Do you have anything to say?”

“Jen, the school has officially revoked your postgraduate qualification, citing moral corruption. Any comments?”

Frozen in horror, I barely noticed the school thug sneering beside me.

“If I’d known you were this desperate,” he chuckled, “I would’ve had my turn earlier.”

Then, without warning, he yanked my loose-fitting pants down.

Under the harsh glare of the cameras, my disfigured body was exposed.

I tensed, terrified that the dark brown liquid seeping from my wounds would drip onto the floor.

“Oh my god, the stench! That’s disgusting!”

“Stop talking—I think I’m gonna puke out everything I ate three days ago!”

Flashes erupted as the cameras clicked relentlessly.

I clenched my jaw, shaking from sheer humiliation.

“Come on, everyone, take as many photos as you can!” someone laughed.

“This is the perfect cautionary tale—proof of what happens when you throw away your dignity!”

“No one should end up like Jen, ruining himself to the point of becoming worthless trash!”

Each word sliced into me like a dagger.

I wanted to escape,

but the nurse held my wheelchair in place.

There was nowhere to run.

I was trapped—nailed to a public execution, left to be trampled under their feet.

“Get out! Get out!”

A furious roar rang through the corridor.

My sister burst in, throwing herself in front of me.

She ripped off her coat, wrapping it tightly around my exposed lower body.

“You animals! You absolute monsters!”

Tears streaked down her face as she and my younger sister grabbed a fire extinguisher, their eyes burning red with rage.

Swinging it wildly, they drove the crowd away, scattering reporters in every direction.

The last time they fought like this, I had been bullied at school.

Back then, my older sister didn’t hesitate—she bashed the bully’s head open.

My younger sister followed up with a few ruthless kicks of her own.

Later, my father made them apologize.

But my older sister had only scoffed, “I won’t let anyone hurt my brother.”

My younger sister had declared, “I’ll always protect him. No one can bully my brother!”

That day, I was overwhelmed with emotion.

But now…

Watching the veins bulging in their fists as they seethed with anger—

I felt nothing.

Once the reporters were gone, my older sister knelt beside me, cradling me gently in her arms.

“I’m sorry, Bert… I should’ve come sooner.”

My younger sister reached out, gripping my trembling hands.

“Brother, don’t worry. I promise I won’t let those videos spread.”

Their acting was flawless—no cracks in their performance.

But I wanted to laugh.

Because to hand Leo the graduate school admission,

they hadn’t hesitated—

To rob me of my dignity.

To cripple me.

To destroy me.