Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 239 Opposition

Compared to the shy way Emily used to say "thank you," her voice was much clearer now as she read the text.

Through the door, I could picture her sitting upright at her desk, totally engrossed in her book. I placed the cupcakes at the door, knocked lightly twice, and then quickly ran to the next floor. After a bit, I heard the door creak open. "Who is it?" Emily asked cautiously.

I pressed myself against the hallway wall, holding my breath, staying silent. For the past two years, I'd been keeping an eye on her and doing these little things, but she had no clue about me. After a while, I heard the door close. Taking a few quiet steps up, I peeked and saw the cupcakes were gone. As I walked downstairs and hopped on my bike to leave, I instinctively glanced up at her window. To my surprise, she was peeking out. I nervously looked down, pedaled fast, and rode out of Broadway Alley.

I thought to myself, 'Why am I so nervous?'

Honestly, I could totally be friends with Emily, care for her, and protect her. After all, she didn't know who I was or the truth. But I just didn't have the guts, probably because I was scared she'd see through my guilt.

Just like before, when I finally got the courage to offer to walk her home, Emily didn't even look up at me. Her shyness and my guilt meant we would never interact directly. I rode my bike to the hospital. Martin wasn't in his office; I heard he was in surgery, so I sat in the office waiting.

The office walls were covered with tons of certificates, all of Martin's honors. I didn't know how long I waited, but Martin finally came back, taking off his gloves as he walked in. He looked tired but was pleasantly surprised to see me. Martin said, "Ethan, what brings you here?"

I handed him the cupcakes.

"Mom asked me to bring this. Grandpa, can you come home for dinner after the surgery? Mom's cooking."

Martin sat behind his desk, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, and flipped through the medical records on the desk, saying, "There's another surgery later, the patient is waiting. I can't go home now."

Then Martin asked, "Has your dad gone back?"

I stood up and said, "I was just about to call him."

Martin slammed the medical record on the table, somewhat angrily, and said, "You must get him back for me. You're already grown up, and he still acts irresponsibly!"

Martin knew all about Victor's craziness. I never got why Victor's temperament and character were nothing like Martin's, and I was nothing like Victor. By the time I left the hospital and got to the stone factory, it was already late. I immediately spotted Victor's car parked in front of the bungalow.

I knocked on the door. Victor asked who it was from inside, but I didn't answer. I was feeling stubborn and rebellious, not wanting to talk to him. After a bit, the door finally opened, and I caught a glimpse of panic on Victor's face. "What are you doing here?"

must have been sent back by him. I had a suspicion, so I pushed him aside and walked in, searching everywhere. Victor scolded me, angry that

him. I grabbed the stuff and was about

if he had lost something precious, got down on the floor and started picking up the stuff bit by

so angry, my chest felt like it was going to explode. Locking the door, I dragged a rope out from under the bed, pulled

dare

resisted and cursed at me, but at 15, I was already half a head taller than him. He was no longer my match. This wasn't the first time I tied him up. The last time he had a drug relapse and hit Cindy, that was the first time I tied

person. At times, he was overly submissive, and at other times, he was aggressively volatile. I had already learned to tell right from wrong, so I felt it was really unfair to

him to continue like this, didn't want him to bully Cindy anymore.

stuff. Home didn't feel like home anymore, and I was really worried we'd end up like that. Victor was tied to the chair, unable to move,

was my last resort. Cindy always taught me about respecting our elders, and I saw how she treated them with such respect. If

knew I just wanted a promise from him. Even though his promises meant nothing to me, I still hoped he'd make

passed by, they told Victor to go home. They

didn't want

everything quieted down, and

tired of

was a

Victor, are you

voice. She must have been worried because I hadn't come back so

Linda, Cindy hadn't come to the stone factory, probably to

Cindy's knocking was urgent, and

then at Victor, suspiciously asking, "What were you doing? Why did it

and Dad was scolding me." I threw out an excuse and went

"Victor, today is Ethan's birthday. Come home

me to

remember the last time we had a meal together; most of the time, it was just Cindy and me. Because of the earlier conflict, Victor looked at

Cindy probably sensed something was wrong and tried to lighten the mood with

can try harder next time. Ethan, tell

pulled my backpack over, and handed her the report card without any