The One Who Swore to Protect Me Crushed Me

The day before the admission quota was announced, my sister was kidnapped by robbers.

To save her, I was dragged deep into the mountains by a gang of thugs.

By the time my sister arrived, my legs were bent at an unnatural 90degree angle, and my lower body was drenched in blood.

She rushed me to the hospital in a frenzy, begging the doctors to save me.

With redrimmed eyes, she swore she would make sure every single person who hurt me ended up behind bars.

But just as I lay in bed, I heard a hushed voice outside the door.

"Sister, wasn't it too much to put on such an act just to give the admission quota to Leo? How will Bert even get married after this?"

My sister let out a quiet sigh. "What choice did we have? There was only one admission slot this time. If you want to blame someone, blame Bert for always having the best grades and overshadowing Leo. Ever since he and his aunt came into our lives, he’s been desperate to prove he’s not a burden. He studies day and night, pushing himself to the limit, just for this chance. I won’t let anyone stand in his way."

"As for Bert, once he recovers, he’ll go straight into the company for his internship. I’ll make sure no one humiliates him for what happened. And if he really can’t get married in the future... I’ll stay by his side for the rest of my life."

Tears streamed down her face like shattered pearls.

The sister who once doted on me, who couldn't bear to see me suffer, had given her heart to someone else.

If that’s the case, then I don’t need it.

——

Just then, the doctor rushed in with a surgery consent form.

“The patient is in critical condition. His lower body has sustained severe damage, and he needs immediate sutures. A family member must sign.”

My sister took the form, and to my horror, she tore it apart.

"Wait until tomorrow," she said.

The doctor stared at her in shock. “Your brother can still be saved. If we delay any further, he may lose all function in his lower body. He won’t just be incontinent—he’ll have to wear diapers for the rest of his life.”

My sister hesitated slightly.

“Sister,” someone pleaded. “Shouldn’t we let him have the surgery now? Can you really bear to see him like that?”

“What if I can’t bear it?” she snapped. “We’re at the final step. I won’t let anything ruin this now. Besides, if Bert becomes disabled, his dream of going to graduate school will be completely crushed. He’ll have no choice but to stay in the company and work honestly from now on.”

With that, she gave the doctor a firm look. “We’ll let you know when we’re ready.”

I lay on the bed, trembling.

Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine that the ones who tore me apart weren’t just those thugs but my own sister—the one who had always protected me.

After my mother passed away and my father remarried, I was no longer the only son in his eyes. But my sister… she never abandoned me. She used to travel 50 kilometers from school every day just to have dinner with me and tuck me into bed. If I scraped my hand, she would cry and punch the wall in guilt.

And now, she was the one who orchestrated my downfall.

She destroyed my dignity. She ruined my future.

Even my younger sister, the one I raised with my own hands, had become an accomplice.

Despair gripped me as I clutched my head and let out a gutwrenching sob.

Hearing the commotion, two figures burst through the door.

"Bert!"

"Brother!"

My sister rushed to my side, pulling me into a tight embrace, her hand stroking my back over and over.

"Bert, it’s over now. Don’t be afraid. I’m here," she whispered soothingly.

The other girl wiped the tears from my face, her voice gentle.

"Brother, don’t worry. I’ve had all those bastards arrested. No one will ever hurt you again."

Watching the two of them put on such a sincere performance in front of me,

I could only let out a bitter smile.

But the ones who truly betrayed me,

who hurt me more than anyone else,

are you?

I closed my eyes weakly. After a long silence, I spoke, already knowing the answer.

“Sister, when will the operation start? The pain is unbearable…”

Upon hearing this, my sister suddenly slapped herself hard, her voice trembling with guilt.

“Bert, I’m so sorry! It’s all my fault for being so useless… I couldn’t even invite a top medical expert to treat you.”

“I just don’t trust any other doctors. What if they make a mistake and leave you with permanent complications? You’re still young… You’ll get married and have a family in the future…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll go to her in person and kneel if I have to. I swear, you’ll have the surgery first thing tomorrow morning.”

She then turned to a nurse.

“Please, give my brother the best anesthesia available. He’s terribly afraid of pain…”

But as the nurse lifted my sleeves, her face turned pale.

She gasped at the sight before her—my body, covered in deep bite marks, raw wounds oozing blood, and in some places, even exposed bone.

She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.

“You monster! In all my 20 years of medical experience, I’ve never seen such cruelty!”

Then, turning to me with deep sympathy, she said,

“Young man, I’ll have to inject anesthesia into multiple wounds. Just hang in there.”

The next second, a thick needle—wider than my finger—pierced a festering wound.

I couldn’t take it anymore. The pain was excruciating.

My sister hurriedly shoved her hand into my mouth, afraid I might bite through my tongue.

She also gripped my palm tightly, allowing my nails to dig deep into her arm, leaving behind sharp, red marks.

In that moment, they still acted as though they loved me as they always had…

But I couldn’t feel a trace of warmth anymore.

When I regained consciousness, only ten minutes remained before the guaranteed admission results were announced.

From the bathroom, I overheard my sisters whispering.

“Sister,” one of them said, covering her mouth, “I already spoke with the school. Bert has officially withdrawn his application for the guaranteed admission slot. So… should we release those videos of him being humiliated online?”

Her voice wavered slightly, but her determination was unwavering.

“Post them!”

“We need every student to see them so that Leo can secure the graduate school spot without question. As for Bert, his reputation is already in ruins… This last step won’t make a difference.”

Without hesitation, my sister nodded and immediately contacted a media company.

Tears welled up in her eyes, rolling down like shattered pearls.

I couldn’t believe it.

My own flesh and blood—my sisters—were willing to push me into the abyss for a stepson.

Memories of that nightmare and the sickening sensation of those men touching me crashed over me like a tidal wave.

My entire body began to tremble.

Just then, my sister walked in and saw my reaction.

She rushed to me, holding me tightly, and pulled out her phone. With a cheerful tone, she started a live broadcast.

“Bert, it’s all over now. Come on, let’s watch the graduate school admission results together! It has to be you!”

“When the time comes, Alex and I will send you to school together.”

Her voice was warm, reassuring.

But I only stared at her blankly and whispered,

“Sister… can I still study?”

“Yes! Of course, you can!” she answered instantly.

But as soon as the words left her lips, she averted her gaze, unable to meet my eyes.

Because deep down, she knew better than anyone—

It was impossible.

I would never sit in a bright, pristine classroom again.

The sister who once swore to protect me after our father remarried,

The sister who vowed she would never let anyone hurt me,

Had crushed me with her own hands.

Even the sister who had followed me around since childhood had become my executioner.

And then, through the phone’s speaker, the principal’s excited voice rang out:

“Let us all congratulate Leo Lamb for securing the guaranteed admission to graduate school!”

A satisfied smile curled at the corner of my sister’s lips—

but the next second, she threw her phone to the ground.

“This is too much! It’s unfair!”

“You’re the top student—how can the guaranteed admission go to Leo?”

“Bert, don’t worry! I’ll go to the principal right now and demand an explanation for you!”

I watched her put on her little performance, numb and broken inside.

As soon as she stormed off, the nurse pushed open the ward door.

“It’s time for your surgery,” she said.

She hoisted me into a wheelchair. With my pelvis fractured, I had no choice but to rest one leg awkwardly on the armrest.

But the moment we reached the corridor, a massive crowd swarmed in.

Reporters wielding cameras, microphones—

Familiar faces from school among them.

“Jen Sherman, is it appropriate for a college student to engage in group sex, leading to a ruptured lower body?”

“Jen, you’ve always been top of your class. But now, many suspect you earned your grades by selling your body. Do you have anything to say?”

“Jen, the school has officially revoked your postgraduate qualification, citing moral corruption. Any comments?”

Frozen in horror, I barely noticed the school thug sneering beside me.

“If I’d known you were this desperate,” he chuckled, “I would’ve had my turn earlier.”

Then, without warning, he yanked my loosefitting pants down.

Under the harsh glare of the cameras, my disfigured body was exposed.

I tensed, terrified that the dark brown liquid seeping from my wounds would drip onto the floor.

“Oh my god, the stench! That’s disgusting!”

“Stop talking—I think I’m gonna puke out everything I ate three days ago!”

Flashes erupted as the cameras clicked relentlessly.

I clenched my jaw, shaking from sheer humiliation.

“Come on, everyone, take as many photos as you can!” someone laughed.

“This is the perfect cautionary tale—proof of what happens when you throw away your dignity!”

“No one should end up like Jen, ruining himself to the point of becoming worthless trash!”

Each word sliced into me like a dagger.

I wanted to escape,

but the nurse held my wheelchair in place.

There was nowhere to run.

I was trapped—nailed to a public execution, left to be trampled under their feet.

“Get out! Get out!”

A furious roar rang through the corridor.

My sister burst in, throwing herself in front of me.

She ripped off her coat, wrapping it tightly around my exposed lower body.

“You animals! You absolute monsters!”

Tears streaked down her face as she and my younger sister grabbed a fire extinguisher, their eyes burning red with rage.

Swinging it wildly, they drove the crowd away, scattering reporters in every direction.

The last time they fought like this, I had been bullied at school.

Back then, my older sister didn’t hesitate—she bashed the bully’s head open.

My younger sister followed up with a few ruthless kicks of her own.

Later, my father made them apologize.

But my older sister had only scoffed, “I won’t let anyone hurt my brother.”

My younger sister had declared, “I’ll always protect him. No one can bully my brother!”

That day, I was overwhelmed with emotion.

But now…

Watching the veins bulging in their fists as they seethed with anger—

I felt nothing.

Once the reporters were gone, my older sister knelt beside me, cradling me gently in her arms.

“I’m sorry, Bert… I should’ve come sooner.”

My younger sister reached out, gripping my trembling hands.

“Brother, don’t worry. I promise I won’t let those videos spread.”

Their acting was flawless—no cracks in their performance.

But I wanted to laugh.

Because to hand Leo the graduate school admission,

they hadn’t hesitated—

To rob me of my dignity.

To cripple me.

To destroy me.

Let me live under everyone's ridicule, never able to lift my head again.

Who are you putting on this act for now?

At that moment, the doctor rushed in with a stretcher. Before pushing me into the operating room, my sister gently rubbed my head, her voice filled with distress.

“Bert, be good. We’ll be right outside. It’ll be over soon.”

The cold surgical instruments pierced into my body, rolling and grinding as if tearing me apart from the inside. My heart turned as cold as the steel pressing against my flesh.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the ward.

The doctor stood by my bed, his voice heavy with regret.

“The patient’s condition was delayed for too long. His pelvis is permanently dislocated. He will likely never walk again.”

“The more serious issue is the severe damage to his lower body functions. He won’t be able to care for himself—he’ll need constant assistance.”

My sister’s eyes turned red, her voice trembling.

“No… this can’t be… How could this happen?”

“Doctor, please! Save my brother! He’s still so young… He can’t—”

Her voice broke. She pulled me into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Bert, don’t worry. I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life. If necessary, we’ll go abroad for treatment. No matter what, I’ll make sure you recover.”

Silent tears slid from the corners of my eyes.

I wanted to ask her—

Sister, are you satisfied now?

But before I could speak, her phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID, and despite her best efforts, a smile crept onto her face. Yet, as if remembering something, she hesitated to leave me alone in the ward.

So, she quickly pulled up a movie on the office computer and hurried out.

Left alone, I instinctively searched through the computer.

And then, I found it.

A private folder labeled [Leo].

I clicked on it.

My screen is filled with thousands of neatly organized photos—pictures of the three of them traveling together during winter and summer vacations.

9,999 photos in total.

Each one is carefully saved by duplicate.

One set documenting what my beloved brother ate and wore that day.

The other set recording the words he spoke and the songs he sang.

And then, I saw another folder—

The photos I had sent them.

Images of me at the school playground, in the cafeteria, in the library.

Every single one of them…

Sitting in the recycle bin.

Deleted.

Not a single one missing.

No wonder.

Every time I suggested traveling together, my sister always said work was too busy.

My younger sister always claimed she had club activities.

They weren’t actually busy.

They were off traveling the world—with him.

And while they were out making memories, I worked tirelessly to get into the School of Economics, pushing myself to excel, thinking I was helping my sister relieve her burdens.

Only for her to effortlessly hand my hardearned postgraduate admission quota to someone else.

This realization struck like a bolt of lightning—shattering me completely.

I lay motionless in bed for a long time before finally reaching for my phone and dialing my mentor’s number.

“Professor, you mentioned before that you were organizing research projects abroad. I’ve made my decision—I want to join.”

His response was immediate.

“Good! I always told you that you should explore the world instead of being tied down.”

Yes…

For years, I had rejected countless offers from top universities abroad.

I couldn’t bear to leave my sister and younger sister behind.

But now, they have made the choice for me.

“Professor, I’ve truly made up my mind this time. But I have one request—I want my identity permanently erased.”

A brief pause. Then, his voice came back, steady and resolute.

“Understood. When do you want to leave?”

I didn’t hesitate.

“The day after tomorrow.”

“Who’s leaving?”

Before I could end the call, my sister pushed the door open.

Her eyes flashed with unease.

I quickly locked my phone screen and answered calmly.

“Nothing. Just wondering how long it’ll take before I can be discharged.”

Hearing my answer, my sister visibly relaxed.

“Bert, the doctor said you need to stay in the hospital for a few more days for observation. There’s no rush to be discharged.”

Yet, for some reason, a flicker of unease flashed through her eyes as she spoke.

The next morning, I woke up to find that both my sister and younger sister—who had stayed by my side the night before—were gone.

Left with no choice, I climbed into my wheelchair and decided to go home to grab a few things.

But the moment I opened the door, I was met with a sight that sent a chill down my spine.

The maple trees in the garden—the ones I had painstakingly cared for over the years—had been completely uprooted.

In their place stood large, jarring patches of cacti.

Beyond them, the house’s massive French windows revealed a gathering of people I knew all too well.

My elder sister was pushing a tenlayer cake.

My younger sister held a diamondstudded crown.

Among the guests were classmates, teachers, and even employees from the company.

Everyone was there…

Except for me.

And then my eyes landed on the red banner hanging on the wall.

[Warmly congratulating Leo on his admission to graduate school!]

A sharp pain stabbed through my chest.

Still dazed, I barely registered the figure moving toward me.

Leo—dressed in an expensive suit, exuding an air of entitlement—spotted me in the crowd.

He immediately stepped forward, feigning concern.

“Brother, I heard you were seriously injured, and I wanted to visit you.”

“But…” He hesitated, then continued with exaggerated innocence. “But my sister told me you’ve been urinating and defecating everywhere… She said she didn’t bring you here because she was afraid you’d scare me.”

His voice carried through the air, loud enough for everyone to hear.

A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.

At the back, my sister—who had been cutting the cake—froze at the commotion. She quickly hurried over, a flash of embarrassment crossing her face.

“Ah… Bert, why are you back? Didn’t the doctor say you needed to stay in the hospital and recover?”

I forced myself to ignore the whispers around me.

“I missed Milo, so I came back to see him.”

Milo—the puppy I had raised for ten years.

My sister knew how much he meant to me.

Her expression stiffened for a brief moment before she quickly pushed my wheelchair forward. “He’s in your bedroom.”

But before I could go any further, Leo stepped in front of me, blocking my path.

“Brother, today is my celebration party for getting into graduate school. You know how hard I’ve worked for this…”

As if on cue, the crowd turned their judgment toward me.

Murmurs grew louder.

People whispered that I had only achieved top grades through immoral means, almost robbing a real hard worker of his rightful spot.

But who was to blame for all the sleepless nights I had spent studying?

Still, I had no strength left to argue.

I simply nodded. “Congratulations.”

Satisfied, Leo finally let me pass.

As soon as I opened my bedroom door, my sister slipped away.

Inside, my room was in shambles.

And under the bed—

Milo lay there, barely breathing.

At that moment, the tears I had been holding back for so long finally broke free.

I finally understood.

The seaview room my sister had built for me after my father remarried…

It was no longer mine.

This house, this place—I didn’t belong here anymore.

I had no intention of staying.

I would take only one thing with me—Milo.

Just as I reached for him, the door slammed open again.

Leo stepped in, holding a slice of cake.

His eyes, once filled with fake warmth, now burned with undisguised hatred.

“Jen,” he sneered. “Look at yourself now. What difference is there between you and this mutt?”

His voice dripped with satisfaction.

“I told you—I’d take everything from you. Your father. Your sister. Your younger sister. Everything that was once yours… now belongs to me.”

“Oh, and by the way…” He smirked, leaning in as if to share a secret.

“Do you want to know how your mother really died?”

I froze.

Leo’s smirk deepened.

“I made sure she saw the video of your father and my mother together. She was already battling postpartum depression…” He chuckled. “So she jumped.”

A red haze clouded my vision.

Fury surged through me, raw and uncontrollable.

I wanted to strangle him.

To end him.

But before I could do anything—

I fell.

Helplessly.

From my wheelchair.

Seeing my pathetic state, Leo smirked and ground his foot into my hand, pressing down hard.

Milo, weak as he was, lunged forward and sank his teeth into Leo’s trouser leg in a desperate attempt to protect me.

Leo sneered. Without hesitation, he flung Milo aside with a force that sent him tumbling.

Then, with a sadistic glint in his eyes, he picked up a pair of scissors and stabbed his own leg—three times.

"Ah! Help—!"

His scream pierced the air.

Moments later, my sister rushed in, her face frantic with worry. My younger sister, in her panic, stepped on my already crushed hand as she ran to embrace Leo.

"What happened? Are you okay?!" she cried, holding onto him as if he were the most fragile thing in the world.

Leo buried his face in her arms, shaking as he sobbed.

"I... I just wanted to cut my brother the biggest piece of cake, but he accused me of trying to hurt him... Then—then he called the dog to attack me!"

As he spoke, he lifted his trouser leg, revealing the selfinflicted wounds. His cries grew more pitiful, his body trembling like a helpless victim.

My sister's face darkened with rage. She turned on me in an instant, her voice sharp as a knife.

"Jen, when did you become so cruel?! No wonder people humiliate you—maybe you deserve it!"

My younger sister looked at me, her gaze void of the warmth I once knew. Instead, it was filled with unfamiliar coldness.

"Brother… I never imagined you bullied Leo so much in private. No wonder he’s always afraid when he talks about you! Just how much have you tormented him?"

I said nothing.

Yet in their eyes, my silence was a confession.

But it didn’t matter anymore.

I had already given up.

Then my sister’s gaze shifted.

She locked onto Milo, lying motionless, barely breathing.

"If you did something wrong, you should be punished," she said icily. "Beat this beast to death."

A wave of disbelief crashed over me.

I dropped to my knees, my voice breaking.

"Sister, I was wrong. I won’t do it again. Please, I’ll stay away from him—I won’t appear before him ever again."

"Milo is innocent! Have you forgotten? You bought him for me ten years ago, after Mom passed away!"

Desperation gripped me as I kowtowed again and again, my forehead slamming against the cold floor.

But my sister didn’t even flinch.

She merely gestured to the housekeeper. "Bring me a golf club."

Before she could take action, my younger sister spoke, her tone laced with conviction.

"I almost went into shock from leukemia. It was Leo who saved me with his bone marrow—so I won’t allow anyone to hurt him."

I froze.

Then… who should be blamed for the fingerwide scar on my spine?

For the fevers and chills I suffered every time the seasons changed?

But before I could make sense of it all—

The club swung down.

"No—!!"

A sickening crack filled the room.

Milo collapsed before me, a broken, bloody mess.

My sister nodded in satisfaction before walking away with Leo.

My younger sister lingered for a moment, her expression twisting with disdain as she glanced back at me.

"If you love that mutt so much," she spat, "then stay with it."

With a click, the door locked behind her.

I dragged myself toward Milo’s lifeless body, cradling him in my arms.

And in that moment—

My world shattered.

Mom. Dad.

My sisters.

Milo.

…Gone.

Outside, my sister spared no effort in tending to Leo.

She gathered medical experts from all over the city, ensuring he received the best care.

In the end, all he needed was some bandages and a rabies vaccine.

Only then did she seem to remember me.

For a brief second, the echoes of my screams resurfaced in her mind.

She reached for her phone, intending to call the housekeeper and order a replacement dog—one identical to Milo.

But before she could dial, the housekeeper came running, breathless and panicked.

"Miss… Miss! Bad news! The young master—he jumped from the attic into the sea with the dog! The only thing left behind was his phone!"