Chapter 1The Ungrateful Five

I transmigrated into a novel as the adoptive mother of five future titans—a self-sacrificing saint destined to burn out for their success.

Now, my most beloved son shielded his childhood sweetheart, accusing my mute biological daughter: "She pushed Vivian down the stairs!"

The other four sons glared coldly as Vivian smirked from their protection.

[WARNING: -20 FAMILY HARMONY! MAINTAIN SAINTLY PERSONA OR FACE PUNISHMENT!]

I laughed, hurling a crystal ashtray at my "darling" son's feet. "She's mute! If you're so heartbroken, get out!"

Did you think my 20 years of sacrifice meant nothing? The show's just beginning.

* * *

The crystal chandelier cast a cold, unforgiving light on every face in the living room.

My eldest son, Ashton, the future titan of industry, stood at his full six-foot-two height, his body a formidable shield for the girl cradled in his arms, Vivian. Vivian's knee was scraped, a minor injury she was milking for all it was worth, her face a mask of tear-streaked, damsel-in-distress fragility.

Ashton's accusing finger was nearly touching the nose of my biological daughter, Nina.

"It was her!"

"Nina! She's the one who pushed Vivian down the stairs!" His voice was hoarse with rage, his eyes shot through with red veins. "She almost died!"

My five-year-old Nina, born without the ability to speak, was trembling, her small face ghostly white. She tried to shrink behind me, her little hands making frantic, meaningless gestures as she let out choked, "Ah, ah," sounds.

She was trying to explain.

But no one was giving her the chance.

My second son, Caleb, the future superstar actor, leaned against the sofa, his gaze coolly detached. "Mom, this has gone too far."

My third, Dylan, the future genius doctor, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. "Nina needs psychological intervention."

My fourth, Ethan, the future master hacker, sat silently with his laptop, but the clacking of his keys had stopped—a silent, suffocating pressure.

And my fifth, Leo, the future top lawyer, spoke with a voice as cold and hard as ice. "Mom, we need an explanation. Vivian is a guest. And she has a heart condition."

The five boys I had raised with my own two hands, the five future titans into whom I had poured all my blood, sweat, and tears, now stood like five icebergs, trapping my mute daughter and me in the center.

Behind them, Vivian buried her face in Ashton's chest and, for a moment, peeked up at me, a silent, victorious smile playing on her lips.

[BEEP—SYSTEM WARNING!]

[HOST BEHAVIOR DETECTED. DEVIATION FROM "SAINTLY MOTHER" PERSONA. FAMILY HARMONY RATING: -20.]

[IMMEDIATELY APPEASE ADOPTED SON ASHTON, AND REQUIRE NINA TO APOLOGIZE TO VIVIAN TO MAINTAIN FAMILY HARMOnY.]

[WARNING! FAILURE TO COMPLY WITHIN TEN MINUTES WILL INITIATE LEVEL-ONE ELECTRIC SHOCK PUNISHMENT!]

The cold, mechanical voice in my head was a death knell.

I laughed.

The sound was jarring in the dead silence of the room. Everyone stared at me, stunned.

I slowly rose to my feet, walked to the coffee table, and picked up the heavy, crystal ashtray.

Ashton watched, his eyes wide with disbelief, as I raised my arm and hurled it at his feet.

CRASH!

Crystal fragments flew everywhere. A shard sliced through the expensive fabric of his trousers. He jumped back, shocked.

Everyone was frozen in astonishment.

"Are you blind?"

My voice was quiet, but it was like a poison-tipped needle, piercing the ears of everyone present.

"She's mute. How is she supposed to explain anything to you?"

"With sign language? Which one of you bastards even knows sign language?"

I pointed a trembling finger towards the front door, each word a slap across Ashton's face.

"Since you're so heartbroken over her, since you have so little faith in me, in this family…"

"Get out."

"You and her, get out of this house together!"

[WARNING! WARNING! HOST BEHAVIOR SEVERELY DEVIATING FROM PERSONA! FAMILY HARMONY RATING: -50!]

[PUNISHMENT INITIATED!]

BZZZT—

A sharp, agonizing current shot through my body, convulsing every muscle. The pain was so intense it felt like it was coming from my very bones. My vision swam with black spots.

I bit down hard on my back teeth, the taste of blood flooding my mouth. I gripped the table for support, refusing to let myself fall.

Ashton's face was a storm of shock, rage, and utter incomprehension. "Mom, are you crazy?! You're kicking me out? For a mute?"

"I'm your son!"

I forced a cold laugh past the pain. "My son? A son of the Sterling family wouldn't point a finger at his own sister and play the blind and deaf fool for an outsider."

"Butler!" I yelled, my voice sharp.

The butler scurried in, his face a mask of alarm. "Ma'am…"

"Pack up the young master's and Miss Vivian's things. All of them. And throw them out. Now!"

"Freeze all his credit cards. Take back his car. From this day forward, he has nothing to do with the Sterling family!"

The electric current continued, each wave more intense than the last. Cold sweat poured down my back, soaking my dress. But I stood ramrod straight.

Vivian finally dropped her act. She stepped out from behind Ashton and walked towards me, tears streaming down her face on command. "Auntie, please don't be angry. It's all my fault. It has nothing to do with Ashton…"

As she spoke, she leaned in close, whispering in a voice only I could hear, "You can't win against us, old woman." Her eyes were full of taunting disdain.

I looked at her pitiful, angelic face and felt nothing.

I just pulled my terrified, near-fainting daughter into my arms, holding her tight, gently patting her back.

Nina is my biological daughter. In the original story, she was my only "weakness."

Now, she is my sharpest weapon.