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Alex’s body tensed even further, but he didn’t forcefully pull me off. Snowbal excitedly circled us, occasionally nudging my feet with its head, as if asking for praise
“Does Daniel know you’re here?” he asked.
1 posted, and tears instantly welled up “Brother doesn’t want Nanny anymore.” As I spoke, my sleeve slipped, revealing a bruise on my wrist. Alex’s eyes immediate
ly changed He grabbed my wrist
How did this happen?”
i cowered shanking my neck “Nanny hurts Brother is mean “In truth, I had gotten it by hitting my arm on the table leg while reaching for a ball by brother had indeed been angry when he came back, blaming the nanny for not watching me she was busy scroling through social media then
Alex’s face was so dark it looked like it could drip ink “Did Damel hit you?
I didn’t answer, just lowered my head, playing the part of a wronged child perfectly Alex took a deep breath, as if forcing down his anger Just then, Snowball troftend Gips, carrying its food bowl, and placed it in front of me, then locked at Alex with expectant eyes. Ales looked at he dog in exasperation. W’s two in the moring Sandyall stubbornly stood still i rubbed my tummy. “Nanny’s hungry.” Snowball immediately picked up a piece of bubble, dropped it by our feet, and wagged its tat
Chapter 1
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Snowball stubbornly stood still. I rubbed my tummy. “Nanny’s hungry.” Snowball immediately picked up a piece of kibble, dropped it by our feet, and wagged its tail even more excitedly.
Alex rubbed his temples. “I’ll go warm up some milk for you.” He pointed a warning finger at Snowball. “Don’t hide her in your dog bed.” Snowball tilted its head, a look of innocent confusion on its face, as if to say, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
Ten minutes later, Alex returned to the living room with two bowls of milk. Snowball immediately perked up its ears, its tail thumping a cheerful rhythm on the floor.
“Sit,” he commanded. Snowball instantly sat ramrod straight, front paws together, like a disciplined soldier. I blinked, then mimicked Snowball’s expectant expression and, with a little “Woof,” sat up straight. Alex’s hand froze mid–air, the milk almost spilling. “What are you doing?”
“Table manners!” I tilted my head, imitating Snowball’s excited look. “At home, Nanny Sarah taught me this.” Alex’s eyebrows knitted together. “She made you bark kike a dog?” I nodded, recalling. “She said it was noble etiquette. Once, when I didn’t bark, she complained to my brother, saying I ate with my hands.”
At this point, I suddenly grew sad. My brother was so angry that day. During dinner, he deliberately put down his chopsticks and picked up a chicken drumstick to feed me. He squeezed my cheek with his greasy hand. “My Nanny can eat however she wants.” My brother was good to me, but he never had time to get me a new nanny Only because Clara said I was attached to this nanny, and that if he replaced her, I would feel abandoned. And later, he got busier and busier, never eating with me again.
Alex placed the milk bowls in front of Snowball and me, his face terribly grim. “That nanny is still working for you?”
“Yes.” I took a small sip of milk. “Auntie Sarah also taught me how to drink like a little horse. Do you want to see, Big Brother?” His thumb gently traced the bruise on my wrist, his voice almost inaudible. “Daniel, that scoundrel…”
I finished my milk, then hesitantly looked up. “Big Brother, my brother doesn’t want me anymore. Can you take me in? I don’t eat much.” In my dream, Alex also had a younger sister, but she was born with a congenital heart defect and died young due to negligence. He never got to spoil her. After that, his parents divorced. Coincid- entally, my parents also divorced. Theirs was a business marriage. After the divorce, neither wanted children and went their separate ways to find true love. Otherwi- se, I wouldn’t have been left with my brother.
