Red paint and dead rats were thrown all over the doorstep of my home.
In an instant, I went from being a respected, enviable businessman to a reviled homewrecker.
Even my parents stepped forward to testify against me.
My father claimed I had always been cruel, bullying my younger brother.
My mother declared that the Smith family had no such shameless son, and that she was cutting ties with me.
After enduring endless ridicule and curses, I ordered a milk tea and stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the tidal wave of hatred crash down on me.
It was then that Olivia knocked on my office door.
Her tone was calm, her expression gentle, but in her eyes was the same condescension I had seen so often in Eric’s.
“I didn’t want it to come to this. But I can’t just stand by and let them drive Eric to his death.”
“You’re his older brother. You should know his temper best.”
“A boy who’s been pampered his whole life, never suffered even the slightest setback—he can’t possibly withstand this kind of cyberbullying.”
“This time, consider it a debt I owe you. Once things calm down, I’ll find a way to make it up to you.”
Those words.
The ones I’d heard from my parents my entire life.