Katie lowered her head, covering her mouth as she coughed violently. Her thin frame shook as she bent over, as if she might cough up a lung. Clifford snapped, “Don’t think I’m going to let you get away with this just because you’re faking being sick! I told you to look after Sally at school, get her water, and her food, but instead, you made her get your food! And you’re not only ungrateful, you even tripped her on purpose? Have you no shame?” Katie held back her cough. “I didn’t push her. She fell on her own—” “Are you trying to say Sally couldn’t keep her balance and fell on her own? Do you really think I’d believe such a lousy excuse? Admit it, did you do it on purpose?” Katie’s eyes stung as she straightened her back. “I won’t admit to something I didn’t do.” Smack! A harsh slap landed on her face, the sting burning instantly. But no matter how much her face hurt, it couldn’t compare to the pain in her heart. The pain had left her numb. “Clifford, what are you doing?” Eddie walked in quickly and grabbed the enraged Clifford. “Eddie, she did something so malicious and still refuses to admit it! I can’t have a sister who’s this cruel and unrepentant!” Sally stood by the door, her hand wrapped in gauze, looking all pitiful. Her eyes red, she spoke quietly, “Clifford, I already said it was my fault. It has nothing to do with Katie.” “Sally, you’re just too kind. I have to teach Katie a lesson today, or she’ll go astray!” Clifford was about to strike again when Ryan suddenly pulled out a chair with a loud screech against the floor. Katie turned toward the sound. Ryan stood there, his face expressionless, leaning slightly against the table. His eyes were sharp and cold. “Are you family members of the student?” Eddie nodded. “Yes, we’re her brothers.” “She has a 102.2-degree fever, possibly an infection, and needs further examination. She also has low blood sugar and is slightly malnourished!” Clifford was taken aback. “She’s really sick?” He thought she was just pretending to be ill to avoid facing responsibility! Ryan said calmly, “Maybe you should get your eyes checked. It’s so obvious, how could you not see it?” The girl’s face was pale, clearly showing signs of illness—how could he not see that? Clifford was caught off guard. “What do you mean by that?!” Ryan frowned, his voice flat. “I mean exactly what I said. Even though she’s your foster sister, if you’ve taken her in, you’re still responsible for her.” Katie’s eyes glinted with sarcasm when she heard the word foster sister. Eddie quickly corrected him, “She’s my biological sister, not foster sister.” Ryan raised an eyebrow. “You’d need a magnifying glass to spot the difference. If you hadn’t called yourselves family, I was ready to call the cops. Someone here is abusing a minor!” Clifford saw Katie’s swollen, red face and his tone turned harsh. “What do you know? I’m just teaching her a lesson!” Eddie was left speechless. He had thought Katie was healthy, unlike Sally, who had gotten sick from falling into the water. Clifford looked at Ryan with disdain and said, “You don’t know, but Katie has always liked to fake being sick to avoid her responsibilities. This time, she even intentionally hurt Sally. Sally’s father died trying to save her. Sometimes I really wonder if there’s any kindness left in her heart!” Katie’s throat burned with pain. She wanted to argue, but in the end, she said nothing. Even if she spoke up, it wouldn’t matter. They wouldn’t believe her anyway. Sally bit her lip. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have been so clumsy, and I shouldn’t have tried to force myself to get food for Katie.” “It is your fault,” Ryan suddenly spoke. His gaze remained cold and indifferent. “If you’re sick and getting IV, you shouldn’t be in class. You knew you were sick, so you shouldn’t be burdening others. Stop pretending that being weak gives you the right to behave like this.” Katie’s eyes went wide in surprise as she stared at the harsh-talking school doctor. Did he just stand up for her? Did he actually believe her? Katie’s eyes instantly stung with tears. A stranger understood something so simple, yet her brothers couldn’t. Or perhaps they did understand, but they were so biased toward Sally that they chose not to acknowledge it. Sally’s face stiffened, and she clenched her teeth in annoyance. What was the school doctor trying to do? Didn’t he see her sick and still trying to get food for Katie? Why hadn’t he been moved by her kind actions, and instead spoken up for Katie? This didn’t make sense. Every time she used this tactic, it worked. Sally was speechless for a long moment, her head hanging in helpless frustration. Clifford stepped forward to defend Sally. “Sally came to class even though she was sick because the college entrance exam was less than a hundred days away. She couldn’t afford to miss any lessons. She was only trying to make peace with Katie, but some people just don’t appreciate it.” Katie felt ironic. This morning, Clifford reminded her to take good care of Sally, and to serve her water and tea. Did doing all that mean it wouldn’t affect her studies? So, he knew the college entrance exam was less than a hundred days away after all. It’s just that her exam wasn’t as important as Sally’s. Eddie spoke up, “Clifford, take Sally home to rest and recover.” “Eddie!” Clifford protested. “Are you not going to listen to me now?” Clifford fell silent and left with Sally. The infirmary fell quiet once again. Eddie frowned. “Katie, if you don’t want to take care of Sally, that’s fine, but you can’t pull stunts like this again.” Katie kept her head lowered, her throat sore. She didn’t feel like saying anything more. She pulled the blanket over her head, not wanting to see them anymore. “Katie, if you keep acting like this, I can’t cover for you anymore.” Eddie was getting frustrated. He reached over and pulled the blanket off. “Come with me, we need to talk.” It was time to have a serious conversation with Katie. Sally couldn’t be hurt any longer. Ryan held Eddie’s arm, his gaze cold. “She has to finish this IV before she can leave. Family members can wait outside.” Ryan’s gaze was sharp and commanding, carrying an authority that left no room for argument. Katie looked up in shock, seeing him stand tall in front of Eddie. Her eyes were drawn to the scar on his wrist—bright red, ugly, and strikingly noticeable. She had a scar like that on her leg, a reminder of a car accident from her childhood. Had he been through a car accident too? Eddie didn’t back down. “I’m her brother. I’m taking her home. We have a doctor at home.” “You have a doctor at home, but why did you let her stay sick for so long?” Eddie glanced at Katie’s pale face, feeling guilty. He answered somewhat guiltily, “She didn’t tell us she was sick.” And he had tried to feel her forehead earlier that morning, but she had pulled away from his hand. Was it his fault? Maybe Katie had purposely delayed seeking help to avoid taking responsibility. Ryan’s tone grew stern. “Sir, if you try to take her against her will, I’ll report you for child abuse. Under the law, if a child is experiencing domestic violence, they can request a protection order.” “I’m her biological brother, her guardian!” “But just now, I saw you guys hit her. I witnessed the violence, and there are cameras here that will back it up. I believe the police will make a fair judgment.” Ryan remained calm and unyielding. “She doesn’t want to go with you right now. You have no right to force her.” Katie’s heart skipped a beat, and she couldn’t help but steal a glance at the man standing before her.