Shallow Love, Lingering Affection

The Burns family has only one biological son, Jason.

I, Norah, am just a facade for the Burns family.

Jason wants to control me, of course, it's just a game to him.

No matter how outrageous Jason is with me, Dad will only give him a few light warnings.

Fortunately, the Burns family is wealthy; they are among the top elite in Vertex.

Mom, wanting to maintain her "virtue," will still take care of me financially.

Although that money is just a small fraction of what the Burns family has.

It's enough to make me stand out on campus!

I get a monthly allowance of two hundred thousand.

Plus, I have various designer clothes, bags, accessories, and cosmetics.

It's simply the dream of most girls.

Mom gave me a credit card.

She said, "Norah, Jason doesn't understand.

"Don't let your brother get to you.

"This card has a limit of one hundred fifty thousand; consider it my apology to your brother."

I happily accepted my mom's kindness.

Meanwhile, Jason shot me a look of hatred.

"Are you satisfied? Happy?

"Isn't this why you came to our family?"

I had nothing to say.

I knew that no matter what I said, it would be pointless.

Even though I was still very hungry, I put down my fork to avoid Jason and headed upstairs to my room.

I wanted to go back to my bedroom and study quietly.

But as soon as I reached the corner of the stairs...

A big hand pressed me hard to the ground.

My whole body throbbed in pain.

Tears brimmed in the corners of my eyes.

The voice behind me kept roaring.

"Norah, it seems like you're handling this money quite easily?

"Is it that cheap and easy to take?"

Jason kept punching and kicking me.

The injuries I got during the day had already left me weak.

And now, I was getting new injuries.

I kept thinking to myself, 'Norah, don't cry.

Norah, you are strong.

Norah, your parents are great scientists of the nation.

Norah, you can't embarrass your deceased parents!'

Perhaps Jason felt that my reaction was not what he had anticipated.

He became bored after a while.

Exhausted from beating me, he finally stopped.

Throughout it all, Mom and Dad of the Burns family just kept their heads down.

One was eating, the other was nibbling on fruit.

They showed no intention of stopping their son.

It seemed like I came to the Burns family just to amuse their son.

I was so hungry and in pain!

I knew that if I didn't save myself, I might die here tonight.

I quickly walked out of the villa.

Behind me, I heard Jason's scolding.

"Norah, if you're brave enough, don't come back to our home.

"Hmph, you must be reluctant to leave this immense wealth behind!"

...

Even though I was badly hurt, most of it was external injuries, which weren't hard to deal with.

I went to the pharmacy to buy some bandaging supplies.

By chance, I ran into Riley.

He was also buying medicine.

"Excuse me, can you give me a discount?

"Can you sell it to me for thirty dollars less?"

The sales clerk turned red in the face.

Angrily, she said, "You're the aunt here; your whole family is a bunch of aunts."

I walked over.