Chapter 3Rewired: Saving My Psycho Brother

Kaelen was unstable. I knew this from the time he butchered that meat rabbit we bought for dinner.

In my past life, when he came to our house, he was covered in thorns, pushing me away time and time again.

When Kaelen came to pick me up from school, my classmates would laugh and scatter.

"Song Lily, your psycho brother is here. Are you a psycho too?"

My face would burn red with anger. I'd turn and see Kaelen's frosty expression.

He'd toss my backpack onto his back, hesitate, then stiffly reach out his hand to me.

Slap!

In my anger, I’d slap his hand away and run off.

After running a bit, realized he wasn't chasing me, I went back to find him. I saw him cornering the classmate who mocked me, hands around their neck.

I hurried over to pull him off, terrified inside by this volatile brother.

Thinking back now, I realize there was no real malice in Kaelen's eyes then, and his hands weren't applying pressure.

It was just because that classmate insulted me behind my back, and Kaelen was warning him not to bully me again.

Again and again, the rift between Kaelen and me grew deeper.

Until Stepmom suggested sending him abroad for "treatment." The family voted.

Kaelen voted no. Dad and Stepmom voted yes.

It was two against one. They just needed my vote for Kaelen to stay.

But I deliberately avoided Kaelen's hopeful gaze and turned to look at Stepmom.

Whispering the words: "I agree."

The light in Kaelen's eyes instantly extinguished.

Thinking about it now, if Kaelen had stayed back then, those fifteen people would never have been able to hurt me later.

Because I had the best brother in the world.