For the Brother They Took from Me

That night, after treating my wounds, I was getting ready for bed when the door suddenly opened.

Someone slipped their arms around my waist from behind and I was instantly surrounded by the familiar scent of Bryan.

In the past, I would always nuzzle against his neck and shoulders, breathing in that scent and telling him how much I loved him.

But now, all it did was make me feel sick. I struggled to break free from his embrace.

His body stiffened, then a low voice spoke behind me.

“I know you’re angry at my sister because of what happened to your brother, but the past is the past. Will holding a grudge bring him back to life?”

“My sister was adopted and always felt insecure. She was afraid I’d neglect her after marrying you, so she hurt your brother—but she had no malicious intent.”

No malicious intent?

She had deliberately lured her twisted friends to torment and humiliate Ashton until he died—and now he says there was no malicious intent?

I couldn’t stay silent any longer. I stood up and turned to face him, glaring.

“You love your sister and of course I love my brother. He was a living, breathing person who was tortured to death. Don’t I even have the right to be angry?”

Bryan seemed taken aback by the hatred in my eyes. He opened his mouth to respond, but just then, his phone rang.

It was Camila calling.

“Brother, didn’t you say you were going to the bathroom? Why haven’t you come back yet? I’m scared to sleep alone.”

He hurriedly soothed her with a soft voice, then looked at me with a complicated expression.

“I will punish my sister for what happened to your brother. But I also hope you can let go of this grudge soon. Our wedding is just a few days away.”

“Rest well. Tomorrow, I’ll have someone arrange a funeral for your brother—as a way to send him off properly.”

Hearing those words, I couldn’t help but laugh.

His so-called punishment was nothing more than locking Camila up for a few days and cutting off her credit card. What else could he possibly do?

We’d been together for five years. He never tired of saying things like this—but I was long past tired of hearing them.

***

The next day, I got up early and began making arrangements for my brother’s funeral—without waiting for Bryan.

Just as I was in the middle of preparations, Bryan arrived.

And with him was Camila.

My blood ran cold. I instinctively looked at Bryan.

He had promised me—sworn—that she wouldn’t appear at my brother’s funeral.

Bryan noticed my gaze and lightly pushed Camila forward.

“Camila has sincerely repented. She came here specifically to burn incense for your brother.”

“Your brother was a generous person. If he could see my sister admitting her mistake and changing her ways, he would surely be pleased.”

Camila nodded sweetly in agreement with his words—but when her eyes met mine, she arched her eyebrows with a smug, taunting expression.

My blood froze in my veins.

As she stepped forward to light the incense, I rushed up and knocked it from her hands.

“Get out of here! You’re not welcome!”

“Bryan, you brought the murderer of my brother to his funeral to burn incense for him. Are you trying to provoke him?”

The next second, Bryan slapped me across the face.

His eyes burned with fury, glaring at me like I was some lunatic causing a scene.

“What are you doing? My sister got burned by the incense! Apologize to her right now!”

Camila clutched her arm, where a red mark had formed and burrowed into his arms looking pitiful and wronged.

Suddenly, I regretted everything…

Regretted ever falling in love with Bryan.

Regretted ever having the foolish impulse to marry him.

Those two siblings were nothing but monsters.

Still, Bryan kept urging me to apologize quickly, saying he didn’t want me to embarrass myself in front of so many people.

I walked up and slapped Camila hard across the face.

With red, tear-filled eyes, I shouted at them, “I said I’ll never apologize!”

Everyone around us froze in shock. Even Bryan was stunned.

Camila’s mask cracked. Humiliated, she could no longer keep up the act. She lunged forward and snatched my brother’s urn from the altar.

“You bitch! You dare hit me? I’ll show you what happens when you mess with me!”

My heart pounded as I rushed to stop her.

“No, stop it!”

But it was too late.

Camila slammed the urn to the ground with all her strength, then kicked the small pile of ashes into the air with her foot.

I collapsed to my knees, frantically gathering the ashes with my hands.

“Brother… Brother…”

Camila looked down at me from above, sneered, then turned and walked away arrogantly. While Bryan didn’t even spare me a glance. He turned and chased after her.

Left alone, I held what was left of my brother’s urn in my arms. And I cried…

Uncontrollably, helplessly, brokenhearted.