"Here, eat up. The shrimp will do you good. Mom's only asking for a little blood donation. No need to stir up trouble," she said with fake sweetness.

Nice. She was flipping the script on me.

I put on my best-hurt face. "Mom, you're so careless. You know I break out in hives from shrimp. Dad made such a big deal about reminding you. Don't tell me you forgot?"

Louise had always doted on her precious son, never sparing a thought for me.

Now she was trying to play the doting mother in front of Dad.

If she wanted to put on an act, I'd play along.

Dad clenched his fists, his voice getting more challenging with each word. "Is this... is this how you've been taking care of Grace?"

Louise's face turned ashen. Her thin lips tightened, but she couldn't find the words to respond.

I showed the needle marks on my wrist, choking back tears. "Dad... I always eat leftovers. My stomach hurts all the time now. If you want me to donate blood, I will..."

Disgust flashed in Louise's eyes as she turned to Dad. "Who are you going to believe? Her or me?"

Dad pressed his lips together, saying nothing as he got up and walked into my room.

When he returned with my stomach medication, Louise's face showed shock, and she was about to lash out at me.

I cut in with a tearful voice. "Dad, I asked Mom for money to buy medicine, and she... she said, 'Why should a little bastard like you need medicine?'"

Dad's face turned livid. "You heartless witch! How could you say that to her?"

He let out a harsh grunt and suddenly knocked the bowl out of Louise's hands, sending it crashing to the floor.

"Have you lost your mind?" Louise cried out, panic flashing in her eyes.

Dad's response was a stinging slap across her face.

"Dad, stop it!" Oliver yelled, bursting through the door and grabbing Dad's arm.

I just stood there, feeling nothing but cold indifference inside.

Oliver was anemic, but that didn't stop him from chasing skirts left and right, all because Louise spoiled him rotten. He even bullied me regularly.

In my past life, he and Louise had the nerve to beg me for blood and a kidney!

They made their bed. Why should I lie in it?

Dad glared at Oliver, his voice sharp. "Been out raising hell again, haven't you? Grace, tell me, what was Oliver's score on his final exam?"

Seeing the panic in Oliver's eyes, I coolly replied, "He skipped class. He didn't even show up for the test."