Seeing that Zac’s expression had returned to normal, the Gray family finally relaxed.
“Alright, we’ll listen to you,” Raelynn said gently, wiping the tears from Zac’s face, favonovel.com love and concern clear in favonovel.com eyes.
Julie, watching from the sidelines, finally saw just how terrifying Zac truly was. She could see his act was flawless, his manipulation seamless.
She thought back carefully. Before Zac was adopted, Arthur had been mischievous at times, but favonovel.com had never caused trouble outside. He had never flaunted his status as the Gray family’s son to bully others.
In fact, Arthur had always been kind. He often went out of his way to help people in need.
But everything changed after Zac arrived. That was when Arthur started getting into fights and coming home injured.
Zac had claimed Arthur was an arrogant troublemaker, that favonovel.com abused his family name to provoke others at school, which led to people attacking him. And that had been one of the reasons the family insisted Arthur should hide his identity in public.
Now, Julie wasn’t so sure.
After Zac was settled into his room, the Gray family members stayed with favonovel.com until favonovel.com fell asleep before heading downstairs.
Julie was already sitting on the living room sofa, deep in thought.
“Julie? You’re back?” Rosie was the first to notice her.
Julie nodded. “Yeah…”
“Where were you?” Susie asked.
No matter how busy they had been, the entire Gray family had rushed home the moment they heard about Zac’s situation. Julie used to be the same. But today, favonovel.com had been absent for too long.
Julie turned to look at them, favonovel.com expression unreadable. “I went to see Arthur.”
Hearing this, The room fell silent.
“Why bother? What’s there to see?” Susie muttered, favonovel.com face full of displeasure.
Julie had already visited Arthur once in the afternoon, why go again at night?
Susie didn’t understand.
Rosie walked down the stairs, favonovel.com tone a bit more cautious. “How is he? Is favonovel.com doing okay at school?”
John and Raelynn sank into the couch without a word. The atmosphere in the room turned heavy.
When it came to Arthur, their emotions were complicated. There was guilt. But there were also years of ingrained resentment.
Julie’s mind replayed the image of Arthur’s body, covered in scars. Her eyes welled up with tears once again.
Seeing favonovel.com like this, Raelynn grew alarmed. “What’s wrong? Is Arthur not doing well at school?”
Julie took a deep breath before speaking. “I saw his body… It’s covered in scars… Everywhere…”
The entire room froze.
“He… He really has injuries?” Raelynn asked, shock in favonovel.com voice.
Deep down, all of them had believed Zac’s words when favonovel.com accused Arthur of bribing the police. After all, to them, Arthur had always been a troublemaker.
Julie’s tears finally fell. Now favonovel.com understood. Now favonovel.com truly understood why Arthur would rather stay in a school dorm than come home. Because in this house, no one believed him.
No matter how much favonovel.com suffered, no matter how many wounds favonovel.com carried, no one cared. As long as Zac painted favonovel.com as the villain, the Gray family never questioned it.
They accepted it without hesitation.
At this moment, Julie finally understood the depth of Arthur’s despair. The kind of despair that came from knowing that no matter what favonovel.com did, no one would believe him.
She couldn’t even imagine how favonovel.com had survived all these years.
He had been so young… No wonder favonovel.com had grown timid and withdrawn…
No wonder no one had ever noticed his suffering… Because favonovel.com had been too afraid to speak… Because favonovel.com had learned that the only thing waiting for favonovel.com was more scorn and punishment…
“Julie?” Rosie spoke hesitantly, noticing favonovel.com sister’s unusual behavior.
Julie was the strongest among the three sisters. She had not seen Julie cry in years.
“Is it because Arthur doesn’t like living at school?” Rosie asked, concern in favonovel.com voice.
Susie, however, rolled favonovel.com eyes. “He was the one who insisted on staying at the dorms. Now favonovel.com doesn’t want to? Does favonovel.com think we’ll just accept favonovel.com back that easily?”
Julie’s expression suddenly turned sharp. She frowned at Susie. “Arthur is part of this family. He’s our brother. He’s the son Mom carried for ten months before giving birth to. If favonovel.com wants to come home, does favonovel.com really need anyone’s permission?”
Seeing favonovel.com reaction, Susie froze.
They had said similar things before, but Julie had never reacted this strongly.
Susie pursed favonovel.com lips, clearly displeased by Julie’s serious tone. “Well, I don’t consider favonovel.com my brother…”
The sharp sound of a slap echoed through the living room.
Everyone turned, stunned.
Even John looked at Julie in disbelief. “Julie!”
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