Part 3The Price of Pity

3

The next morning, the top three trending topics all featured my name.

#RonIsColdBlooded #RonDoesn'tDeserveTheBadge #RonShouldDie had millions of views.

In the video, Iris, sporting a brand-new rank insignia, looked resolute.

"As a police officer, saving lives is my duty. I'm not a hero; I just did my job."

Flashbulbs popped as reporters thrust microphones toward her.

"There are rumors Ron refused to help because he was afraid failure would hurt his career. As his fiancée, what do you think of his actions?"

Iris casually touched the engagement ring on her finger, smiling at the camera.

"I can't judge his choices, but since we're a couple, my intervention is effectively his intervention..."

"Besides, everyone has a selfish side. He must have had some selfish thoughts."

Her statement successfully redirected public outrage toward me, completely avoiding the fact that my arm was broken.

Netizens attacked me relentlessly. Some even dug up my entire background, fiercely claiming I was trying to seize the family fortune by letting my brother die.

"Ungrateful snake! Would he be anywhere without Ethan's care and concern?"

"He always had a dark personality. That's why his adoptive parents abused him! The pitiful deserve what they get!"

"I heard he stole things as a kid! How did he even get into the police force?"

In two short minutes, #RonGetOutOfThePoliceForce# was the number one trending topic.

I wanted to ignore it, but I underestimated the power of the online mob. A cab driver recognized me and sped away as soon as I hailed him.

I walked to the commendation ceremony.

I looked up and saw the scene of domestic bliss: my entire family of four. My biological parents and my fiancée, all clustered around Ethan, treating him like royalty.

Seeing me, the smiles on their faces instantly froze.

My mom's eyes fixed on my right hand, which was now free of the cast. She screamed.

"I knew it! You were faking it!"

"What sin did I commit in a past life to give birth to a beast like you!"

My brother, Ethan, his eyes red-rimmed, his voice hoarse, challenged me. "Little Ron, why? I'm your brother."

The room instantly exploded with noise.

"Oh my god! He faked an injury to let his own brother die!"

"The Rhodes family is worth hundreds of millions! That ungrateful viper wanted to inherit everything, that's why he was eager to kill his brother!"

"He's deranged! Arrest him immediately!"

I ignored the noise, focusing on Ethan's handsome face.

I once naively believed that though we weren't blood-related, our bond was stronger than that of brothers.

But I was too naive.

Before I could speak, Ethan tore open his hospital gown, revealing shocking bruises all over his body.

"Since it's come to this, I don't have to hide the truth for you anymore."

He turned to the cameras, tears perfectly sliding down his face.

"Actually, my kidnapping... was planned entirely by my little brother, Ron..."

"He's the culprit. Of course, he wouldn't save me!"

"He's been abusing me for the entire eight years he's been back."

He pointed at the scars, his voice trembling.

"He resented me for taking his place. Every time Mom and Dad were nice to me, he'd find an opportunity to hit me, burning me with cigarettes."

"I was afraid of upsetting Mom and Dad, so I kept it hidden..."

Under the flashbulbs, the bruises on his body looked terrifying.

My former comrades looked at me with revulsion.

"He always looked so decent! A monster behind the scenes!"

"A wolf in sheep's clothing! He doesn't deserve to live! He should be tortured!"

My mom rushed to Ethan's side, her trembling fingers tracing the bruises, sobbing.

"You poor boy, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"How did you endure all these years? It's my fault for bringing that beast home and ruining your life!"

Ethan let a single tear roll down his cheek, whispering miserably.

"Every time I tried to say something, he'd threaten to have me thrown out. I didn't want to leave you..."

My mom's eyes became lethal. She grabbed the microphone stand nearby and violently swung it at my head.

"I shouldn't have given birth to you! You plague, why don't you just die!"

Warm blood streamed down my brow into my eye, but I started laughing.

How ridiculous. My own biological parents wished me dead.

Just then, several Internal Affairs officers approached.

"We received a tip-off about a suspected murder-for-hire plot. Who filed the report?"

Ethan and Iris exchanged a secretive smile.

My dad stepped forward immediately, pointing at me with sorrowful authority.

"Officer Lee, my unfilial son is responsible for the murder-for-hire."

"Take him away..."

He was cut short by my voice.

"I filed the report."