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    Archie was all set to rush home and check if anything was missing when he ran into Andrew just outside the hospital room.


    “Where are you off to?” Andrew asked.


    Archie quickly shared his theory andined, “That brat’s been acting so weirdtely–never listens anymore. If she really stole from home to pay for this fancy room, I’m gonna teach her <i>a </i>lesson.”


    But Andrew just smirked. “Why bother checking? Whether something’s missing or not, if <i>we </i>say she stole, then she stole. It’s that simple.”


    Archie stared for a second, then broke into a grin. “You’re right. Let’s do it.”


    Alicia had just returned to the hospital entrance when Andrew and Archie stepped forward, clearly waiting for


    her.


    “Alicia! You’ve got some nerve stealing from your own family!” Archie shouted the moment he saw her.


    They’d chosen the busy entrance on purpose–more people to witness her humiliation.


    Alicia looked up calmly. Archie’s face was twisted with anger. “If you needed something, you could’ve asked. Why steal?”


    He’d said “steal” twice now loudly enough for everyone in the lobby–patients, visitors, staff—to hear. Heads turned. Eyes narrowed.


    Alicia felt a familiar rage burn in her chest. They’d done this to her so many times before. In the past, she’d stay silent because arguing back only made it worse- “How dare you talk back after what you did!” So she’d swallow the injustice and take the me.


    She’d carried their secrets and their lies for years.


    When Archie broke their father’s favorite vase–he said she did it. <fn4d7c> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel</fn4d7c>


    When Aaron mixed makeup remover into Maria’s foundation and embarrassed her publicly–Alicia was beaten for it.


    When Andrew scratched up the leather sofa with his toys–he pointed at her.


    Every time she took the me for them, they’d call her a “good girl.” As she grew older, desperate to win their approval, she became even morepliant–agreeing with whatever they said, never talking back, never arguing.


    She thought if she pleased them enough, they’d finally love her. She craved their approval—their affection— so badly.


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    But all she ever got was hit. And over time, they didn’t even thank her anymore. They just expected it


    Two years ago, Andrew got into race car driving. He stole money from Maria to rent a car–and let Alicia take the me.


    That time, she was beaten so badly she almost died.


    Looking back, she felt stupid. So stupid. Love and family couldn’t be earned by swallowing humiliation.


    Well, not anymore.


    She met Archie’s re coldly. “Whose money did I steal? Tell me.”


    “Ours! The family’s!” he shot back, chin raised.


    Andrew jumped in, adding fuel to the fire. “Face it, Alicia–you’re a thief.”


    He turned to the crowd that had gathered, raising his voice. “Hey, everyone–keep an eye on your stuff! This girl’s been staying here, and she’s a pro. Been stealing since she was a kid.”


    People immediately clutched their bags tighter. A few stepped back.


    “Wow, she looks so sweet though.”


    “Guess you really can’t tell by looks.”


    “Thieves are the worst. My cousin’s hospital money got stolenst week–imagine how low you gotta be?”


    Whispers and stares shot through the crowd.


    Andrew and Archie exchanged smug looks. Perfect.


    Archie seethed inside. This is what she gets for not ying along anymore. If she’d just stayed quiet and obedient like before, he wouldn’t have lost his whole allowance this month after scratching Dad’s car.


    He could’ve pinned it on her like always, kept his 3k, and who knows–maybe even tossed her a couple hundred for her trouble.


    But she had to go and grow a backbone. So now she’d learn.


    They’d always thought she never fought back because she was slow–too dumb to talk her way out of things, That’s why they were so bold now.


    Alicia justughed coldly. “Got any proof? And since I’m such a habitual thief, what exactly did I steal?”


    “You stole Mom’s money! You almost got beaten to death, remember? Andrew said, looking pleased with himself.


    Alicia smiled. “Did I, though? You know who really took it. And I’ve still got the transfer records to prove it.”


    Andrew’s face went white. Yeah–he’d sent the money from Mom’s ount to hers first, then had her forward


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    it to him. All to make her take the fall.


    But that was two years ago. How could Alicia still have those records?


    He refused to believe it. “You’re bluffing, Alicia. You can’t scare me.”


    She just smiled, pulled out her phone, and shed the transfer history right in front of his eyes.


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    She didn’t show the crowd–they wouldn’t know who “Mom” or “Andrew” was anyway. But he knew. And if he admitted it, everyone would know the truth.


    Sure enough, Andrew went pale. “You kept those records all this time? Are you insane? Were you just waiting to use this against me? God, you’re so calcting. It’s disgusting.”


    Yeah, Alicia thought. Maybe she was insane.


    Back then, her brothers rarely messaged her. She cherished every little interaction–even a transaction record. So she’d held onto it, like some sad souvenir of the family she wished she had.


    How ironic that it’de in handy now.


    “Guess I am crazy,” she said, voice steady. “I used to care so much about having a real family. That message from you was one of the few you ever sent me. I treated it like something precious.”


    Andrew stared, speechless for once.


    Around them, the crowd’s tone shiftedpletely. “What kind of brother does that? Steals from his mom and mes his sister?”


    “Seriously, she kept his chat history because she cared? And he calls her calcting?” “I saw the screen—just those two cold messages. He only talked to her when he needed a scapegoat.”


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