After Falling for My Adopted Elder Brother

My cousin was addicted to gambling and racked up a huge debt.

Those three were his creditors. They often came to the house to collect and would disgustingly leer at me.

In the end, my cousin decided to use me to settle his debt.

He locked the door from the outside, and my desperate cries filled the room.

"I'm the adopted daughter of the wealthy Phillips family. If you touch me, my brother won't let you get away with it!"

They kept tearing at my clothes while mocking me.

"Wake up. Mr. Phillips is already paired up with the real heiress. Their photos are all over the internet. He doesn't even remember a fake like you.

"Go on, call his name. See if he comes to save you."

That night, I cried until I had no more tears left.

From then on, I never mentioned Dylan's name again.

It was as if I had erased him from my memory.

My aunt raised a bamboo stick to hit me. However, my cousin rushed in with Isaac, an old bachelor from the village.

"Mom, stop hitting her.

"The Phillips family sent someone. They're outside. You should go handle it. Isaac has some business to take care of here.

"Alright."

My aunt's face lit up when she saw Isaac slip some cash to my cousin.

As soon as she left, Isaac couldn't wait to pounce on me, tearing at my clothes.

I instinctively tried to dodge, but Isaac grabbed me by the throat.

"You wretched woman. I paid for this. Don't think you can act tough just because the Phillips family sent someone. I'll kill you right now if I have to."

I stopped struggling.

I numbly closed my eyes.

Before I went to meet the steward, my aunt made me change into my old clothes. They barely covered the scars and marks all over my body.

She gripped my arm tightly, hissing threats into my ear.

"Don't forget your parents' graves are on our land. If you don't want them to rest in peace, you better remember what you should and shouldn't say."

Over the past three years, they had used my parents' remains to threaten me countless times.

Thomas had worked for the Phillips family for many years and had watched me grow up.

When he saw me, his eyes instantly filled with tears.

"Miss, how did you end up like this?" he asked, his voice trembling.