Chapter 2

My grandma finally picked me up, though she looked like she'd rather not, and spat forcefully on the floor. "A girl's life doesn't mean shit!

"Her mother is useless, popping out a girl instead of a boy. If the next one isn't a son to keep the Dunlap family line going, just watch how I'll tear her apart!"

Grandma's words were dripping with poison, sharp enough to cut right through Mom's heart. Her eyes went red again, and she started crying on the livestream, sounding so wronged and miserable.

"You all saw it, right? This old witch has been tormenting me ever since I married into the Dunlap family. She even tried to throw away the child I risked my life to give birth to while I was still recovering," Mom choked out, her voice shaking.

She continued, "Only after I gave birth to a son did she treat me a little better. But even then, it was constant hitting and scolding. I really couldn't take it anymore, so I dragged my husband out to work.

"Nobody believed me before, but now, at least I've finally proved I'm innocent!"

The chat exploded with messages comforting her, and this time, everyone was even more furious than before.

[Poor Brenda's mom. How did she end up with such a nasty mother-in-law?]

[Back when Brenda's mom gave that old witch attitude in her videos, people actually criticized her. If it were me, I would've taken that old hag down with me ages ago!]

[Seriously, the time machine needs an interactive mode so I can go back and give that old witch a few good slaps. She's so nasty!]

But as I listened to Mom's desperate sobs, something just didn't sit right with me.

After all, ever since I could remember, Grandma had been nasty to everyone in the family except Jeremy, but Mom could be pretty vicious herself when it came to Grandma.

She couldn't outright kill her due to their relationship. But in the dead of winter, she had locked my grandma outside in the snow wearing only thin clothes. In the peak of summer, she forced Grandma to wear padded jackets and sit outside.

When I was little, watching it felt satisfying. But as I grew older, I started feeling worse and worse about it.

But now, seeing Grandma actually try to smother me, the hatred inside me flared up again, and I couldn't help but side with Mom.

As Grandma grudgingly carried me home, I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the next time jump.

But just before the time jump, a comment buried in the flood of angry messages suddenly caught my eye.

[Wait, doesn't anyone else think something's off?]

[The cloth covering Brenda is red, but look at what this old lady is wearing.]

[It's black.]

Before I could even think it through, a sudden flash blinded me, and my eyes snapped open.

Next thing I knew, I was back to when I was six years old.

It was New Year's, and every family's kids were showing off their fresh new outfits.

But I was still stuck in my grandpa's old, oversized coat, sniffling as I picked at the burnt veggies Grandma cooked.

If I ate too slowly, Grandma would bark at me, "Why are you so slow? Hurry up and finish eating, then get back to studying! If you don't get first place in the next exam, I'll beat the skin off you!"

I hung my head, feeling miserable. And just as I was about to keep eating, the door swung open. Mom and Dad had finally made it home.

They were loaded down with bags, and Mom was carrying Jeremy, my little brother, who looked absolutely adorable. Their clothes were neat and comfortable, and I couldn't help but watch them with envy.

When Mom saw there was only a sad plate of veggies on the table, her eyes went red. She quickly pulled out a whole pack of marinated beef from her bag and set it in front of me, her voice trembling. "Bethany, even if you can't stand Brenda, you shouldn't make her eat just this on New Year's!"

Mom demanded, "We gave you money, so why do you have to be so stingy with her?"

Grandma let out a mocking laugh, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "What can you buy with those few coins? I can't even afford bread! And why should a girl get the good meat? Total waste!"

Then her gaze locked onto Jeremy in Mom's arms. Grinning, she grabbed a piece of meat and tried to feed it to him. "Only my grandson gets the meat. Jeremy, be a good boy and eat up."

Just as Grandma was about to shove the meat into Jeremy's mouth, Mom's face darkened. She slapped the meat right out of Grandma's hand and snapped, "How can you just grab meat with your bare hands and feed it to Jeremy? That's dirty!

"This meat is for Brenda! If Jeremy eats it, what's Brenda supposed to have?"

As soon as Mom said that, the chat instantly blew up with praise for her.

[Brenda's mom is so caring. She remembered to bring food for her daughter even after such a long trip.]

[This grandma's favoritism is insane. So sons are precious, but daughters don't matter at all?]

[If I run into another grandma like this, I'll win the lottery, thanks!]

At six years old, the smell of meat had my mouth practically watering. I couldn't even think about grabbing a fork, just reached out with my hand to snatch a piece.

But the second my fingers were about to touch the meat, Grandma slapped my hand away. Like she'd gone mad, she threw all the meat onto the ground and stomped it into a mush.