34 [Bonus chapter] TRAUMA I

Emilia Berkins was inside her rented home, cooking a simple dinner for herself while humming a song as if she wasn't someone who just ran away from almost killing a child. She was 45 years old, single, and has been helping others take care of their children. So far, she was able to live her life without any issues and she was able to earn her credits like she was the most magnanimous person in the world.

She looked really kind and she always have this faint smile on her lips. She spoke really slowly and most people claimed that she was really a good person. With so many people saying how good she was, Belle never suspected a single bad thing about this woman. She never thought that her brother was already suffering at her hands. She was blinded by the characteristics that others make her out to be.

Three years ago...

Neon just turned four years old and Belle decided to throw a little party for him, with her and her grandmother, as well as his close friends who lived in the neighborhood. On that day, Neon received a new backpack from his sister. She worked so hard for it while studying to become a professional nurse. She saved it from the meager salary she earned as a convenience store cashier.

"Isn't that brand expensive?" Emilia asked as soon as she laid her eyes on the bag that Neon pulled from the gift box. "Why did you buy that? He's not even going to school yet."

"I'm just slowly buying the things that he might need in the future. In two years, I will be sending him to school and he could use this bag."

Emilia didn't respond to her words but when Belle left for work the next day, she grabbed Neon's bag forcefully which the boy was holding in his sleep.

"Auntie Meli, why are you taking my bag?"

"It's branded. I am sure this will fetch a good price."

"But that is my bag."

"It's mine now." Neon's nose instantly turned red and tears started pooling in his eyes. He was about to cry but Emilia glared at him. "Cry and I will throw bring you to the forest and leave you there. I'll let the monsters in the forest eat you."

"My sister gave - "

"I know she gave this to you. You better not tell her or I will poison her and she will die because of you."

Neon nodded his head and wept silently in his room. Emilia smirked as she left to find someone who would buy the bag that Belle bought for her brother. Of course, she looked for someone who lived far away to make sure that Belle won't find out about it.

This was just the start of Neon's nightmare. From then on, every single time that Belle brings something for him and it was valuable, Emilia would take it away from the child and forbid him from telling his sister. Neon only has his sister and he didn't want her to die because of him. Ever since Emilia threatened him to poison Belle, he never tried going against her anymore.

At first, Emilia only took valuable things from Neon like shirts, shoes, and toys, and as long as he kept his promise of not telling Belle about it, he would be able to eat proper meals.

It went on and on until five months later, Emilia started taking things too far. Not only was she taking things from Neon but every time Belle buys groceries for them, she would keep a lot of them for personal use and most of the time, she would forbid Neon from taking the food to the other levels of their freezer. He could not get anything if it wasn't during mealtime either. If he ever gets something without her permission, Emilia would hit him really hard using a leather belt.

At some point, this treatment came to a halt after Belle's graduation. Since she was no longer studying, she was able to find decent-paying work while reviewing for the licensure examination. She took a day shift and this time and feeling like she could afford it already; she sent Neon to a nursery school near their house.

This helps Neon a lot. He was able to make more friends in school and he was away from Emilia as well. His sister's shift would end around 5:00 PM and she would take him off from school. In the evening, Emilia won't be able to do anything to him as well because Belle was there.

"Ma, did you see Neon's bag? The one that I gave him on his birthday?"

"That one? Didn't I tell you that a rat or something ate the bag horribly? I threw it out already. I thought you heard me when I told you about it."

"Aahhh, I see. I must have forgotten about it."

"It's fine. I understand that you are busy with work and your review. Don't worry we can still use that bag I bought for him. It may not be branded but it's still okay."

"Thank you for buying it, ma."

Belle has no idea that the money Emilia used to buy the cheap bag came from the money she earned by selling the expensive bag that she gifted her brother. She was even grateful for the woman's considerate attitude.

Neon didn't say a word about it.

With his sister around them, Neon was able to eat food properly. Belle would cook his favorite dishes and make his favorite sandwiches for school. Even if Emilia would keep glaring at her when Belle wasn't looking, the woman couldn't do anything about it.

Neon was so happy. He felt that he was able to get back at her with just his sister's presence.

And this happiness lasted only for less than a year. Belle took the licensure examination and passed the exam in one take. It was something the three of them celebrated and as soon as Belle started working, Neon's nightmare turned scarier and more traumatizing.