Chapter 2

"Yeah! We all believe in you! You just focus on getting better!"

They nodded, but their eyes never quite met mine.

The truth is, they didn't believe me at all. That's why they went so far as to put me in this state.

Ten years ago, my sister found me and brought me back, holding me tight as she cried, promising to spend the rest of her life making up for what our parents did.

Yet she was the one who crushed my dreams, sending me into an inescapable hell.

All for John, that fake young master who basks in their affection.

Tears blurred my vision. I could no longer tell who was truly their son and brother.

I would never measure up to John in their hearts.

In this family, there was no place for me, their own flesh and blood.

The doctor injected painkillers into my body. Looking at the horrific gash on my neck and my twisted limbs, his face showed a flicker of sympathy.

"Young sir, the specialists might be a bit late. Please hang in there for now."

But no painkiller could numb the agony in my heart. I whimpered, biting my lip hard enough to draw blood.

Seeing me like this, my parents' eyes welled up with tears.

My sister pushed her arm towards my mouth. "It's okay, little brother. If it hurts too much, bite me. Don't hurt yourself."They seemed like the family who cared about me the most, but I only felt a bone-chilling coldness.

When I regained consciousness again, it was already the next day.

Before the specialists arranged by Dad arrived, I overheard a conversation between my sister and mom.

"Emily, Xavion has already been punished. Do we still need to arrange for those reporters to come to the hospital today to expose his plagiarism? After all, we don't have any solid evidence..."

My sister sighed, her tone resolute.

"We must expose him! His vocal cords are already ruined so he can only leave the industry. He won't care about one more scandal. Only this way will Nolan gain the sympathy of the judges, and his chances of winning the Golden Melody Award will be much higher!"

"We raised Nolan, he wouldn't lie. Even without evidence, I have ways to testify!"

Dad reminded my sister, "When facing the reporters later, don't be too protective of Xavion. Make him deeply realize his mistakes, knock off some of his sharp edges."

My sister agreed in a solemn voice.

I lay on the hospital bed in despair, my tears long since dried up.

Ten years ago, my sister found me because of that singing competition video from the orphanage.He recognized me and brought me back, but I had to put in even more effort and hard work than John to get into the most prestigious music academy alongside him.

Later, I even composed "The Underwater Xavion Sky," a song that was nominated for a Grammy.

Yet my sister believed John's words and was willing to give false testimony for him, ruining my reputation!

My heart was torn to pieces. If I had known it would come to this, I wouldn't have gone back home with them no matter what.

"Bang!"

The hospital room door was violently pushed open, and a group of reporters with cameras and microphones swarmed in.

I lay motionless on the hospital bed, watching helplessly as they began their slanderous questioning.

"Xavion, we heard you're suffering karma from those haters because you plagiarized your brother's work. Do you admit your mistake now?"

"We heard they cut out your vocal cords and broke your arms and legs. Are you going to become a mute cripple?"

The reporter in the front, face full of indignation, suddenly pulled back his microphone and laughed as he was asking questions.

"I almost forgot you can't speak now. Well, let's show everyone then!"

He yanked off the blanket covering me, exposing my mangled and twisted limbs for all to see.

"Now that your arms and legs are broken, you probably can't plagiarize your brother's songs anymore, can you?"

"That's not necessarily true."Maybe they could be a plagiarizing dog with a strong will despite physical disabilities! Isn't there someone who can type with just their tongue?"

The female reporter next to me had a face full of mockery and disdain.

Everyone surrounded me, snapping photos nonstop. Their contempt and derision felt like sharp knives stabbing directly into my heart.

I was utterly humiliated, yet unable to open my mouth to argue back. My swollen eyes once again filled with tears.

"Xavion, even now you're still playing the victim. Aren't you going to apologize to your brother?"

Seeing my condition, the female reporter shoved her camera in my face and began livestreaming.

"Famous singer-songwriter Xavion, crippled by fan retaliation for stealing his brother John's original songs..."

Tears blurred my vision. I wanted to hide, but realized even moving an inch was a luxury beyond my reach.