The Unseen Burden

The year I was fourteen, I killed my parents with my own hands.

Because I was a minor, the law couldn't truly punish me.

The day I was released, the whole town cursed in anger. But my younger siblings had nowhere else to go. They were forced to live with me, a murderer.

They hated me. They feared me. Even the way they looked at me was filled with terror and disgust.

It wasn't until the doctor announced my impending death that everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They said a monster like me should have died long ago.

But my siblings weren't satisfied. They wanted to use the cruelest method possible to let the world see my true colors.

They were going to read my memories and broadcast them live to the world.

They wanted to prove to everyone: From the moment I was born, I was a rotten seed, through and through.

Chapter 1

For twenty-five years, I never managed to escape that night I killed my parents.

Now, my second brother, Julian, is an outstanding entrepreneur.

My third brother, Felix, is an expert cardiac surgeon.

And my youngest sister, Clara, is a famous pop star.

At a reunion dinner, I smiled bitterly. "You've all made something of yourselves. Mom and Dad can finally rest in peace."

"They will only rest in peace when you die!"

Julian slammed his bowl and chopsticks onto the table.

"Stop pretending to be a good person, you murderer!"

The first reunion in five years ended in chaos.

The next time they heard news about me, it was a call from the police.

"He killed someone again."

"Can't they just execute him?" Felix said coldly. "He should have died back when he killed Mom and Dad."

The trial went smoothly. The sentence was death.

But during the prison physical, the doctor discovered I had late-stage cancer.

I had three months left.

On my deathbed, I heard familiar voices.

"As expected, a murderer just can't stop killing!" Julian said with disgust.

"The whole hospital is gossiping that I have a patricidal brother. I'm too ashamed to show my face," Felix complained.

"My schedule is ruined, and my chances for the Golden Melody Award are gone!" Clara pouted.

After a moment of silence, Julian suddenly spoke up.

"I heard the Academy of Sciences has a Memory Reader. It can extract his memories."

"If we make them public, everyone will know he was born a devil. And we... we are just his victims."

They hit it off immediately and contacted the authorities to bring the equipment.

"Mr. Lin, although this device can read deep memories, the side effects are irreversible. The human body will suffer severe damage, and accidental death is a possibility. We need you to sign this waiver."

Felix immediately grabbed the agreement and signed it.

"I'm a doctor. I'll take responsibility if he dies."

Clara contacted the livestream platform. She wanted the whole world to see clearly just how much I deserved to die.

Soon, the broadcast began. My siblings put on the special glasses to view the memories.

The blurred images slowly sharpened into clarity.

[Scene One]

It was less than a year after our parents died. The noodle shop they left behind was barely surviving.

I was not yet fifteen, trying to lead three younger siblings. How could we not be bullied?

Business was terrible due to the heavy winter snow. After paying the protection fee to the local gangs, I didn't even know where next month's food money would come from.

"Hey! Felix has a high fever! It's 104 degrees!"

Julian suddenly ran out from the back room. He was always afraid of me. Even when speaking to me, he hid behind the door frame.

I looked at the 0-05.70 left in my hand and gritted my teeth.

"Julian, you take care of the little ones. I'm going out."

Before he could respond, I pushed open the door and walked into the darkness.

[Comments from Siblings]

"Look at that! Even when Felix was burning up with a fever, he just ignored it and went out to play!"

"It's a miracle we survived this long."

Chapter 2

The scene shifted. I arrived at the only pharmacy in town.

"Auntie, can I give you 15 dollars for this fever reducer first? I'll bring the rest in two days when I earn some money."

"Go away! Get out! You evil curse who killed your own parents!"

Seeing it was me, the owner's wife chased me out with a broom.

Everyone in town knew I had killed my parents. No matter where I went, people pointed fingers. No one dared to talk to me.

I had no choice.

While the woman went into the back room, I sneaked in, stuffed the fever medicine into my jacket, left the 15 dollars on the counter, and ran.

But I wasn't fast enough. The owner and his wife chased me down in the snow.

"You bad seed! You dare to steal!"

The owner kicked me to the ground, glaring at me viciously.

"Where's the medicine? Hand it over!"

"I left the money on the table! Please! My little brother has a fever! Just give me two days! I'll pay the rest as soon as I earn it!"

The woman threw the coins hard into my face.

"Who wants a murderer's money?! Give it back!"

I curled up, protecting the medicine in my chest, refusing to let go.

The owner, seeing my stubbornness, flew into a rage. He pulled a cleaver from his belt and pressed it against my right pinky finger.

"You better hand it over! Or I'll chop off this thief's finger!"

No matter how he threatened, I insisted I had already swallowed it.

Fury overtook him. He swung the knife.

Chop.

"AHHHH!!!!"

The scream tore through the night sky. The pain was excruciating. I fainted instantly.

It was the first time the couple had seen so much blood. Terrified, they turned and ran.

Under the heavy snow, my skinny, unconscious body was quickly buried in white.

When I woke up, it was already the next morning.

Luckily, the extreme cold had frozen the wound shut. I bandaged it crudely and stumbled home.

"Why are you back so late?" Julian complained as I walked in.

"Nothing. Give the medicine to Felix. I have things to do."

I handed over the medicine with my left hand, hiding my right hand behind my back. As I walked away, Julian's complaints faded into the background...

Back in the hospital room, Felix ripped off the VR glasses.

"Impossible! I asked him about his finger later! He said he accidentally cut it off while cooking!"

"Julian, is this machine broken?" Clara asked, disbelief written on her face.

Julian, who hated me the most, looked pale. He muttered to himself, "It shouldn't be... This is the latest invention, specifically used to interrogate spies."

The three of them found it incredible. The memories were too different from the monster they thought they knew.

Chapter 3

[Scene Two]

In the vision, I looked at Clara.

"Are you sure you want to study music?"

Time had passed. Clara had reached a crossroads in life. But the tuition for art school was exorbitant, and the family couldn't afford it.

"Yes! I want to study music!" Clara responded firmly.

Looking at her serious face, I stood up and left the house without a word.

[Comments from Siblings]

"Thank god Julian paid my tuition back then, otherwise I wouldn't be here today."

"Yeah, as soon as he heard about spending money, he left. He had zero responsibility! So unlucky to have lived with him!"

After complaining, they continued watching.

From that day on, besides running the noodle shop during the day, I started working at a nightclub.

The tips for opening bottles and drinking with rich women were decent. Sometimes, generous patrons would tip heavily.

The customers were handsy, but I endured it for every extra bottle opened.

It's just a few touches. I'm a man, what's there to lose? As long as Clara can go to college.

"What are you dazing off for? Toast Madam Mona."

A man's voice pulled me back to reality.

Madam Mona was a large woman in flashy clothes, smelling of strong perfume and alcohol. She stared at me lecherously.

"Hey, handsome. You're so pale. Come have a drink with big sister... hehe..."

She pulled me into her arms. Panicked, I struggled to break free.

"Mona... Sister Mona... I'm just here to open bottles..."

"Damn it! Pretending to be pure? Get over here!"

Feeling humiliated in front of her entourage, she flew into a rage.

"Sister Mona... sorry, I'll drink this glass... my apologies..."

Just as I tried to smooth things over, she advanced on me again.

The guys around her cheered. "Mona's mighty! Get him!"

Years of hard labor gave me strength. I pushed her away hard.

But as I tried to run, a wine bottle smashed directly onto my forehead.

Crash.

Intense pain blinded me. I collapsed to the floor, bright red blood gushing down my face.

"Ah! Murder!" The other hosts screamed.

The police arrived and rounded everyone up.

To avoid jail time, Madam Mona offered a settlement. I didn't want to accept it. Why should rich people buy their way out of jail?

But then I thought of Clara's tuition.

"I want money. A lot of money."

I wiped the blood from my eyes, my voice trembling but firm.

After getting the compensation, I continued working at the club to support the family.

It took a month for the wound on my forehead to heal, leaving a long, thin scar. It made my face look terrifying.

I looked in the mirror, touched the scar, and eventually walked into a tattoo parlor.

I tattooed a blood-red rose over the scar.

Long nights of drinking and overwork destroyed my health. After being rushed to the ER for gastric bleeding, I finally quit.

The kids haven't grown up yet. I can't collapse now.

...

In the hospital room, Clara stared at the screen where her big brother lay on the floor, blood pooling around his head.

Her hands shook uncontrollably.

"My tuition... was earned like this?" Her voice broke. "Julian, didn't you say..."

Julian's face was ashen. "That day... two bundles of cash just appeared in my schoolbag. I thought..."

On screen, I reached out a blood-stained hand, trembling.

"One hundred and fifty thousand... I'll settle."

The blood on my face contrasted sharply with my pale skin.

The memory shocked the three siblings.

But prejudice is a mountain not easily moved.

"Calm down," Julian said, though his voice wavered. "Him killing Mom and Dad is a fact. Who knows, maybe he just liked being a gigolo. You can't judge a beast by human standards."

"At that age, we didn't even know what a nightclub was. He knew exactly where to go to make money off rich women. Disgusting."

Despite the shock, they refused to believe.

The livestream viewers were in a frenzy.

On the bed, my body twitched violently from the machine's side effects. My face was paper-white.

A staff member tried to pause it.

"Don't stop," Julian ordered coldly. "A patricide doesn't deserve pity. Continue. We want the truth."

Chapter 4

[Scene Three]

I was called to the principal's office.

"Liam, although your family situation is difficult, your grades have always been excellent. The school has secured a recommended admission spot for you at the Normal University."

"It's a full scholarship. This is your chance to escape this small town and live your own life."

The admission notice and scholarship letter were placed in my hands.

"Thank you, teacher! I won't let you down!"

I wept with joy.

I ran back to the shop, packing my bags with dreams of a bright future.

[Comments from Siblings]

"See? The moment he got a chance, he packed his bags. He planned to dump us."

"We're lucky he didn't kill us before he left."

In the memory, I was calculating how to sell the noodle shop and move the whole family to the city. I could work part-time while studying...

But that night, Clara clutched her stomach, screaming in pain.

Acute appendicitis. Immediate surgery required.

Cost: Five thousand dollars.

I had nothing.

I knelt before the doctor in the corridor. "Doctor, please save my sister first. I'll get the money!"

"Okay, but hurry."

I rushed home and turned the place upside down. Only three thousand.

My eyes fell on the admission notice on the table.

I stood up numbly.

With a dead look in my eyes, I tore the admission letter into pieces and walked into the dark alley.

"I want to sell blood. How much?"

"You're too skinny. One thousand."

"Sell!"

The needle pierced my skin. Dark red blood was pumped out until I felt dizzy.

Still not enough.

I gritted my teeth and went to the place I feared most.

"Brother Scar, can you lend me a thousand? My sister needs surgery. I'll pay you back!"

"Pay back? With what?"

Scar narrowed his eyes, licking his teeth. "A bowl of noodles is five bucks. That's two hundred bowls. Plus interest?"

"Tell you what... I heard you disrespected Madam Mona. Do one thing for me, and I'll give you a thousand. No repayment needed."

Before I could refuse, his thugs surrounded me.

Scar slammed a dagger onto the table.

"You disrespect Mona, and now you want money? Be obedient, or I'll kill you and your sister!"

"Kneel! Apologize to Mona!"

He pulled out his phone to record.

"Hahaha, mess him up!"

After I knelt and apologized, they beat me. Raindrops of fists and kicks fell on me until I went numb.

"Kid, I'm a man of my word. Stab yourself once, and I'll give you two hundred."

"Doesn't your sister need money?"

Outside the memory, the siblings stood up, staring nervously.

In the memory, I looked at the cold dagger. Fear gripped me. But Clara needed the money...

My hand reached out, trembling, and grasped the hilt.

Chapter 5

"Don't do it!"

Julian suddenly roared, standing up.

He gasped for air, unable to calm down.

Felix and Clara stood with mouths agape.

Clara, who always thought I didn't accompany her to surgery because I didn't care, realized I was selling my blood and dignity to save her.

"How dare he... what if they were playing him? What if he died?!"

"He's crazy!" Felix punched the mirror in the ward, blood trickling down his knuckles.

The screen flickered with static, then continued.

Clara pulled off the glasses, burying her face in her hands, sobbing.

"Sob... I... I told everyone he was a bad kid back then... always out, getting tattoos..."

"Why didn't he tell us... Eldest Brother... wuu..."

Lying on the hospital bed, hearing her call me "Eldest Brother," my heart rate monitor spiked.

It was the first time she had called me that since she grew up.

[Comments from Netizens]

What the hell? Didn't they say he abused them? If this is abuse, what is responsibility?

This is heartbreaking. Liam was just a kid himself, yet he raised them all to be successful. And they force this machine on him? Animals!

Don't forget, he's a murderer! Does raising siblings justify killing parents? Maybe he's just atoning for his sins!

Reading the comments, Felix snapped back to reality.

"The netizens are right. Nothing changes the fact that he killed Mom and Dad."

Julian lit a cigarette, his hand shaking. For the first time, his hatred wavered.

"Do you want to continue? The patient is in critical condition..." the staff asked.

"Continue," Julian interrupted, his voice choking.

"Fast forward. I want to know why he killed them."