When My Fiancé Carved Out My Crystal Core Chapter 2

But before the whip could fall, a force knocked me back several steps.

The next instant, pain shot through my hand.

A scalpel from the table had sliced my palm, leaving a shallow wound.

"Olivia! How dare you whip Madison when she's so fragile! You act so high and mighty, but your life is worth less than trash. You're the one who deserves to die!"

The voice sounded familiar. Once I steadied myself, I saw who had pushed me—my own brother.

Before the outbreak, he'd been Madison's devoted fanboy. Rain or shine, he'd wake before dawn to prepare her breakfast. Once he even cut his finger making sushi she liked.

He didn't know that every lunch he made for Madison, she threw straight in the trash.

Watching him shield Madison, his whole body screaming defiance, he'd completely forgotten that I'd saved him from zombies and given him—a powerless nobody—food and shelter in the settlement, a life many could only dream of.

I found it amusing and raised an eyebrow.

"You ungrateful dog. If I acknowledge you, you're my brother. If I don't, you're just a stray."

He glared at me viciously and drew his weapon to fight me.

I smiled faintly, done wasting words. I cracked the whip again and sent him flying.

He crashed down, coughing blood, his weapon shattering instantly.

"Olivia! You'd even beat your own brother!"

My mother rushed in from the crowd, shielding my injured brother and Madison.

Father followed close behind.

They adored Madison too, just because she'd helped them find shelter and shared food I'd left for everyone—completely forgetting that I'd covered their retreat, clearing zombies to keep them safe.

Father pointed at my face, cursing furiously.

"What kind of healer are you? Beating your brother, trying to assault poor Madison! Your heart is like a viper's!"

My expression turned cold as I stared at them both.

Though they were my biological parents, they were practically villains. They'd raised me only to use me as a marriage pawn, to connect with the Hunter family—one of the elite families in the capital. To prevent me from running away and to break my strong will, they'd locked me in a cage and left me starving in the wilderness.

If the zombie outbreak hadn't happened, if I hadn't awakened my abilities to escape that cage, I would've starved to death young.

For their role in giving birth to me and raising me, I hadn't held their past cruelty against them. I'd let these two powerless people live comfortably in the settlement.

But now?

I laughed lightly, unable to stop myself. "Looks like you've had enough of the comfortable life here. Starting today, get out! This settlement doesn't shelter trash!"

Father froze, then sidled closer to Ethan.

"You ungrateful brat! All you do is oppose us and make us angry—you're useless! Even without you, Ethan will protect us."

I laughed bitterly in anger, looking at him coldly.

"You think Ethan's cultivation resources come from nowhere? They're just scraps I casually give him."

Father's expression froze, his arrogant demeanor deflating instantly. Mother stood there stunned, not daring to speak.

I sneered and turned to Madison.

She trembled and curled up in Ethan's arms like a frightened rabbit.

I couldn't help but scoff, glancing at her with contempt.

"And you—what gives you the right to call me 'sister'? A piece of trash shamelessly trying to become my apprentice? Everyone knows people who want to serve me line up from here to the settlement gates!"

Madison's face flushed crimson. She stood there awkwardly, looking helplessly at Ethan.

Ethan's face turned livid, his eyes darkening as he stared at me.

This scene had also appeared in my dream.

Ethan had brought Madison before everyone, forcing me to heal her.

My brother and parents had also sided with Madison, pressuring me to use my crystal.

To avoid embarrassing them in public, I'd agreed without thinking.

But now? Who cared about these fools' dignity!

Ethan snorted coldly and suddenly raised his hand.

My beloved cat, whom I'd left safely at home, now appeared in his grasp.

"Olivia! If you don't heal Madison today, I'll kill your precious cat!"

As he spoke, he demonstratively squeezed its neck hard in front of me.

The cat struggled painfully in his hands, crying miserably, blood seeping from its neck.

My heart tightened. No longer hiding my strength, I raised my hand and unleashed my full power with the whip, striking his wrist at invisible speed and snatching my cat back.

I said contemptuously, "The Commander only went south to handle the zombie crisis. When did a mere Guardian like you get to give orders here?"

The massive energy impact caused quite a commotion. The elite guard force remaining in the settlement began heading our way.

Ethan was shocked by my display of power but didn't want to escalate things.

His narrow eyes glanced over, arrogant. "Olivia, you're just the Commander's dog. You think you're so noble? Besides, your medical skills are crude—I never thought much of them. If Madison dies because of you, I'll kill you to accompany her in death!"

After delivering his threat, Ethan left with Madison.

Though Madison still whimpered in his arms, in places he couldn't see, her eyes gleamed with vicious malice as she stared straight at me.

After Ethan left, with the arriving guards maintaining order, the crowd gradually settled down.

I felt distracted, thinking of the venomous look Madison had given me as they left, leaving me unsettled.