Picking Up the Shattered Night

On the helicopter ride back, I stayed quiet the whole time. According to the strange text, I had to keep living numb and obediently for two more days, then die.

It said it would reward me with a second life. That actually wasn’t hard. After surviving until now, dying two days later made no difference.

As soon as I got off the helicopter, a tall figure blocked the cabin door.

The fake heir, Evan Gray, looked me up and down. “You’re back?” “Let me tell you, Claire and the others only agreed to bring you back because you’ve been obedient for the past three years.” “If you dare bully me like you did three years ago, I’ll make them gouge out your other eye too!” To be honest, I no longer remembered when I had ever bullied Evan Gray.

But none of that mattered anymore. For the past three years, if I dared talk back, I never knew whether the next thing landing on me would be the steward’s slap or his whip.

I had learned my lesson long ago.

Seeing that I stayed silent for a long time, Claire lightly tapped the handles of my wheelchair in warning. “Adrian, Evan is talking to you.” “You’ve only just come back and you’re already disobedient.” “Do you want us to send you back and teach you the rules again?” I trembled in fear and quickly lowered my head. “Yes, I’ll serve you and Mr.

Evan properly.” Evan gave a cold snort, seemingly satisfied with my answer. “At least you know your place.” “Let’s eat.” “I had the staff prepare everything.” Claire smiled in satisfaction and reached out as if she wanted to touch my head.

I instinctively closed my eyes and shrank back, as if afraid I would be hit. Seeing how afraid I was of her, Claire’s eyes dimmed slightly.

She deliberately softened her voice. “Don’t be scared.” “I won’t punish you anymore.” “I love you, and I won’t hit you.” “Adrian, from now on, you’re still my husband, just like before.” I hurriedly shook my head and forced a flattering smile. “I wouldn’t dare.” “I’m only a lover.” “I’ll be very good.” Claire’s smile froze on her lips, and for a moment, she couldn’t say anything else.

The way she looked at me was complicated and conflicted. “Adrian, you don’t have to be afraid of me.” “Forget it…” “There’s no rush.” “We still have plenty of time.” At the dining table, the sound of forks and knives rang out crisply.

Across from me, Vivian saw that I still hadn’t moved, so she took the steak she had cut on her plate and offered it to me. “Why aren’t you eating?” “Did you forget how to use a fork and knife?” “Eat mine.” “I already cut it for you.” As usual, I didn’t dare move.

I only lowered my head even more and answered. “The steward at the manor taught me that my status is low and filthy, so I’m not worthy of eating a proper meal.” “You should eat first.” “I’ll eat the leftovers.” Vivian froze.

She exchanged a glance with Claire beside her.

Then Claire tried to soothe me. “Adrian, listen to me.” “You’re back now, so those old rules don’t apply anymore.” “As long as you behave, we’ll still treat you well like we used to.” “Eat.” I quickly lifted my head, then lowered it again.

I still didn’t dare.

Instead, my sister seemed thoughtful as she looked at me tentatively. “Adrian, Claire told you to eat.” “That’s the rule now.” Only then did I raise my head again and shakily bring the food to my mouth.

I ate very slowly and very little. The arm holding the fork swayed emptily inside my sleeve. Over the past few months, I had indeed become frighteningly thin.

The atmosphere at the table suddenly grew heavy, and only Evan was still talking enthusiastically about his child, Lucas.

Claire and the others listened quietly, obviously distracted. After eating only two pieces, I stopped.

I pressed down the metallic taste rising in my throat and looked at Claire. “I…” “I think I’m sick again.” As soon as I said that, the three people present hadn’t even had time to panic.

Then they heard me continue in a numb voice. “Could I beg you to reward me with a bowl of painkillers?” “Or sell me to the next person.”

The expression on Claire’s face froze completely, and she stared at me in disbelief. I didn’t understand why she was reacting like that.

So I could only turn to Vivian across from me.

She used to be the manor’s doctor, so she could also make decisions about this kind of thing. “I’ve been very good.” “I ate the steak you cut just now too.” “This time, I want a little…” “Pain medicine, okay?” “Please don’t sell me.” Vivian’s face turned as pale as paper, but she still didn’t answer me.

Only my sister forced herself to stay calm and asked me. “Adrian, what are you talking about?” “You’re just sick.” “You can recover if you rest properly.” “It’s not like…” I shook my head, my tone very firm. “You remembered it wrong.” “When you’re sick, you’re useless trash.” “You either endure it, or you get sold.” “This is the fourth attack.” “If the doctor doesn’t give me medicine, I’ll be sold.” Claire’s expression darkened completely.

She threw down her fork and knife, grabbed Vivian by the collar, and dragged her away. “Come with me.” She took Vivian into the study and slammed the door shut.

The soundproofing in the manor was very good, and only some muffled sounds faintly drifted out. It sounded like an argument. I felt very uneasy.

I could only look at my sister blankly, press my lips together, and continue. “I think I did something wrong.” “Will the steward come beat me?” My sister’s hand shook as she held her fork.

She felt as if a wad of wet cotton had been stuffed into her chest, and looking at how cautious I was now made it hard for her to breathe.

She stood up and pushed my wheelchair, trying to comfort me. “Adrian, no one will ever hit you again.” “You’re already very good.” “I still like the way you used to be.” “You could laugh, get angry, call me Mia Gray by my full name, and even tug my ear.” “Don’t be like this…” “Okay?” But I only lowered my head again and said in a weak voice. “That would be overstepping.” “I’d get beaten.” “It’s my fault.” “I won’t ask for painkillers again.” My sister frowned tightly and didn’t answer.

She only pushed my wheelchair away. Only Evan was left at the dining table. After not seeing me for three years, he had originally wanted to torment me properly again.

He hadn’t expected things to turn out like this. Every single one of them looked unbearably heartbroken for me.

So angry that he threw down his fork and knife, he ordered the staff behind him. “Hurry and bring my son back.” “If this useless piece of trash keeps pretending to be fragile, things will get out of hand!” My sister pushed me to a guest room on the first floor.

The room here was so big that I wasn’t used to it, and it was far too comfortable.

I touched the soft blanket and looked up at my sister. “Is someone living in the storage room?” “I can move there.” “This place is too nice.” “It’s not suitable for me.” “And there’s no clock here.” “I need to wake up early to greet everyone and prepare breakfast.” I didn’t know which sentence I had said wrong again.

My sister’s eyes suddenly turned red.

She crouched in front of me and said gently. “Adrian, stop talking.” “Please stop talking…” “You won’t live in the storage room anymore.” “We’re family.” “I’ll treat you well from now on.” I didn’t believe her.

During those three years, my sister, who had still been pretending to be the butler, had once said something similar. But that very night, the steward broke into my bedroom.

He whipped me until I was halfdead. But at this moment, I didn’t dare refute her directly, so I could only nod numbly. Seeing me accept it, she finally smiled a little.

She left two staff members to help me wash up and rest.

Fortunately, even without a clock, those strange numbers could help me roughly tell the time. 【35:48:21】 【35:48:20】 The seconds ticked down one by one, so slowly.

I wanted to die sooner. At three in the morning, the study door finally opened slowly. Claire and Vivian both had injuries on their faces, clearly having fought.

Claire glanced sideways at Vivian. “I trust that you wouldn’t really be that cruel.” “You wouldn’t torture Adrian into this state.” “I’ll investigate the people in the manor.” “You investigate where those painkillers came from and how they were swapped.” Hearing that, Vivian nodded.

When Claire passed by the kitchen, she noticed the light was on, casting a blurry figure inside. From afar, it looked like me.

I stood there, calmly raising a knife and stabbing it toward myself.

The sight made all the hair on Claire’s body stand on end, and she shouted. “No!” She rushed toward me and grabbed my hand holding the knife with all her strength.

Not far away, Vivian heard the commotion and hurried over too, immediately knocking the knife out of my hand.

Claire looked at me and questioned me in terror. “Adrian, are you insane?” “Why are you trying to kill yourself?”

I blinked twice, then looked at the pumpkin smashed to pieces on the floor.

I gave Claire a pleasing smile. “You misunderstood.” “It’s time.” “I was just making breakfast oatmeal for you.” “Don’t worry.” “If I stab my abdomen with this kind of knife, I won’t die.” Claire was frightened by my words.

Just as she was about to ask something else, she heard Vivian call her. “Claire…” Claire turned her head to look.

When Vivian knocked the knife from my hand, she had caught my sleeve. The inner side of my exposed arm was covered in horrifying scars, one after another.

Some were so deep that anyone could tell a great deal of force had been used to cut into the flesh. They were all traces of selfharm.

Under their terrified gazes, I smiled apologetically. “Did I disturb you?” “I’m sorry.” “I’ll be quieter.” Claire and Vivian looked at each other without answering.

They only ordered the staff to send me back to my room and watch me rest properly. The next morning, Claire woke me up.

She looked like she hadn’t slept all night, with heavy dark circles under her eyes and an unusually still expression. “Adrian, I’m taking you to the private clinic on the fifth floor of the manor.” “Vivian brought a professional team.” “We’re going to give you a physical exam.” I was very obedient and followed behind Vivian.

I completed each examination one by one. Blood tests, ultrasound, CT scans, and doctors carefully examining the shocking wounds on my body while recording them and taking photos.

There was also a gentlelooking female doctor sitting across from me.

In an extremely gentle voice, she asked me questions about my sleep, my appetite, my emotions, and those wounds. I was very good. If I could answer, I answered.

If I couldn’t answer, I apologized. The steward always said kneeling made an apology seem more sincere. Unfortunately, my legs were crippled, so I couldn’t kneel anymore.

After the examinations ended, the three of them sat together and looked at my reports. I didn’t know what was written inside. I only saw their faces getting worse and worse.

When the number before my eyes reached 【25:18:03】, Claire finally put down the report in her hand and walked toward me.

Her voice was very soft, as if she was afraid of scaring me. “Adrian, the doctor says your body is very weak and needs proper care.” “Those wounds…” “The doctor looked at them too.” “They’re very serious and will take time and patience to treat.” “Don’t be scared.” “Here, no one will hurt you again.” “I’ll hire the best doctors and use the best medicine to help you recover and heal all of this.” I reached out and pointed at her.

Instinctively, I wanted to say, here, you are the ones who will hurt me.

But Claire clearly misunderstood what I meant and took my fingertip into her hands, holding it against her chest. “Don’t be afraid.” “Adrian, we won’t hurt you.” Listening to her, I found it absurd and strange.

Those three whole years, all those days and nights when I lived worse than death. Weren’t all of you hurting me together?

When we returned to the living room, Evan had somehow brought Lucas back. He had heard a little about what happened to me.

He picked Lucas up and stuffed him into my arms, trying to comfort me. “Adrian, I heard you haven’t been in a good mood lately.” “Here, let Lucas cheer you up.” “Children have the purest energy.” “Looking at him always makes people feel better.” “You’re sick right now, but you’ll have your own child someday too.” I looked at Evan’s smiling face, and he seemed like a completely different person from the arrogant man who had blocked the helicopter door earlier.

Had he also been transported to another world? Very quickly, I denied that answer myself. Claire and the others wouldn’t bear to do that to him. Besides, Lucas was pinching me.

Children don’t know how to control their strength. He had probably understood Evan’s hint. While sweetly calling me, “Adrian, hold me!” he dug his hands into me with all his might.

His nails had clearly been trimmed on purpose, sharp and quick. With even a little pressure, it was no different from slicing flesh with a small knife.

One pinch after another, the sharp pain overwhelmed my body until I could barely endure it. I could feel those wounds already starting to bleed.

I could only try to return the child to Evan. “My body isn’t well.” “I’m afraid I’ll drop him.” “You should hold him.” Evan nodded, his tone still gentle. “That’s true.” “You’re still weak, so you should rest more.” “Come here, Daddy will hold you.” Just as he was about to take him.

His hand suddenly loosened, and Lucas fell straight to the floor. Before I could react, the child’s earthshattering cries rang out. Slap!

Evan slapped me hard across the face and cried out. “Adrian, why did you drop my child?”

I was directly knocked out of my wheelchair and onto the floor.

Lying on the ground, I looked helplessly at Evan as he screamed at me. “I know you hate me, Adrian.” “I know you can’t stand me because I stole your childhood sweetheart, your sister, and even your lover.” “But the child is innocent!” “How old is he?” “How could he withstand a fall like that?” “How can you be so cruel?” “How could you bring yourself to do that?” At that moment, Claire, Vivian, and Mia, who had heard the commotion, had already rushed over from different directions.

Claire’s face was livid, and she rushed forward in one stride. First, she crouched down and quickly checked Lucas’s condition.

Then she suddenly raised her head, her hatefilled eyes locking onto me.

She roared at me. “Adrian Gray, what did you do?” “You’ve only just come back and you’re already causing trouble.” “Do you want me to send you back?” My sister also rushed over.

She looked at her nephew sobbing on the floor and at Evan accusing me nonstop.

Then she looked at me, anger in her eyes too. “Adrian, how could you hurt such a small child?” Vivian handed Lucas to the medical staff behind her. She didn’t speak.

She only kept glaring at me with fierce, cold eyes. It seemed… I had been wronged again.

It seemed no different from the countless times I had been wronged over the past three years.

The steward accused me of stealing, and when I said I hadn’t, I was whipped even harder.

A servant framed me for seducing a maid, and when I defended myself, I was stripped and humiliated in public.

Claire believed slander saying I wanted to escape, and what waited for me was confinement in the water dungeon. I originally wanted to explain. I wanted to say it wasn’t true.

I wanted to say I didn’t do it. I wanted to say so many things. But in the end, I stayed silent, because no one would believe me.

Just like countless times before, explaining would only bring harsher malice and punishment.

I could only curl up on the floor and apologize weakly. “I’m sorry…” Evan rushed forward. “You’re sorry?” “You think one apology is enough?” “I’ll beat you to death, you filthy bastard!” Then he punched and kicked me wildly while the three of them watched in silence.

I didn’t know who said it. “Don’t kick his stomach.” “That could cause problems.” After that, there was nothing else. No one stopped him.

They only stood by and watched, just like before. Fists and shoe tips smashed into my body and face again and again. It hurt.

It hurt as if all the flesh on my body was about to burst open.

In my daze, I saw the numbers before my eyes dropping violently. 【24:27:43】 【20:13:05】 【15:39:17】 …… At some point, someone finally pulled Evan back, and he stopped.

The time stopped at 【4:01:25】.

Claire slowly walked up to me and looked down at me from above. “Do you know what you did wrong?” “Why can’t you ever learn?” The bloody taste in my throat made me cough twice.

I didn’t answer. I only grabbed the hem of Claire’s pants and asked her one final question. “Didn’t you say…” “That here, no one would ever hurt me again?” Claire fell silent.

She coldly moved her leg away, pulling her pant leg out of my hand. “But you made a mistake.” “If you make a mistake, you deserve to be punished.” “That’s the rule.” “Lock him in the storage room.” “When Lucas’s checkup shows he’s fine, I’ll let you out.” But I didn’t want to be locked up again.

I had already been locked up for three years. I didn’t want the final four hours of my life to be spent penned up like livestock.

I still wanted to beg again, but Claire had already turned her back. I could only look at my sister. She looked away and softly comforted the emotional Evan.

Vivian had already left quickly to check on Lucas. As expected, no one was willing to save me. I stopped struggling.

I let the staff drag me away and roughly throw me onto the floor of the storage room. I counted my heartbeats and watched time slowly pass.

I didn’t know what would happen when everything reached zero. But to the current me, the worst outcome was only death.

And that was already freedom. 【00:00:00】 When the numbers reached zero, I closed my eyes, and my heartbeat disappeared.

Beneath me, large pools of dark red blood silently spread out. A staff member came in half an hour later to deliver food.

A moment later, a terrified scream rang through the entire manor. That staff member practically crawled and stumbled all the way to Claire, screaming. “Ah—” “Someone’s dead!” “Mr.

Gray is dead!” “There’s blood all over the floor!”