A surprise it sure would be, but would it be a wonderful one?

Evette and Anne Carter exchanged a suspicious look. "You don't really need to prepare anything special, just the ruby brooch…" ​​

"Dad, mom, sis, I'm back." a young teenager's voice cut in.

"It's Zack. He's back!" Evette screamed with excitement and rushed to the door.

Anne Carter followed. A handsome young boy walked in, a bright smile on his face. The three of them cuddled in joy. Nathalia stood aside and watched.

Zack was the youngest and the only son in the family. Fifteen years old, extremely spoiled, overprotected, and terribly ill-tempered.

No one dared say no to him at home. Whatever he wanted, it must be given. When he was twelve, he crashed the car and killed a pregnant woman. The Carter's paid the money, sent him abroad, and that was it.

They had the money and "Money talks."

Nathalia recalled the incident when the irritating voice interrupted her "Nathalia, you still have that stupid face on. You look even uglier than before. Are you actually dad's daughter? I can never understand."

Zack glared at Nathalia with disdain.

Nathalia used to feel hurt by his mocking, but not now, not anymore. She glanced at him indifferently and replied, "I don't look like the Carter's? Well, neither do you."

As the only son, Zack Carter would naturally be the only successor to the Carters' business, though he probably wasn't competent at all. A spoiled rich boy, always getting involved in fights, chasing girls, spending money, that was what he was good at, and bullying her step-sister.

What was strange was that though both Nathalia and Evette looked very much like their own mother, they had the eyes like their fathers, while there was no resemblance between Zack and Frank. Evette had inherited both her parents' good looks and thus looked stunningly attractive, but Zack somehow looked a bit disappointed.

Hearing so, Anne Carter squealed and protested, "Shut up! Nonsense. How dare you say such nonsense!"

Everyone was startled, including Evette and Zack. What's the matter?

"Mum, you scared me!" Zack was irritated.

Anne cuddled Zack and apologized immediately, "I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean to."

Nathalia wondered why Anne reacted like that.

"Mum, you scared me as well. Why are you overreacting?" She said tentatively.

Zack was in a sudden rage. He pushed Anne Carter away, lifted his arm high up, and smacked Nathalia on her face. "How dare you speak to my mum like that and me! You little shit!"

He had never seen Nathalia as part of the family. If he was annoyed, he spoke with his fists and violence. The Carter couple would never ever blame him for anything anyway. Instead, they would protect him from everything.

Nathalia was frightened, and she tried to dodge, but it was too late. She felt a sharp pain on her cheek. Then another one and another one. It kept coming, on her shoulders, her back, her head, all over her. Soon she was lying on the floor. There was even blood on her cheeks. Zack was like an out-of-control animal like he was to beat her to death.

Anne and Evette simply stood aside and watched quietly. They had no intention of stopping Zack.

And why would they stop him? Zack was doing what they would love to do to Nathalia. He was doing them a favor.

Also, Frank Carter would never think his son had done anything wrong anyway. Even if he murdered someone, Frank would just pay hush money to keep it quiet.

To them, there are no problems that money can't solve.

Nathalia getting beaten was not a big deal at all. No one was to speak up for her. No one was to give her a tiny bit of help.

Nathalia suffered in silence, tears streaming down her face. It hurts so much, but it will be the last time. I won't just let him off. Anyone that's hurt me will pay for it.

Zack finally stopped, breathing heavily from beating, and shouted, "What the fuck are you crying for? You asked for it!"

Nathalia looked at Zack helplessly, "Zack, I'm your older sister. Why do you treat me like this? This isn't the first time you beat me…"

Zack poked his finger at Nathalia's nose angrily. "Sister? You are not my sister. I have only one sister, Evette. You are nothing but trouble, a piece of shit. Your mother was a bitch, and she stole what was supposed to be ours…"

Anne Carter had been feeding her children with such thoughts ever since they were little. These words had been engraved in Zack's head, and every time he saw Nathalia, he felt immense resentment.

Affronted and enraged, Nathalia pushed herself to stand up. She glared at Zack, "Shut up! Don't you insult my mother? She's the kindest person ever."

A trouble? A piece of shit? How dare you!

Again, outraged, Zack threw his fists at Nathalia a few more times and even gave her a hard kick at her waist. "I'm insulting your mother, so what? And I'm beating the shit out of you! What can you do? Huh? I can just kill you if I like it!"

He knew even if he did kill Nathalia, his father would take care of it. He could just go abroad again, and it would be fine.

Evette was watching with great pleasure. Nice one. Zack. Keep going. I wish she would just die.

Anne didn't even try to hide her smile. It was time she deserved a lesson. She has been a bit too smart recently.

Nathalia's face was scratched and bruised badly, blood dripping down. She swallowed the pain and retorted clearly, "Zack, you have been bullying me since you were little. I forgave you every time because I've always seen you as my younger brother, but this time I won't allow you to insult my mother. You should at least show her respect."

As spoiled as Zack was, it was impossible that he would allow anyone to disobey him. "She was a bitch, and so are you!"

Nathalia sat up, wiped the blood off her lips. Her face was a mess, bloody, and bruised. "I'm the oldest daughter of the Carters if I'm a bitch, what does that make you? What does that make Evette? What does that make our dad?"

Come on then. Bring in on. Hit me again. The harder you hit me now, the more you will pay for it.