Wendy’s tears threatened to spill over . She could hardly believe it . At that moment , she understood the suffocating source of this family’s troubles . “ Wendy , are you okay ? ” Shirley noticed Wendy’s reddened eyes and asked with concern . “ I’m fine ! ” Wendy sniffled dabbing at her eyes with a tissue . “ Shirley , do you think Joshua is really our biological brother ? ” “ Well … Shirley hesitated , startled . “ He should be ! Mom and Dad have done several tests . Two years ago , they still had doubts and tested again . But after that , they stopped questioning it . They spent a lot on tests ? They even tested again two years ago ? ” Wendy was surprised by this revelation . Shirley nodded . “ Yes ! Mom and Dad said Joshua doesn’t look like them or us . So , they ran the tests . I saw the reports myself . It’s a hundred percent confirmed . Wendy felt even more perplexed , but as she reflected , some things began to make sense . Maybe they just see Joshua as a lost cause , like mud that can never be shaped . No wonder they refuse to visit his school -they think it’s humiliating . No wonder they won’t give him a private car and driver — they find it disgraceful . No wonder they avoid taking him out in public — it’s all about shame . Wendy sniffled again , her chest tight with heartache , but the story didn’t end there . “ Wendy , why are you asking all this ? ” Shirley , noticing Wendy’s unsettling tone, asked cautiously . “ I went to the police at noon . They found Joshua . He was selling live crabs at the market to earn money . He wasn’t missing ! ” Wendy explained . “ What ? ” Shirley exclaimed , stunned . “ I also went to Eastview Orphanage – Joshua’s old orphanage – and saw many of the children there ! ” Wendy continued . “ The little ones , parentless and alone , fought ferociously over a broken doll , sobbing uncontrollably . The older ones bullied the younger ; the taller ones preyed on the shorter .” Shirley froze , unable to grasp Wendy’s meaning . She asked quickly , “ Joshua is selling live crabs ? Why would he do that ? ‘ “ Why do you think so ? ” Wendy fixed her gaze on her . Shirley fell silent . “ Shirley , you graduated top of your class at Borchester University and even studied at Dartmouth University . You must have taken psychology courses ! You majored in music , read countless stories , and studied diverse lives . But have you ever truly understood the life of an orphan ? Have you ever explored the psychological changes they endure ? ” Wendy asked , her eyes piercing . Shirley’s eyes widened slightly . “ Well … there are so many orphans in orphanages . “ Yes ! So many orphans . We all know that . And we all know Joshua grew up in one – he was once an orphan ! ” Wendy took a deep breath . “ Even with all his flaws and bad habits , those aren’t inherent . They’re the result of being a parentless orphan with no one to shield him from the storms . He had to survive like a cockroach – because otherwise , life would have been unbearable .” “ Even so , he shouldn’t be stealing ! He’s already taken so much already ! ” Shirley exclaimed , frustration evident in her voice . Wendy immediately laughed . “ Shirley , how much allowance do you get at home each month ? What’s your salary ? ” “ Well … ” “ 18,000 ! I know ! ” Wendy looked at her with a smirk . “ Your salary is 3,000 a month , not including other things ! But have you heard what Mom said ? She gives Joshua – only 70 dollars a month ! Just 70 dollars ! Is our family really that broke ? ” Shirley hadn’t realized Joshua’s allowance was so meager – only 70 dollars a month . She was taken aback when she heard Maggie mention it a few days ago . She had assumed Maggie gave Joshua a decent amount ! She never imagined it was so little ! “ I asked Maddy . Over the years , it seems you guys haven’t bought him much in terms of clothes or shoes ! Maddy , Judy , Indy , Cassidy – I asked them all , and most haven’t ! Maddy even said , since Joshua doesn’t buy her anything , why should she buy anything for him ? ” Wendy sniffled , feeling a pang of sorrow . “ He only has 70 dollars a month , not even enough for food . How can you expect him to buy anything ? ” Shirley immediately furrowed her brows . “ Shirley , you’re complicit in this too ! ” Wendy suddenly ground her teeth together . “ Wendy , w – what exactly are you trying to say ? I don’t really understand what you mean ,” Shirley asked , her expression serious as she stared at her . Promise to Punish My Ridiculous Family