The Man Who Saved Me from My Family’s Lies

I received a call from the police station.

They notified me that I had to identify the body. It was my biological father.

In that moment, I didn’t feel sadness or grief—only relief.

Because, in truth, I had imagined his death countless times.

His death meant my life.

...

It had been two years since my father disappeared.

I had caused a scene at home, and everyone turned on me, shouting insults.

It was Christmas time, and I had withdrawn the few thousand yuan I saved from my part-time job at school, planning to return it to my aunt’s family.

They didn’t have much education and were used to dealing in cash, but Uncle Oven’s son, Ethan, stole it from me.

The money I had worked so hard for, gone without a trace. I was determined to get an explanation.

“Give me my money back!”

I had barely shouted before their attitudes shifted completely.

Grandma Margaret sternly said, “He’s your brother. What’s the big deal if you spend a little on him? You’re a girl; you don’t even need that money.”

Grandpa Walter chimed in, “We’re family, why make a fuss over such a small thing?”

Uncle Oven was even angrier. “What’s with all the shouting? Huh? Even if I sold you, it wouldn’t pay your father’s debts. You belong to this family, and here you are, yelling over a measly bit of money.”

That was the first time I fought back against them. I had done so much for them over the years, yet I had already been sold to this family long ago.

But now, I had seen the truth. I didn’t owe them a thing. They were the ones causing all the trouble.

To them, I was easily manipulated. They said whatever they wanted, and I never opposed them.

And now, they kept trying to control me. “You come back, and the electricity bill skyrockets. I haven’t even asked you for food or housing money, and you still have the audacity to ask for more.”

The lies rolled off their tongues so smoothly I almost forgot who should be ashamed. They never asked for anything because I gave it willingly. The air conditioner outside Ethan’s room dripped constantly, and they blamed it on me. How dare they?

If they wanted to dig up the past, I was more than happy to do so.

“This money is me paying you back, but as for everything else you mentioned, I don’t accept any of it. But let’s talk about what you’ve done.”

I stood tall, unashamed.

He, however, felt guilty. He had done so much that he didn’t even know where to begin.

He stepped behind me, squeezing my arm, signaling that I better not anger him or I would regret it.

But I refused to back down.

“Uncle Oven, do you really think no one knows who was responsible when Ethan went missing as a child? It was you. You, of course. And it was aimed at me. But by some twist of fate, Ethan nearly paid the price.”

In our house, girls were seen as useless. Since I was young, they had shaved my head and treated me like a boy.

That night, when they tried to sell me off, they made a mistake and took Ethan instead.

I overheard Uncle Oven’s phone call. At the time, I didn’t understand, but now I knew exactly what had happened.

In an instant, Uncle Oven became the center of attention, the target of everyone’s ire.

Ethan must have hated him for it.

I knew too well. To Grandma, the only person worth comparing to her son was her grandson. When her precious grandson almost vanished, it must’ve enraged her.

At least it made him feel a sliver of the pain I had endured.

I overestimated myself and underestimated Uncle Oven’s position.

After a brief moment of satisfaction, the focus shifted back to me.

“You’re no saint, either. If it weren’t for you, would Ethan have suffered like this? You didn’t even help him.”

“If it weren’t for me, Ethan would have been gone. And now you’re here blaming me? You should all go to the hospital and check if there’s something wrong with you.”

It was laughable. Were they hoping I’d be taken away? If I hesitated for a second, who knew what would’ve happened to Ethan?

Instead of gratitude, they harbored resentment.

There was no reasoning with them.

“Since you all dislike me so much, I’ll just leave this house.”

They were heartless, and there was no reason for me to stay.