Liam and his twin brother Noah were forced to wear Verity Bands by their father from birth, with green for wisdom and red for foolish lies. Noah’s band always glowed green, earning him his father’s favor even when he erred, while Liam’s band flashed red at the slightest sign of emotion or physical discomfort, bringing him harsh punishments and constant denial. On Christmas Eve, Liam suffered excruciating pain from a ruptured appendix, but the red light made his father accuse him of faking illness for sympathy and lock him alone at home. Liam eventually died of organ failure, yet his father still thought he was "acting". When Liam’s body was found, police investigations uncovered the truth: the so-called scientific bands were just cheap toys. Liam’s red light reflected pain and fear, and Noah’s green light was permanently set. The father’s paranoid "data-driven parenting" ultimately caused his son’s tragic death with his own hands.
