Her Turn to Break the Rules

My parents mentioned long ago that they wanted to host a grand banquet to celebrate my coming of age.

However, unexpected work issues delayed their arrival.

The crystal chandelier cast a dazzling light over the room.

Dressed in a tailored cocktail dress, I descended the spiral staircase into the living room.

From a distance, I spotted my brother, Shawn Wood. He was dressed sharply in a suit, his expression cold and detached as he called out to me, “Sierra, come here.”

I walked over, deliberately ignoring Alec’s piercing gaze and Linda’s tearful, pitiful display behind him.

Smiling sweetly, I asked, “What’s up, Shawn? Did you prepare a gift for me?”

Shawn’s icy stare lingered on me for a moment before he spoke.

“Bullying your classmates and insulting your friends—Sierra Wood, is this the kind of behavior the Wood family taught you?”

His voice was loud and unyielding, drawing the attention of every guest in the room.

“What are you talking about, Shawn? I don’t understand.”

I turned to Linda, tilting my head innocently.

“Who did I insult? When did I bully a classmate? I don’t even know her.”

“Denying it now won’t help you. When you make a mistake, you pay the price.”

Shawn’s voice was stern as he continued, “With Mom and Dad away, it’s my responsibility to discipline you.”

He reached for a ruler from the antique shelf nearby, turning to face me with a harsh command.

“Kneel down.”

…

In the grand banquet hall, countless guests turned to watch, their faces a mix of curiosity and barely concealed amusement.

“What? Bullying a classmate? Even the Wood family’s heiress does things like this?”

“Well, she’s been spoiled her whole life. It’s not surprising she’d lash out at someone better than her.”

“Good thing her brother is stepping in. At least he’s not covering for her.”

Under Linda’s triumphant and provocative gaze, I stood tall, refusing to bow.

I smiled, letting venom drip from my words.

"What nonsense are you spouting, Shawn? People who know you might recognize you as Shawn Wood, but those who don’t might just think you’re an outdated, overly dramatic lunatic”

I tilted my head, feigning thought before continuing with a mocking grin.

"I only kneel for the dead. Tell you what, go take a dive off a building, and I’ll happily bow three times to send you on your way."

Shawn’s face darkened instantly.

Behind him, Linda put on her usual act, speaking in a soft, tearful voice.

"Shawn, I know Sierra doesn’t like me, and it’s fine if she bullies me. But how could she say something like that to her own brother?"

She widened her eyes, letting tears glisten as she deliberately assumed an innocent and childlike expression.

Alec, standing nearby, caught sight of her performance.

A shadow of something dark and unreadable flickered in his gaze before he spoke quietly.

"Sierra, if you’ve done something wrong, just admit it and apologize. There’s no need to—"

I cut him off, my own eyes widening in mock distress.

"Sorry, I don’t understand whatever nonsense you’re saying. Care to try again in plain English?"

"Enough!" Shawn barked sharply.

"Sierra, you’re a young woman! Have you no sense of shame? Who taught you to speak so crudely and behave so disgracefully?"

As always, he didn’t believe a word I said.

No matter what came out of my mouth, it was useless.

Instead, he always judged me with intense bias, nailing me to the pillar of shame time and time again.

I curled my lips into a smirk, mimicking his cold expression as I replied, "Mom and Dad are too busy to bother with me. So, guess who taught me?

"Of course, it was you, my dear brother."

…

In my previous life, I had always felt a mix of fear and admiration for Shawn.

He was several years older than me, and in my eyes, he had always been an imposing figure.

When we were younger, Mom and Dad were often tied up with work at the company, leaving him in charge of me.

Whenever I made a mistake, even a small one, he’d strike my palms with a ruler or punish me by withholding meals.