Once the Fake Son Died, the True Heir’s Lies Fell Apart

The bone in my leg had seen through the skin, leaving it visible. I stood before them, dragging my broken leg.

Anyone else with such a wound would have been in unbearable pain and unable to stand.

Luckily, the system showed me mercy and activated my pain resistance, so I didn’t feel a thing.

Mom covered her mouth, crying. "Joseph, how could you be hurt this badly!"

Dad's eyes flashed with pain. "How could you do this to yourself?"

Even Cindy, who had been harsh with me earlier, stood frozen in shock. Claire pushed through the crowd and saw me lying there.

"Joseph?"

I raised my blood-covered face and looked at him. "You came just in time. I have a few questions for you."

Matthew soon appeared, looking composed in his perfectly fitted suit, but his face was covered with tears. "Joseph, today is the most important day of my life. Do you really have to destroy it?"

He trembled as he cried. "Why do you keep targeting me? You’ve already taken everything I had!"

"I only want Claire. Can’t you just let us be together?"

Cindy tried to help me up. "I’ll take you to the hospital."

"Sister!" Matthew’s voice shook as he cried. "The ceremony is about to start. Are you leaving now?"

"This is just Joseph hurting himself. Do you honestly think I would beat my own brother like this?"

Cindny pushed my hand away.

"Joseph, you’re truly cruel. Just to accuse Matthew, you’d go as far as hurting yourself like this."

"Go to the hospital on your own. Don’t worry, our Rodriguez Family won’t abandon a cripple. We’ll get the best doctor to fix your leg."

I knew no words could change anything, so I clenched my teeth and stood up. "I just want to say a few things to you, then I’ll leave."

"Claire, from the beginning, being with me was only a bet between you and your sister. You never truly loved me, did you?"

"Yes."

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I once believed I was the happiest person alive. I had parents and a sister who loved me and someone who cherished me deeply.

But it turned out everything was just a dream that broke so easily. I could have chosen to stay in this world forever, surrounded by my family. However, now, I have made up my mind to return. "One last question."

"Why did you wait until the wedding day to tell me the truth when you had already been with me?"

"Because Matthew couldn’t handle it, he made me keep it a secret."

I burst out laughing. "My brother is truly kind! He didn’t want me to be sad, so he waited until the wedding day to tell me it was all just a bet."

"You made me wear a suit and watch you get married like a fool. Wasn’t that just to humiliate me?"

"Nonsense! Matthew isn’t as scheming as you claim!"

I gave a bitter smile. "Not as scheming as I say? Since he came home, he’s tried to kill himself countless times, big and small."

"When did he ever succeed? Someone who really wants to die doesn’t wait to be saved!"

"Shut up! How dare you speak that way about your brother!"

Dad was about to strike me again, but Mom stopped him. "Enough! Joseph is already badly hurt. Don’t hit him."

"Dad, I’m your son too. You raised me with love. Just because I’m not your real son, does that mean I don’t deserve your trust?"