My Own Brother's Causing Me to Be Bashed Online

My name was Talia Holt. My younger brother, Doug Holt, brought his girlfriend home one day and said he wanted to get engaged with her.

My parents were very satisfied and said to me sarcastically.

"You are three years older than Doug. Hurry up! Or you'll stay single forever!"

Doug's girlfriend smiled.

"My family agrees to our engagement, as long as there is a dowry of 300,000 dollars."

My parents' faces turned pale in an instant.

"We do odd jobs. We don't have that kind of money at all!"

Doug's girlfriend got angry and was about to leave. Before she walked out, she turned around and glared at Doug.

"Forget about the engagement. Your family is so poor!"

Doug anxiously asked our parents for money, keeping saying how much he loved her.

I couldn't stand it and persuaded him.

"Doug, you're in college. At least wait until you graduate!"

I started working after graduating from high school to earn money for Doug's college tuition.

But he neglected his studies and had become a love-struck fool.

Our parents didn't have the money, and Doug was about to cry. He turned to look at me.

"You've been working for so many years. You must have saved a lot of money, right?"

I just wanted to throw a slipper at his face.

I paid for his tuition and living expenses. How could I save any money?

My parents saw my expression and suddenly knelt in front of me.

They anxiously said.

"Talia, 300,000 dollars is too much! We can only rely on you!

"Doug is our only son. Only he can pass on the family bloodline!"

My parents desperately said and knocked their heads on the concrete floor. Soon, their heads were covered in bruises.

My heart ached while Doug smiled at me shamelessly.

"Talia, thanks for the 300,000 dollars."

I cried and said I didn't have the money, but my parents kept pulling my legs and forcing me to come up with something.

I was so angry that I didn't eat, and I went straight back to my room and locked the door.

At night, Doug and my parents were whispering something.

I couldn't hear clearly, but I just felt that they were plotting against me.

As I woke up with dark circles under my eyes the next day, I saw Doug cooking.

He was frying something with a big pot of oil.

Doug glanced at me, his eyes more complicated than usual.

My mom was aside and hurriedly came up to me when she saw me come out.

The weather turned cooler, but they were sweating profusely.

My mom and Doug suddenly started arguing, holding big spoons.

"You know nothing about cooking. Let me!"

"I can do it! I watched tutorial videos online!"

I found it strange.

My mom had always spoiled Doug and never said anything harsh to him.

How come they were suddenly arguing today?

I approached them and glanced at them in confusion.

Doug suddenly threw a spoonful of oil at me.

I was in pain and convulsed on the ground.

My mom and Doug were still arguing.

After a while, they finally noticed me.

I was in so much pain that I passed out.

When I opened my eyes, I was in the hospital.

My right arm was wrapped in gauze, and the feeling of pain and itchiness spread throughout my body.

Outside the door, my dad was arguing with the doctor.

"We don't have any money. Can we go with the cheapest ointment?"

The doctor scolded him.

"She has severe burns. If she isn't taken care of, the scar will be hideous!

"Your son's clothes are all from famous brands. She's your daughter, right? So what if you pay for a bit of her ointment?"

Doug suddenly became excited.

"I'm a man! She isn't!"

My dad, who was at the door, met my gaze. He hurriedly asked the doctor with a smile.

"So, her arm will look ugly with the scar, but her life won't be in danger, right?"

The doctor fell silent in an instant.

Doug immediately echoed.

"Alright then. We'll go with the cheapest one!"

I took out my phone and searched for the scars left by the hot oil burn with my left hand.

They looked so ugly that my heart hurt.

Doug was watching a female anchor's live broadcast next to me with the maximum volume.

He occasionally teased.

"She wears such a short skirt. I bet she's trying to seduce the richest fan."

I frowned tightly.

"Don't slander her with your filthy thoughts."

Doug spilled the water from a nearby glass on me and cursed.

"You have such an ugly scar on your arm, and you won't be able to wear a dress. You're jealous, aren't you?"

My hair was all wet, and my arm started to hurt again.

With red eyes, I angrily threw the glass at him and cursed.

"Piss off! I don't need you to take care of me!"

The next day, my mom came over.

I wanted to complain to her and vent about the disgusting things Doug said to me yesterday.

My mom suddenly said seriously.

"Let's go. I'll take you somewhere!"

Seeing that, the doctor hurriedly stopped us.

He said to me, "You are so seriously injured. You've got to stay here for a few more days for observation."

But seeing my mom's overly serious face, I still pulled out the infusion tube and walked away with her.

Unexpectedly, she brought me to the insurance company.

As soon as she saw the claims officer at the insurance company, her eyes immediately lit up. She looked nothing but shrewd.

She grabbed my arm and asked.

"How much money can we get? My daughter was severely burned."

So, she brought me here for money.

She asked so clearly. She must have been planning this for a long time.

I fell silent.

The claims officer said in a businesslike tone.

"We need to see a professional appraisal report and evaluate the specific extent of the injury."

My arm was throbbing with pain.

I endured the pain and held my mom's hand, whispering to her.

"This can wait. Can you take me back to the hospital first?"

My mom threw my hand away and scolded me angrily.

"Are you saying that this is not important? This is the most important thing for our family!"