My Brother's Scapegoat

Why did they treat me like this? I tried my best to please this family. I was never picky with food. As soon as I got home, I stayed silent and even avoided speaking loudly. I earned all my living expenses since childhood through my own hard work and frugality.

What about Ian?

As soon as he started school, my mother quickly bought him a new phone and computer. She even glorified it. "Your younger brother will become a big shot, unlike you. People like you will only end up in the gutter for the rest of your life, and there’s no way you can ever compare to your younger brother."

However, it was precisely a loser like me who saved Ian's life at the critical moment.

After learning he had escaped, I was so angry that I drove home overnight to make him turn himself in and explain.

The victim was an elderly man in his 80s with no children. He was extremely pitiful as he relied on collecting recyclables to make a living.

However, my mother slapped my face. "He's an old geezer who doesn't have many years left. Your brother is doing society a good deed by robbing him. Ian's now going to prison. As his older brother, how can you just sit by and do nothing? Take his place."

I almost could not believe my ears. "Mom, this is jail. My whole life is going to be ruined! He's your child, and I'm not?"

Perhaps the request was too outrageous, so I could no longer suppress my anger. I blurted out the question that had been hidden in my heart for years.

My mother turned her head away guiltily. "You're his older brother. Why can't you give Ian a bit of leeway?"

She was insane. How could she say something like that?

Seeing me turn to leave, my mother instantly pulled out a dagger she had prepared beforehand and held it to her neck. "If you disagree, I'll die in front of you today. I'm your only mother anyway. Think about it carefully. It's just a few years in prison."

Although she was threatening me, she dared not cut herself, carefully maintaining a distance.

She knew best that I was filial and could not bear to see anything happen to her. As long as she threatened me with her life, I would agree to any unreasonable request.

I had never imagined that my filial piety would become her bargaining chip. In the end, I sighed and walked into the police station.

My mother's smug voice reached my ears. "See? I told you he's just our slave; he'll do whatever we say. Now you can rest easy. It's alright that his future is ruined. You're my precious child."

It turned out that my mother would never accept me, no matter what I did.

I was prepared to spend years in prison, but I had never imagined Ian had a murder charge against him!

When I received the execution warrant, I trembled uncontrollably.

I called my mother, clinging to a last glimmer of hope. I hoped she would take me home after learning the truth. After all, she went through ten months of pregnancy to have me too.

However, she laughed out loud after hearing what I said. "Mason, who are you trying to convince with the clumsy lie? You're going to be executed? Do you really think I don't understand the law? I just asked you to do jail time. Do you have to go so far? Don't you think about others at all? I'm busy and don't have time for you. If you're so anxious to die, go ahead. Don't bother me!"

The call ended abruptly.

I stared at the white wall as tears streamed down my face.

A gunshot rang out, and my worthless life came to a complete end.